Amsterdam is one of the most popular cities in Europe and the world, and it is easy to see why.
The Dutch capital is home to many attractions, including a range of world-class museums – of which there are 70, each with its own story and identity.
Here are some museums that are worth the visit if ever you’re in the city.
Art museums
- Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum, located on Amsterdam’s Museum Square, is the most-visited museum in the Netherlands, welcoming more than two million guests a year. It houses some of the most renowned international works of art – from paintings and drawings to photographs and prints. The collection includes works by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Johannes Vermeer and Anthony van Dyck.
- Van Gogh Museum
One of the most renowned attractions in the whole of Europe, the Van Gogh museum is home to the world’s biggest collection of paintings by Vincent Van Gogh. Each gallery follows a specific time in the artist’s career, allowing visitors to learn about his life through the works displayed. Some of Van Gogh’s most notable works on display include ‘The Yellow House’ and ‘Sunflowers’.
- Rembrandt House Museum
Known locally as Rembrandthuis, this museum is dedicated to the life and work of Dutch artist Rembrandt. The artist actually lived in the building from 1639 to 1656 and The Rembrandt House Museum offers visitors a look into his life, works and the Dutch Golden Age.
Historic and cultural museums
- Anne Frank House
One museum you should not miss is the Anne Frank House. During World War II, Anne Frank and her family went into hiding from the Nazis in a secret attic, which was turned into this museum after the war. A visit is educational and eye-opening and helps commemorate the persecution of the Jews during this horrifying period in history.
- Hermitage Museum
A satellite location of the original Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, the Amsterdam branch has a rotating collection that features artifacts and artworks related to Russia’s culture. Apart from its magnificent displays, the Hermitage Museum also hosts events such as seminars and concerts.
- Jewish Historical Museum
This museum is the sole museum in the country that focuses on Jewish history and culture. Nestled within the city’s old Jewish quarter, the museum has a permanent collection and in recent years, hosted temporary exhibits featuring well-known artists such as Andy Warhol, Marc Chagall and Jozef Israels.
Contemporary museums
- Stedelijk Museum
The Stedelijk Museum is one of Amsterdam’s top modern art museums, housing one of the world’s biggest and most fascinating collections of contemporary works, including Cubism, Expressionism, Fauvism and Impressionism. The Stedelijk has over 90,000 artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries on display, including pieces by Jackson Pollock, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.
- MOCO Museum
The Modern Contemporary Museum Amsterdam, popularly referred to as MOCO, is a privately owned museum founded to highlight modern and contemporary art, particularly pop art. Among MOCO’s highlights is its permanent collection of works by the British graffiti artist Banksy.
- FOAM
The Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam, or simply FOAM, boasts a huge collection of photographs. Its objective is to educate guests about the art of photography. FOAM hosts a number of rotating exhibitions and events, including the annual Foam Talent.
Quirky museums
- Heineken Experience
Whether you’re a fan of beer or not, you will definitely appreciate a visit to Amsterdam’s Heineken Experience. The museum, a former Heineken brewery, documents the history and development of the famous Dutch beer, and offers a variety of guided tours.
- Amsterdam Cheese Museum
Cheese lovers should not miss the Amsterdam Cheese Museum, which is dedicated to everything Dutch cheese. Apart from getting to sample different types of cheese, you also get the full experience by dressing up as a cheese farmer while being educated about Amsterdam’s cheese making history.
Museums for families
- NEMO Science Centre
The Netherlands’ largest science museum, the NEMO Science Centre is great for those travelling with their children. The five-story complex is filled with interactive installations and displays that guests of all ages can enjoy.
- Micropia
No doubt one of the most unique experiences you’ll have in Amsterdam, Micropia is a microbe museum, the only one of its kind in the world. Found within Artis Zoo, visitors can observe a variety of microbes and microorganisms. The museum also features a number of eclectic exhibits such as the microbe body scanner and ‘kiss-o-meter’, to educate people about microbes, their role and how they are transferred from one person to another.
- National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is home to a comprehensive collection of over 400,000 artifacts and items related to Dutch maritime history, such as ship models, world maps, navigation equipment and paintings. The crown jewel of the museum is the replica of the 18th-century ship known as Amsterdam.
Pro tip: If you want to save money on entrance fees, buy an Amsterdam City Card, which gives you access to virtually all of the city’s attractions (including museums) and public transport.
This was a guest post on Kaki Jalans.
Khai and wife Amira are Malaysian travel bloggers who blog at Kaki Jalans.
Their travels have taken them to almost all the countries in Asean and five countries in Europe. They are still actively travelling and adding to this list.