The absolute best museums in Amsterdam
From Rembrandt van Rijn to Johannes Vermeer to Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch have an illustrious history of painting. But the absolute best museums and galleries in Amsterdam also prove that they are also up to the mark in other art-related endeavors. Whether you’ve come for cinematography, photography or contemporary art, and whether it’s one of the city’s many quirky one-man activities or a modern space on the River IJ, you’re likely to leave when see something new, exciting and – almost always – brilliantly executed. Let’s find out with Toplifetechs the most beautiful museums in Amsterdam!
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Rijksmuseum
What is it? This museum is a must stop for art and history buffs, with everything from antique sculptures and handcrafted furniture to an actual propeller plane on the top floor . In the Honor Gallery, see works by Johannes Vermeer and Frans Hals, along with Rembrandt’s title ‘The Night Watch’.
Why go? A recent decades-long renovation has given the museum a stylish facelift without sacrificing its history or charm. Come to Dutch Masters, stay with ornate stained-glass windows and manicured gardens.
Stedelijk Museum
What is it? The Museum of Modern Art is home to over 90,000 eclectic works. In addition to thought-provoking rotating exhibitions, the Stedelijk Base presents some of modern art’s most famous works (think Picasso, Koons, Lichtenstein and more).
Why go? Despite its upscale Museum Square location and eye-catching tub-shaped exterior, pedestrian traffic here is significantly less than in other major museums. It means not jostling for a proper look at Mondrian.
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum has the world’s largest collection of paintings by the famous Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890). It is very popular with visitors to Amsterdam and the museum has had to impose time limits on those who want to enter. You can no longer come and buy tickets at the door.
Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder Museum
What is it? In the attic of this undoubted house – preserved to show visitors what a typical 17th-century Dutch house looks like – there is a very striking pink Catholic church with spectacular views of the city center.
Why go? It was a history lesson in Amsterdam of a different kind. By law, non-Calvinist public worship was banned at the time, so while it’s not the only Dutch house with a concealed church, it’s easily a beautiful place.
Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum
What is it? The Dutch are water masters, mostly out of necessity (Amsterdam’s canals keep the city at sea level) but also because they’re business-minded – see Eastern Company Dutch Indian or VOC. The National Maritime Museum reflects both sides of this obsession.
Why go? This is a great solution for families, with enough engaging exhibits and installations to avoid a holiday mutiny. There is also a replica VOC ship docked outside the main building, which is ready to be explored.
Anne Frank Huis
What is it? One of the only museums in Amsterdam where you’ll have to line up, it’s worth the wait to see soberly not only the attic where Anne Frank and her family hid in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands , but also exhibits detailing the Jewish people. wartime repression.
Why go? On the picturesque Prinsengracht and next to the epic Westerkerk, it’s a somber reminder of the horrors of the Second World War, but also a moving tribute to tireless optimism. Frank’s fatigue.
Maritime Museum
The Dutch National Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum) is found in the eastern docks area of Amsterdam. This modern museum showcases the Dutch maritime history and includes perhaps the best collection of fireworks and globes in the world.
The wings of the museum are connected by a courtyard with a beautiful glass roof.
In 2019, the museum received 311,000 visitors, down slightly from two years ago and pushing it out of the top 10. This was a record year in 2012 with 419,000 visitors.
Nieuwe Kerk
Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) is the main church in Amsterdam located on Dam Square in the city center. It is used for state functions and is an exhibition space that hosts a large exhibition in the fall/winter as well as the annual World Press Photo in early summer.
FOAM
FOAM is a popular photography museum in Amsterdam located on the Keizersgracht canal and hosts many temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
FOAM received 193,000 visitors in 2019, a good increase from 2018. Over the past 10 years, FOAM has welcomed an average of 201,000 visitors with a record 244,000 arrivals in 2016.
