The Buffel, built in Scotland, served in the Royal Dutch Navy from 1868 to 1894 as a ram tower ship to defend Dutch coastal waters. As such, the Buffel was the Navy’s first fully steam-propelled ship. In 1896 the ship was renovated and put into use as a accommodation and training ship for naval personnel. The Buffel served in Hellevoetsluis until 1920, after which the ship had many home ports such as Vlissingen, Den Helder and Amsterdam. In 1974, the Royal Navy transferred the ship to the municipality of Rotterdam. The ship was then beautifully restored and furnished and was part of the Maritime Museum as a museum ship until 2013. In 1995 the ship received the prestigious Maritime Heritage Award from the World Ship Trust.

Since October 2013, the Buffel has been back in Hellevoetsluis in a beautiful location on the Koningskade. Bringing the ship to the fortified city and operating it was a private initiative that was taken over by the “Ramtorenschip Buffel” foundation in 2016. Together with a large number of enthusiastic volunteers, sponsors and the municipality of Hellevoetsluis, the Ramtorenschip Buffalo is kept accessible to the general public and children and adults are introduced to our rich maritime history. This museum ship is a unique piece of maritime cultural heritage that belongs to the fortified city of Hellevoetsluis.