The permanent exhibition “Commerce and Navigation in the 16th and 17th centuries”, open to the public, has three aspects, which reflect the function of the Museum: Portuguese Navigation, that is, that which originates and destines in Vila do Conde; the history of the Royal Customs and its operation, officials and products shipped; the history of Naval Construction, types of vessels built in Vila do Conde and their respective construction processes.

The CEDOPORMAR Centre for Documentation of the 16th Century Maritime Ports is located in the same facilities, a specialized extension of the Municipal Archive of Vila do Conde, on the history of Portuguese maritime towns, standing out as the first nucleus of “Vila do Conde Quinhentista”. shipbuilding, navigation and foreign trade in the 16th century.