Amsterdam is home to some of the world’s most remarkable museums and art galleries, which offer visitors a fascinating insight into the city’s history, art, and culture. From the iconic Rijksmuseum to the contemporary Stedelijk Museum, there is no shortage of inspiring places to visit in Amsterdam. Whether you’re interested in the Old Masters, modern art, science, or photography, there is a museum in Amsterdam that caters to your interests. In this article, we will explore some of the most noteworthy museums in Amsterdam and what makes them so special. So, if you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam, be sure to add some of these must-see museums to your itinerary.
- Van Gogh Museum
- Nemo
- Ripley’s Believe it or Not
- Rijksmuseum
- Stedelijk Museum
- Madame Tussauds
- Moco Museum
- Rembrandt House
- Diamond Museum
- Amsterdams Museum
- The National Maritime Museum
- Foam
- Tropenmuseum
- Resistance Museum
Explore the best Museums in Amsterdam
Van Gogh Museum
Vincent van Gogh is world-famous as a painter and that status is certainly not undeserved. Modern painters admire him and see him as an example. Van Gogh’s works fall mainly under post-impressionism. In the beginning of his life he mainly used dark colors, but after new inspirations he switched to light colors. Although not very popular in his day, his works left their mark on art history decades later.
The Van Gogh Museum has the artist’s largest collection. There are more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 750 letters. Both the dark works, such as The Potato Eaters and The Hill of Montmartre with Stone Quarry, and the light works, such as Almond Blossom and The Bedroom, can be found here. And you can see more than just his works here. You can learn more about his work, inspirations, environment and the difficult course of his life. Many people still know Van Gogh primarily as the painter with the ear cut off. In addition, the museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions.
The museum is open all year round. Tickets can be bought on the spot, but to avoid having to queue for an hour, it’s better to buy them online. You can also choose the time that suits you best. With the ticket you can visit both temporary and permanent exhibitions. As an extra option you can choose for a multimedia tour.
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NEMO
Thanks to Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity, we can now watch razor-sharp television. Leonardo da Vinci laid the foundation for extreme sport skydiving. And without Isaac Newton, we would never have landed on the moon. Science and technology are not often described as ”fun”. This is not very crazy either, because ploughing through hundreds of pages of theories is often very difficult. However, practice can be very fun and this can best be experienced at NEMO.
The NEMO Science Museum offers an entertaining trip for young and old. On 5 floors you can experience how fun technology and science can be. Take a look at Nikola Tesla’s Lightning Ball and discover how it is possible that the electricity goes through you without feeling it. Learn all about the bubble and make one so big you can even stand in it. Besides the active exhibitions, there are also super fun workshops. For example, you can get to work as a real scientist and do all kinds of experiments and experiments. There are also fascinating lectures and you have the opportunity to have a chat with a scientist.
Tickets can be bought online or on the spot. With an online ticket there is a good chance that you will avoid long queues. NEMO is a 10-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station.
Ripley’s Believe it or not!
Robert Ripley was a well-known traveller, draughtsman and collector. Actually he is still known and that is because of the concept Ripley’s Believe it or not. Here he showed strange facts from all over the world in a television show, newspaper series and radio show. The concept also has museums in which Ripley’s collections and works can be found.
In Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Amsterdam museum will not only show you a few paintings and sculptures. This is where you’ll find the most bizarre art and collection of Amsterdam. From a Bugatti carved out of wood to a miniature version of the bible that has been on the moon. Robert Ripley has visited 200 countries in his lifetime and collected everything. For example, he managed to add a Russian space suit and a shrunken head to his collection. Of course, fascinating works from Dutch culture cannot be lacking in the Amsterdam museum. A real cheese head can see the inside of a piece of Old Amsterdam and discover what our capital would look like if the sea level were to rise a bit more.
To avoid long queues it is best to buy a ticket online. In the museum there is free wifi, so you can look up even more about the strange collection. The museum is located on the dam and is easily accessible by public transport.
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The Rijksmuseum
The Netherlands has a rich history, of which the golden age has had the most significance in the field of art. Painters such as Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt van Rijn and Frans Hals created their impressive works during this period. Trade was also flourishing in the 17th century. The VOC sailed all over the world. All kinds of works and collections from this period can be found in the Rijksmuseum. But there is much more.
The Rijksmuseum is one of the best-known museums in the Netherlands. People from all over the world come here to view the enormous collection. Great works such as Rembrandt’s Night Watch and Vermeer’s Milkmaid hang on the walls here. However, the collection contains much more than just the works of great Dutch masters. There is beautiful silver and sculpture, Delft blue, Asian art, jewellery, archaeological excavations and collections from the time of Dutch seafaring. The Rijksmuseum also moves with the times and presents a collection from the 20th century. The Mondriaan dress and Rietveld’s Armchair, among others, are presented here. On a beautiful day, it is also wonderful to stroll through the museum’s beautiful gardens.
The Rijksmuseum is open all year round from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Tickets can be purchased locally, but to avoid long queues, it is best to order a ticket online. This ticket gives you access to the museum and you can use the free wifi.
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The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Modernism originated at the beginning of the 20th century and ended some 60 years later. The old rules were no longer applied and artists let their imagination run wild. Especially abstract art became very popular. Kandinsky, Mondrian and Pollock are masters who became famous for this. After that, contemporary art came into being, including Marlene Dumas. All kinds of works of modern and contemporary art and design can be found in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
The Stedelijk Museum of Amsterdam has a large art collection from the 20th century. The collection consists of works from the period from 1880 to the present day. Both modern and contemporary art are exhibited here. From the colourful portrait of Mao by Andy Warhol to the abstract Reflection of the big dipper by Jackson Pollock. In addition to these works of art, the museum is also known for its design department. From Gijs Bakker’s jewellery to Gerrit Rietveld’s world-famous red-blue chair.
The Stedelijk Museum is located on the Museumplein, next to the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. The museum is open all year round and tickets can be purchased on site or online. Buying tickets online is highly recommended, as queues at the ticket counter can be long. An online ticket gives you access to the museum and you can use an audio guide.
Madame Tussauds
Didn’t you ever get to take a picture backstage with Ariana Grande? Have you always had a crush on Ryan Gosling after his performance in The Notebook? Are you a Thor fan or were you secretly always in favour of Loki? Do you win the stare down with Rico Verhoeven? You don’t just meet famous people on the street and a picture with your hero is very unlikely. Luckily most of them can be found in the centre of Amsterdam and are there for you all year round. In Madame Tussauds you can meet your hero.
At Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam you’ll find images of world-famous people from the world of sports, politics, art, film and music. Here you can take a picture with your idol or hero. But this is not the only thing, because Madame Tussauds is also very interactive. For example, you can create your own artwork with digital spray in Herman Brood’s studio and record a duet with Adele in the recording studio.
Madame Tussauds is located in the centre of Amsterdam, on the dam. The wax museum is open all year round. The queues in front of the box office can be long, so buying a ticket online is advisable. With this ticket you get entrance to Madame Tussauds and a free booklet with more information.
Moco Museum
Banksy is known as a street artist who works in a catchy and humorous way. He often adapts existing art, which also changes the meaning of the work. With these new meanings he wants to convey a message. Although it is difficult these days not to come into the spotlight as a world-famous artist, he has managed to keep his identity hidden to this day. This mystery makes him even more famous. The works of art of Banksy and many other modern and contemporary artists can be found in the Moco Museum in Amsterdam.
The Moco Museum exhibits works by world-famous artists who have immersed themselves in modern and contemporary art. These are mainly artists who convey a message in their works or want to make you think about something in a different way. In addition to Banksy, there are works by Daniel Arsham. These art objects encourage you to think longer about the content of the work, such as doll’s clothing where it looks as if it has been excavated. Many modern artists have inspired each other and their works now hang here together. Creations by Warhol, Haring and Basquiat, among others, are on display in the Moco Museum.
The Moco Museum is located in the beautiful Villa Alsberg on the Museumplein, the location of several museums. The museum is open all year round and admission tickets can be purchased online as well as on site. With an online ticket you can skip the queue at the ticket counter.
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The Rembrandt House
Rembrandt van Rijn is regarded as one of the most important Dutch painters of the Golden Age. Although he sold many paintings during his time, his work was not always appreciated. However, the number of paintings you had in the house indicated how rich you were. This assumption caused the artist to sell many paintings. As Rembrandt grew older, he began to paint more freely. This meant that he received fewer commissions and eventually died poor. Nowadays, his name is known to everyone.
Rembrandt spent a large part of his life in a house in the centre of Amsterdam. Here he also had his studio and art dealership. Since 1911 this has been a museum, the Rembrandt House. In this museum you can learn more about the life of the painter. You can take a look in the rooms where he worked, at the furniture he used and the works of art he created. The museum has a large collection of his sketches. There are also regular temporary exhibitions of other artists from his time.
The Rembrandt House is located in the centre of Amsterdam and is easily accessible by public transport. To avoid long queues in front of the museum, you can buy an online ticket. With this ticket you have access to the museum, you can use the audio guide and you will receive an information booklet.
Diamond Museum Amsterdam
A diamond is a gemstone and can be billions of years old. The beautiful stone is the hardest natural material we know. Over the years, various myths about the diamond have developed. According to Jewish tradition, the stone could show whether someone was guilty or innocent, and Greek philosophers believed that it contained heavenly spirits. In the last few hundred years, diamonds were mainly used in jewellery. From crowns to engagement rings.
The Diamond Museum in Amsterdam is the only one in Europe. The museum exhibits a collection of all kinds of diamonds, decorated objects, jewellery, including that of the Royal House of Orange-Nassau, and replicas. There are also photographs of famous jewels, see what tools were needed for processing and learn more about history. During a visit to this museum you will find out how special and rare diamonds are. Meanwhile, you can marvel at the beautiful objects.
The Diamond Museum is located on the Museumplein in a beautiful 17th century building. Avoid long queues and buy your tickets online. An online ticket gives you access to the museum and Coster Diamonds. This diamond cutting company has worked on a number of historical objects, such as Queen Juliana’s watch.
Amsterdam Museum
Most foreigners think of Amsterdam as the city of drugs and prostitutes, while there is much more. Amsterdam has a rich history that you can enjoy. There are numerous museums with works of famous Dutch painters, all kinds of charming canal houses from the time of the Golden Age and lively nightlife areas. Amsterdam is also known as a tolerant city. Find out more about this fantastic city at the Amsterdam Museum.
In the Amsterdam Museum you’ll find a number of exhibitions that give you more information about the history of the city. How is it possible that Amsterdam became a metropolis from a settlement? How big were the roles of religion, migration, globalization and digitization in the process? You’ll find out at the exhibition World – City. During the interactive DNA tour you will get an overview of the history of the city. In the Kleine Weeshuis you will experience how orphans lived in the 17th century. And take a look at the carpet that contains all 179 nationalities living in Amsterdam. Amsterdam also produced a number of famous artists. That’s why the Amsterdam Museum also hosts an exhibition by Ferdinand Bol and Govert Flinck, students of Rembrandt.
The Amsterdam Museum is located in the Kalverstraat. Tickets can be bought at the door, but with online tickets you can avoid long queues. The online ticket gives you access to the museum and an audio tour.
The National Maritime Museum
Shipping in the Netherlands flourished in the 16th century, reached its peak in the 17th century and weakened in the 18th century. In the Golden Age, the Netherlands ruled over merchant shipping. Colonies were founded, new trading areas were found and an enormous merchant fleet was established. The most important spices came into the hands of the Dutch and the number of ships continued to grow. The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands became a superpower. At the beginning of the 19th century, however, this came to an end.
The National Maritime Museum tells you the story of the highs and lows of Dutch merchant shipping. Discover how the Netherlands could become so great and what eventually became its downfall. Take a look at the small replicas of the ships and listen to the stories of seafarers and scientists of that time. You can even set foot on a 17th century VOC ship. There are also a number of other interesting exhibitions. Here you can learn more about the protected mammal the whale and the impact of sea level rise.
The National Maritime Museum is close to Nemo and is easily accessible by both car and public transport. Admission tickets can be purchased online and on site. Those who want to avoid long queues at the ticket office can best buy tickets online. The ticket gives you access to the museum and you can use the audio guide.
Foam
Photography has two purposes: to make photographs that serve as documents and to make photographs that serve as art. Passport photos, images for newspapers and images for research purposes. These are all examples of photographs that serve as registration material. Not everyone saw the photo as a form of expression. It was only in the 1960s and 1970s that artists such as Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg made photography really known as an art form. More and more people started working with this form and eventually many works ended up in various museums. So photography is indeed art.
In the photography museum Foam there are several temporary exhibitions every year. In these photography projects all kinds of subjects are discussed. From everyday activities to unusual events. In addition to the exhibitions, there are also many activities on the program. Workshops are held regularly, where you can learn more about photographic concepts and how best to make portrait photographs. In Foam you will not only find works by famous photographers, but also by up-and-coming talents. Historical works as well as the latest developments hang on the wall here.
Foam is located in the centre of Amsterdam, on the Keizersgracht. This is easily accessible by public transport. Tickets can be bought at the door as well as online. Avoid the queues by ordering tickets online. An online ticket gives you access to all exhibitions and the gallery.
The Tropenmuseum
The culture of Sri Lanka and that of the Netherlands are very different in certain areas. When you want to confirm something, you have to shake your head. Kinking means ”no”. The inhabitants of Sri Lanka are not punctual. It can just be that they arrive an hour late for an appointment, or even an hour early. Cultural differences are not a problem. On the contrary, it makes the world beautiful and interesting. At the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam you can learn a lot more about this.
At the Tropenmuseum you can learn all sorts of things about various world cultures. From the large Light Hall in which you enter, you can go in all directions. There are both permanent and temporary exhibitions and exhibits that tell you a bit more about important themes in the world. Themes such as religion, norms and values, rituals and conflicts are dealt with here. The exhibitions show all kinds of special objects from different parts of the world. There is the Tropenmuseum Junior especially for children between the ages of 6 and 13. Here they can learn more about the world in an interactive way, for example by playing games and actively experiencing cultural differences.
The Tropenmuseum is located in a beautiful building in Amsterdam-Oost. Tickets can be purchased locally, but due to the limited space in the building, it is advisable to buy tickets online. An online ticket gives you access to the museum and an information booklet. The Tropenmuseum is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
The Resistance Museum
On 10 May 1940, the Germans invaded the Netherlands. Five days later, the Netherlands was occupied. Initially, the Dutch population did not suffer much from the occupation. The Germans wanted to win them over. In the same year the first anti-Jewish measures started and the consequences did not come much later. At the beginning of 1941, the first massive protests against these measures began. The Germans acted hard, but that did not stop the resistance from working against them in every possible way.
In the Resistance Museum of Amsterdam you can learn more about the Second World War and how the Netherlands dealt with the occupation. The heroic people of the resistance saved countless people with their actions. From hiding people to financing the resistance. Listen to the sound fragments of these people and discover how fierce this period was. Take a look at the film fragments to get a clear picture of the events. There are also many photos and documents that you can see and historical objects that were important during the war.
The Resistance Museum is located next to Artis, in the centre of Amsterdam. Tickets can be bought at the museum’s box office, but to avoid long queues it is advisable to buy tickets online. With an online ticket you get access to the museum and the performances. You will also receive an audio guide.