Best Museums in Amsterdam

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museums and galleries

Although a relatively small city, Amsterdam boasts nearly 80 different museums and galleries. From museums about cats to amazing photography, Amsterdam has a huge variety of museums and galleries for every interest.

Amsterdam’s major museums are located within a stone’s throw from each other at Museumplein (‘Museum Square’). 

If you’re planning on visiting a few museums and galleries, then the I amsterdam City Card can be a great way to save money. It costs approx. £60 and includes entry/queue jump to loads of the city’s most popular attractions e.g. Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Rembrandt House and the Stedelijk Museum, as well as free public transport for the duration of your trip.

Also – if you’re planning a visit around November one of my favorite events is Museum Nacht (‘Museum Night’). For one night every year, the museums and galleries of Amsterdam open their doors late into the night, some staying open until 2am. Experience entertainment, food, drinks and DJ sets at each museum – in addition to their usual attractions. This year it falls on Saturday 7th November 2020. 

 

See my 8 most recommended museums and galleries below! 

1. Rijksmuseum

One of the most well-known museums in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum dedicated to the arts and history in the Netherlands. 

Highlights:

  • Rembrandt’s best-known masterpiece the ‘Night Watch’ (nothing to do with Game of Thrones..) and Johannes Vermeer’s ‘The Milkmaid’.
  • The Dolls House (a collection of dolls’ houses that shows life in the 17th century; including the one that inspired the novel The Miniaturist – by Jessie Burton). 
  • It is the only museum in the world that you can cycle through.
  • Cuypers Library – the biggest and oldest art history library in the Netherlands. 
  • The Rijksmuseum building itself!

€19 entry

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2. Stedelijk Museum

If you’re more of a Modern Art fan, the Stedelijk museum displays 90,000 works from the early 20th and 21st century including pieces by Kazimir Malevich, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, and Andy Warhol. You’ll recognise the Stedelijk due to a recent extension to the building that’s dubbed “the bathtub” by locals – because it looks like a huge, shiny-white bathtub. 

Highlights:

  • Jacqueline Kennedy II by Andy Warhol
  • The building looking like a giant bathtub 
  • The “Stedelijk Base” – a 700 piece exhibition that brings together paintings, furniture, jewelry, sculptures, installations, and everyday objects and accessories into one amazing integrated experience. 

€18.50 entry

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3. Van Gogh Museum

Even for the less arty visitors, chances are you’ve heard of Van Gogh.. Here in Amsterdam you’ll find the largest collection of his work in the world with 200 of his paintings, 400 drawings and 700 letters. Often there are also rotating exhibitions by Monet and Pissarro.  

Highlights: 

  • The Potato Eaters by Vincent van Gogh
  • The Bedroom by Vincent van Gogh
  • Tulip Fields near The Hague by Claude Monet

€19 entry 

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4. Nemo Science Museum

Located not far from Amsterdam Central is Nemo Science museum, an immersive experience exploring science and technology. At weekends it gets very pretty busy with families and young kids, so be prepared to battle them for the interactive games…

Highlights: 

  • The sloping roof with an outdoor cafe offering great views over the city.
  • Five floors filled with continuously updated exhibitions, theatre performances, demonstrations, workshops and demonstrations. 
€17.50 entry
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5. Anne Frank House

Explore the house where 13-year-old Frank hid with her family for two years during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. This museum on Prinsengracht portrays the life of Anne Frank through old objects, photographs and historical documents from the time. A moving and informative experience. Book in advance as the queues can get very long. 

Highlights: 

  • Anne Frank’s original red-checked diary. 
  • Hinged bookcase that led to the secret annex.
  • Located in the picturesque area of The Jordaan.
€10.50 entry
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6. Foam

This canalside photography museum can be a welcome break from the more traditional paintings and masterpieces of Amsterdam’s galleries. At Foam they have a rotating series of exhibitions featuring up and coming photographers.

Highlights:

  • Foam 3h – a programme focussed  on exhibiting the work of recently graduated photographers/artists.
  • Free tours of the exhibitions (in English) every Thursday evening at 19:30. 

€12.50 entry

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7. EYE Filmmuseum

Housed inside a striking, large, white building on the River IJ,  the Eye Filmmuseum is said to be designed to play with light, space, and movement in much the same way as film. Inside you’ll find a collection of movie posts, equipment, 40,000 films and other objects that reflect Dutch film culture.  

Highlights:

  • The four intimate cinemas onsite that screen both blockbusters and limited-release arthouse films.
  • Panoramic cafe overlooking the river.
  • Best reached via passenger ferry, a 5 minute trip which departs from the back of Centraal Station. 

€11 entry

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8. Moco Museum

Sandwiched between the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum is Moco, a lesser-known, boutique museum with a wide range of inspiring modern and contemporary art. 

Highlights:

  • The current Banksy exhibition, featuring several of his infamous street pieces, as well a large number of his indoor works, including work on canvas.
  • Dollar Sign, one of Andy Warhol’s most iconic images. 
  • ‘Moco Garden’, outdoor sculptures by contemporary masters.

€15.50 entry

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