Merikeskus Vellamo is a building completed in 2008 in Kotka’s Main Harbor, which houses the cultural and event services of the Finnish Maritime Museum , Kymenlaakso Museum , Coast Guard Museum and Kotka.

Exhibitions 

The museum opened to the public on July 11, 2008. During the first weekend, the museum was visited by 3,700 visitors. The target of 50,000 visitors for the first year was exceeded on 27 September 2008. 

Both museums have changing exhibitions each year, including art and photography, among other things. The name of the permanent exhibition of the Finnish Maritime Museum is “ Pohjantähti, Etelän risti ”. The exhibitions of the Kymenlaakso Museum change about every three years and the contents of the ” Mosaic ” section of the exhibition change every few months. 

In 2020, museums will join forces and create a new, joint and wider permanent exhibition.

The downstairs cultural space Ruuma serves changing small art and photo-focused exhibitions