Top 5 Museums in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is known for its canals and coffeeshops but the city is also bursting with world-class museums. These are my top 5 recommendations for the “best of” Amsterdam - focusing on art, culture and history. I’d plan on no more than two per day as you will want time to linger and soak it all in, instead of having to rush from one to the other. We can arrange a totally customized vacation for you including these sights plus some other lesser-known museums depending on your interests (photography, purses (!), cats and more!) Private guides also available for those wanting a more in-depth experience. Contact me now to get started!

Anne Frank House

This museum was established in 1957 so that future generations would know Anne Frank’s story about being a Jewish girl living in hiding for 761 days during World War II. Due to the museum’s popularity with visitors from near and far, tickets must be purchased in advance (2 months ahead of time). While at the museum you can see where Anne and her family lived while you listen to an audio tour. You can also view the revolving bookcase that concealed their secret annex, you can visit the Museum Cafe with its view of Prinsengracht (Prince’s Canal), and you can support the museum and its independent organization by shopping in the store. The organization increases global awareness of Anne Frank’s life story, encouraging people to reflect on the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and discrimination, as well as the importance of freedom, equal rights, and democracy. From April until November, the museum is open from 9am-10pm, while from November until April it is open from 9am-7pm (except Saturdays when it stays open until 10pm). It will take about an hour to visit the museum but you can take as long as you wish. Anne Frank House is located in central Amsterdam close to Dam Square.

Van Gogh Museum

This museum houses the largest collection of Van Gogh’s works including such well-known paintings as Almond Blossom, Sunflowers, and Potato Eaters. Vincent Van Gogh was born in the village of Zundert which is south of Amsterdam. Although he left Amsterdam after school, he returned a couple of times in his life. Once at the age of 23 to study theology then again at the age of 30 where he was inspired to paint landscapes after visiting the newly opened Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The Van Gogh
Museum is very popular so it is best to have your tickets secured in advance. The museum is open daily either from 9am-5pm, 9am-6pm, or 9am-7pm (with some Fridays from 9am-9pm) and it will take you about an hour or two to see everything. The Van Gogh Museum is located on the Museumplein and is easy to get to via public transport, hop on/off canal boat and by foot.

Rijksmuseum

This museum has been a part of Amsterdam since 1885 and has been very popular for many years due to the extensive collections it houses. The museum shows the history of Dutch artists from the Middle Ages through modern day. Besides seeing classic paintings, there are (among other things) sculptures, dolls’ houses, costumes, and photography exhibitions. Some of the must-see paintings at Rijksmuseum are Avercamp’s Winter Landscape with Ice Skaters, Vermeer’s The Milkmaid (side note - I love Vermeer), Van Gogh’s Self Portrait (1887), Rembrandt’s Early Self Portrait, Isaac and Rebecca (aka The Jewish Bride), and, the pièce de résistance - his Night Watch. The Night Watch is the Netherland’s foremost
national artistic showpiece, a must-see for tourists and is currently being researched and restored (in the public’s view) as part of Operation Night Watch (read all about the project here.) The masterpiece is in its own room as it measures approximately 11 by 14 feet! The museum is open every day of the year from 9am-5pm. It is best to have your tickets ahead of time just to avoid having to wait on lines to get in. It also guarantees
your admission for the day you would like to visit. The museum has a shop, a cafe, a restaurant, and espresso bars (including one in the gardens which is open in the summertime). The cafe and restaurant have their own hours that extend beyond the museum hours and do not require admission to the museum. Like the Van Gogh Museum above, Rijksmuseum is also located on the Museumplein so is easy to get to.

Hermitage Amsterdam

This museum is one of the two largest museums in Amsterdam (with Rijksmuseum being the other). The Russian-based exhibitions change from year to year and much of the art comes from the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Currently Hermitage has 3 major exhibitions: Jewels! (until March 15, 2020), Group Portraits from the 17th Century, and the Outsider Art Museum. Jewels! showcases 300 pieces of jewelry along with over 100 paintings, accessories, dresses, and costumes from Russian tzars and members of the St Petersburg high society. The Portrait Gallery houses a collection of 30 group portraits from the Amsterdam Museum and Rijksmuseum collections. These portraits are very large in size similar to Rembrandt’s Night Watch at Rijksmuseum. The Outsider Art Museum features art made by “outsiders” in the art industry (art made by artists that haven’t formally been trained). The admission to all of the exhibitions includes an audio tour. Tickets can be purchased for just one exhibition or a combination of two or three. The museum is open daily from 10am-5pm except for King’s Day in April and Christmas and Boxing Days in December (the museum has shorter hours on New Year’s Day opening at noon and closing at 5). At Hermitage there is a cafe/restaurant, a small courtyard cafe, and a teahouse behind the building. It is recommended that you have a reservation if you wish to enjoy the Chef’s Lunch at the Cafe restaurant as it is quite popular. The cafes and restaurant are accessible even for those not visiting the museum. Hermitage is about a 5 minute walk from the Waterlooplein which is accessible by tram or taxi, or you can enter from the canal if you are doing a hop-on-hop-off canal boat ride.

Rembrandthuis

Rembrandthuis (or Rembrandt’s House) is the place where the Dutch painter lived from 1639-1659 and where many of his masterpieces were created. The house has been carefully restored to make the visit feel very authentic. Next to his house is a modern museum which teaches visitors about the man behind the paintbrush. The House is open from 10am-6pm most days (excluding just King’s Day and Christmas Day). Like the other museums, it is best to have your ticket purchased ahead of time in order to save time on the day of your visit. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to see the museum. Although there are no cafes at this museum, there are plenty of places to visit nearby (my favorites include Soup en Zo for a quick lunch or the “crooked bar” across from the museum - you’ll know what I mean when you see it!). The Rembrandt House Museum is located at Jodenbreestraat 4 in Amsterdam which is just behind Waterlooplein.

Ready to go to Amsterdam?

We can customize your vacation based on your travel styles and interests. I lived in Amsterdam for four years and try to return annually - it continues to be one of my favorite places and I’d love to share my experiences with you! Contact me now to get started on your travel plans.