The RTM Museum has existed for more than 50 years. During this half-century, a great deal has happened, both in terms of restoring historic vehicles and developing the museum’s location and organization. What began as a small group of dedicated volunteers working under very modest conditions in Hellevoetsluis gradually grew into the museum we know today.

In those early years, every guilder had to be spent carefully on essentials such as screws, paint, and other materials. Volunteers even contributed one guilder for every day they worked at the RTM. There were many setbacks along the way, including a difficult relationship with the municipality of Hellevoetsluis and a major fire. For many years, the future of the RTM Museum remained uncertain.

Only after the move to Ouddorp did the museum enter calmer waters and gain the opportunity to build a stable future. It should also be noted that the RTM is the oldest operating heritage tramway in the Netherlands.