Image Source: wikipedia.org
Beautifully bundling up the world-class wonders in closed rooms, the Museums in Amsterdam serve as a haven for art-lovers and explorer minds. The ginormous galleries and hefty halls of Amsterdam museums provide an opportunity to witness the greatest masterpieces of all times, learn about their fascinating stories, and marvel at the priceless possessions of the city. The best way to see museums in Amsterdam is to get a city pass or combi-tickets and explore the city museums like a local. Following are the best museums in Amsterdam that are stunningly designed to record all the tantalizing, tremendous, and even trivial aspects of human history.
1. Van Gogh Museum
Image Source: flickr.com
An abode of Vincent van Gogh’s creative masterpieces, the Van Gogh Museum is one of the best art museums in Amsterdam. A popular destination for the art-craft masters, Van Gogh Museum is located at the Museum Square of Amsterdam and has the largest collection of van Gogh paintings. With millions of visitors (that keep rising every year), Van Gogh Museum is considered as the most visited museum in the Netherlands, as well as one of the most popular art museums in the world.
What kind of pieces can one expect to see?
The museum houses the most famous paintings by van Gogh such as The Potato Eaters, The Sunflower, The Yellow House, Almond Blossoms, and his Self-Portrait. The works by his contemporaries like Auguste Rodin, Emile Bernard, Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, and more can also be witnessed.
2. Rijksmuseum
Image Source: pixabay.com
Rijksmuseum in Dutch means “National Museum” and owing to this fact, it is the largest museum in Amsterdam as well as in the Netherlands. Rijksmuseum was earlier located in the Royal Palace and later inside a neoclassical canal mansion called Trippenhuis. You will see wonderful art pieces by world-famous artists like Frans Hals, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. In addition to this, the Asian Art Gallery of the museum is also a must-see.
What’s so fascinating about it?
This state-of-the-art museum is home to over 8,000 items of art and history, while the total collection size is of 1 million objects. Huge! Isn’t it? And yeah, do pass by the museum at night to see how beautiful it looks illuminated.
3. Anne Frank House
Image Source: flickr.com
Who hasn’t read The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank? We have all loved the book and shed tears on the tragedy, this little girl went through. Anne Frank House is where this Jewish writer spent her childhood and mentioned the memories associated with the same in her diary. The house has been converted into a museum and features plenty of biographical items as well as artifacts related to World War II. Opened in 1960, Anne Frank House and Museum is one of the most influential museums in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
What to keep in mind while visiting?
Make sure that you book an advance ticket online at least 2 months prior to your visit to Anne Frank House. The rooms are small and it’s not possible to accommodate many people at the same time. Therefore, it can be visited only with the help of an online ticket that provides a specific date and time.
4. The National Maritime Museum
Image Source: wikimedia.org
Learn everything about the Golden Age, giant ships, and famous voyages in history at the National Maritime Museum. When it comes to the list of museums in Amsterdam that are most visited by tourists, the National Maritime Museum stands at the top. The museum displays a large number of artifacts related to the maritime history of the Netherlands such as the world maps, ship models, and statues. You will also find a beautiful collection of paintings done by the naval officers.
What’s the spotlight of this museum?
Right outside the National Maritime Museum, you will see the replica of the 18th-century ship called Amsterdam. You will surely like many things inside the museum, but this ship-replica is just unmatched!
5. Rembrandt House Museum
Image Source: wikimedia.org
If apart from the artworks, you are willing to learn about the lifestyle of artists, Rembrandt House Museum is the place to be. Dedicated to the works of the famous painter Rembrandt, Rembrandt House Museum is originally a house where he lived between the years 1639 and 1656. You can see all the belongings of Rembrandt and a huge collection of his paintings in this house-turned-museum.
How can you enjoy the best?
As you purchase the ticket to this 17th-century house, it will also include an audio tour. So, make sure that you utilize it to gather more information about the painter and his works.
6. Science Center NEMO
Image Source: wikimedia.org
Science Center NEMO is one of the best cheap museums in Amsterdam as it was established with the sole aim of promoting scientific knowledge among kids. Children under the age of 4 can visit the Science Center for free. Having a ship-like shape, the museum building was designed by Renzo Piano and has five floors, each one showcasing the wonders of science. The museum is visited by over 500,000 people every year. There’s also a cafeteria and gift shop to buy souvenirs from.
What’s something that you should not miss?
Wouldn’t you like to know interesting facts about your own mind? Then reach the fourth floor of NEMO Science Museum which is dedicated to the human mind. You can learn about the mental problems and mechanics with the help of various experiments.
7. Stedelijk Museum
Image Source: wikimedia.org
One of the must-visit museums in Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum is home to the masterpieces by artists like Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall, Kirchner, Henri Matisse, Karel Appel, Lucio Fontana, and more. There are two wings in the museum; while one was designed in the 19th century, other is the work of the 21st century. Having an interest in modern or contemporary art? Come to the Stedelijk Museum.
What’s in store?
Name an aspect of art and you will find it at the Stedelijk Museum. While there is a huge collection of modernist paintings, you will also discover a large number of sculptures, installations, posters, photographs, animation, artist books, and archives.
8. Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
Image Source: flickr.com
Want to meet all the world-famous celebrities under one roof? Madame Tussauds is where you can click pictures with them. Whether you are a Justin Bieber fan or Angelina Jolie is your idol, you will find the life-like wax statues of your favorite stars here. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is located near the Royal Palace of Amsterdam and has a huge collection of wax figures of celebrities from music, movies, and sports.
What are some famous figures to be found?
From the people of Royal family such as Diana and William of Orange, to actors like Charlie Chaplin, Brad Pitt, Marilyn Monroe; musicians like Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Beyonce; and other famous personalities like Einstein, Dalai Lama, and Mahatma Gandhi are featured at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
9. Hermitage Amsterdam
Image Source: wikimedia.org
Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam is nothing but the Dutch branch of St. Petersburg Hermitage Museum which is dedicated to art and culture. The museum is nestled on the banks of the Amstel River. It is impressive to have a museum that provides such a deep insight into the Russian history in the heart of Amsterdam. There are two large exhibition halls as well as one small room for the temporary exhibitions.
What to see in the exhibitions?
Learn about the life and battles fought by Alexander the Great with the help of intricate paintings, decorative art pieces, and tapestries. In another permanent exhibition, you will see marvelous paintings by the ancient and modernist painters.
10. Museum of Bags and Purses
Image Source: wikimedia.org
There are some cool museums in Amsterdam that not only offer information, but also a lot of fun. One such museums is the Museum of Bags and Purses where you will listen to the mind-blowing stories of tradition and fashion. One of the small museums in Amsterdam, this quirky place is home to 5,000 purses and bags, dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. This one-of-a-kind museum is located inside a 1666 canal house.
What are some exciting things here?
A 16th-century goatskin pouch for men! That’s one of the most exciting things you will find in this museum, others being the doctor’s bag, tobacco pouches, and gaming bags from the Middle Age. You will also see the transformation of purses and bags with the industrial revolution.
Amsterdam, alone, houses over 90 small and big museums and it will take you months to explore all. While the ones mentioned here are the best museums in Amsterdam, you will also enjoy visiting the Diamond Museum, Moco Museum, Pipe Museum, and Micropia.
