Bina Sampan: Boat-making Workshop

Get hands-on and craft your own miniature boat using coconut husks, a natural material long woven into the everyday lives of coastal and island communities. This interactive workshop invites participants of all ages to explore the diverse maritime cultures and boat-making traditions found across Singapore and the wider Nusantara.

Along the way, discover different types of vessels historically used by various communities across the region, including the sampan, perahu, jong, jongkong, kolek, bedar, golekkan, and pinisi. While some boats were used within Singapore’s coastal communities, such as the Orang Laut, others travelled across the rivers, coastlines, and open seas of the Malay Archipelago for trade, fishing, travel, and everyday life.

Through making, storytelling, and play, participants will uncover how these vessels carried not only people and goods, but also memories, skills, and cultural traditions across generations and waterways.