One of the world’s most underrated museum capitals, Amsterdam contains one of the highest concentrations of museums and other cultural institutions in the world. From the Dutch Masters of painting to the contemporary worlds of art, architecture, and design, not to mention the wild (and sometimes wacky!) natural world, here’s a quick guide to some of our favourites.
The Classics
Some of the world’s most beloved and popular museums are located right in Amsterdam. Here are just a few of the can’t-miss museums in the city, most of which need no introduction.
Rijksmuseum
Art lovers all over the world have dreamed of spending countless hours in this most important museum. Some of the most significant artworks from the Dutch Masters are found here, from the Dutch Golden Age of Vermeer, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Jan Steen and more. You will also see a small Asian collection in its own special pavilion, along with distinctive blue-and-white Delftware, and a lovely landscaped garden (free for anyone to visit). With a collection of 1 million artworks, you’ll only see about 8,000 on display at any given time: all the better to return again and again.
Anne Frank House
The young Jewish girl and diarist lived here at Prinsengracht 263 during the Second World War, hiding in an attic with her family for over two years. Established as a museum in 1960, you will see historical documents, preserved rooms, original objects (including Anne’s original diary and other notebooks), photographs and more tell the story of the persecution of the Jews during the Second World War.
Van Gogh Museum
One of the most-visited museums in the world, Van Gogh’s clout is indisputable, and it’s here where the largest collection of his works resides. With over 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters, you will likely see all your favourites here. From Sunflowers (one of the most expensive artworks to be sold at the auction house) to his famous landscapes, still-lifes and self-portraits, the recently expanded and refurbished museum is where you can immerse yourself in Van Gogh’s colour-saturated world.
Kröller-Müller Museum
One of the first European women to amass a major art collection, the wealthy collector Helene Kröller-Müller had an exacting eye and prescient taste in art, amassing one of the largest collections of Van Gogh’s work—second only to the Van Gogh Museum—with over 90 paintings and 185 drawings, along with the work of other artists including Picasso, Braque, Piet Mondrian and more. Transferring her entire collection of 20,000 artworks to the Dutch public in 1935, you can see her splendid collection on her country estate, located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park in Otterlo (about 1 hour west of Amsterdam by car). There is also a beautiful sculpture garden within the forest, one of the largest in Europe.
Stedelijk Museum
Jump into the contemporary art and design world at the largest Dutch museum dedicated to everything ‘new’ from the last 150 years. From Cezanne, Kandinsky, De Kooning, Koons, Matisse, Mondrian, Picasso, Pollock, Warhol and others, it’s a whirlwind of styles and colours. From the history of design and major movements like Bauhaus, the Amsterdam School, De Stijl and more, its 90,000-strong collection is sure to captivate.
Hermitage Amsterdam
An offshoot of the St. Petersburg museum in Russia, you will see differently themed exhibitions on display at the Dutch arm of the Hermitage. There is a focus on Russian history and culture, with rotating exhibitions from outsider art to Golden Age Dutch painting (of course!), and Italian sculpture—just check the website to see what’s on display during your visit.
Rembrandt House
The home studio of Rembrandt from 1639 to 1656, just up the street from city hall, its 17thC interior and furnishings have been reconstructed for visitors. Here you’ll see 260 sketches, a printmaking studio, as well as paintings by artists who worked in Amsterdam around the time of Rembrandt are shown, along with a few Rembrandt paintings.
Textile and Decorative Arts
Museum of Bags and Purses
Fashion lovers and textile fiends will find this museum a delight. Originally from a private collection and now a public museum, about 4,000 pieces in all make this comprehensive collection a standout, from 17thC bags to modern luxury designers (Chanel! Dior! Gucci! Hermès! Vuitton!). From embroidered, bejewelled, and intricate handmade designs from all eras of history, the blank canvas of the humble carryall (or the status bag) tells a detailed story about the wearer’s life.