To commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Medway in June 2017, we will be bringing you two weeks of exciting and unique Dutch themed events!
Here is a taste of what you can expect to see.
Breaking the Chain - the story of the Dutch Raid of 1667
Thursday 8 June to 3 September 2017 at the Historic Dockyard Chatham
This temporary exhibition tells the story of the Battle of Medway. The tale will be told through Dutch and British contemporary art, literature, historic manuscripts and extraordinary objects on loan from national and international museums.
The journey to Chatham
Saturday 6 May to 12 November 2017 at the Guildhall Museum, Rochester
Take a look around this exhibition featuring original Dutch broadsheets and engravings from the museum’s collections.
Of fireships and iron
Friday 2 June to Saturday 28 August 2017 at Rochester Art Gallery and Rochester Cathedral
This event offers you a chance to see the new works by Lily Dudley, Laura Dunnage, Heather Haythornthwaite, Xtina Lamb and Adam Newton (winners of the Medway Council Arts Development Printmakers Bursary).
Five Medway based artists, all pushing the boundaries of contemporary printmaking, will be showing their work in a special split site exhibition as part of the Medway Print festival 2017.
The artists are using a collection of 18th century Dutch prints as inspiration for a new body of work that explores the location, history and stories of the Dutch raid.
Meet a Battle of Medway Soldier
11 August, 18 August, 25 August, 27 August, 9 September amd 10 September 2017, 11am, 1pm and 3pm at Upnor Castle
Local actors from Play On Words Theatre Company are delighted to introduce you to their Georgian soldier, William Webster. Webster was stationed at Upnor Castle in 1787, so join him on a tour around the castle as he explains what life was like here then and at the time of the Battle of Medway in 1667.
Tours are free, standard admission fee applies.
Battle of Medway trail at the Guildhall Museum
Saturday 22 July to Sunday 3 September 2017 from 10am to 5pm at the Guildhall Museum
Our trail returns for the summer holidays! Take part in our trail around the museum based on the Battle of Medway exhibition for a chance to win a small prize.
Battle of Medway trail at Upnor Castle
Saturday 22 July to Sunday 3 September 2017 from 10am to 5pm at Upnor Castle
Take part in our trail around the castle looking for clues to find out what happened at Upnor Castle during the Battle of Medway for a chance to win a small prize.
Thursday 24 August, 10am to 4pm
Family workshops with Wendy Daws at Eastgate House. Come and learn how to make your very own Dutch tile inspired by the collection at Eastgate House.
Workshop with Wendy Daws
Every Wednesday from 26 July to 30 August 2017, from 10.30am to 3.30pm at the Guildhall Museum
Join our drop-in artist-led session; crafts will be based around our ‘Journey to Chatham’ exhibition, part of the Battle of Medway commemorations.
Battle of Medway family crafts
From Tuesday 1 August to Friday 1 September 2017 10.30am to 3.30pm at the Guildhall Museum
Join our hands-on family craft activities based around our ‘Journey to Chatham’ exhibition, part of the Battle of Medway commemorations featuring Dutch newspaper reports of the Battle and the construction plans for the new fort at Sheerness.
80p per child, free entry to the museum.
Painting the Battle of Medway
Monday 21 August & Wednesday 30 August 2017, 10.30am to 3.30pm
Local artist Kevin Clarkson has researched the Battle of Medway to create several new paintings of the events at Upnor in 1667. Get in on the action and join Kevin on site to draw your own Battle of Medway masterpiece.
Draw a mini masterpiece
Friday 1 September 2017, 10.30am to 3.30pm at Upnor Castle
Join our hands-on family craft activity to draw your own mini masterpiece inspired by the Battle of Medway.
Getting to the festival
The Battle of Medway is expected to attract thousands of visitors from the UK and from abroad. For this reason we recommend that you make travel arrangements using our public transport services on offer during the events.
