Moco Museum Amsterdam with Banksy & More | This is undoubtedly a gem in the metropolis of Amsterdam, which is rich in museums. And in the truest sense of the word, because the Moco Museum at Honthorststraat 20 is small but friendly. Tickets online here.
Some visitors imagine themselves more in a gallery and less in a museum, for this is the home of numerous exhibits of modern art, and whoever strolls through the halls embarks on a journey through time of a kind that Amsterdam can only offer here in this form.
The Moco Museum presents the creations of inspired and sometimes courageous modern artists. The house offers a foray through the history of contemporary art.
What is there to visit?
Two Dutch art lovers, Lionel and Kim Logchies, fulfilled a long-held dream in 2016: they founded their museum. And that’s rare at a time when almost everywhere it takes an infusion of public money to maintain a museum and keep it alive. However, the duo, fascinated with art, went their own way and were not deterred even when friends advised them to keep their distance from this crazy idea. When they founded the Moco Museum, of course, they could not have imagined that this house would very soon become the hub of modern art in Amsterdam.
The concept of the Moco Museum was based on the realisation that the forms of artistic creation are constantly in motion. That is why new exhibitions are presented continuously in the diverse rooms of the house. They rotate from the diversity of political street artists to the provocative works of ingenious painters and drafting technicians. The Moco Museum and its owners want to touch their visitors with the exhibits on display, make them think, and release something in them. While strolling through this gallery, many a person vacillates between enthusiasm and incomprehension. But these feelings are also wanted in the Moco Museum.
Entrance fees Moco Museum
The exhibition building is in the middle of Amsterdam’s most famous museums. The place is teeming with visitors who love art and culture. Furthermore, due to the size of the museum building, only a certain number of simultaneous visitors are allowed.
Tickets are often sold out for the day in advance. To avoid waiting times, you should try to get tickets early.
| Moco Museum | Price* | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Adults 18+ | 22,95 € | Book Online |
| Students with ID | 19,95 € | Book Online |
| Teens 7-17 y | 19,95 € | Book Online |
| Children 0-6 y | Free |
Building and history of the museum
The most prestigious artists of our time were given an exceptional home for their works in this museum of Amsterdam. The historic house is located in the heart of the city and the neighborhood of the world-famous Rijksmuseum. The former Villa Alsberg is a townhouse from 1904 designed by the legendary Eduard Cuypers.
The latter was a nephew of Pierre Cuypers, who was responsible, among other things, for the construction of Amsterdam Central Station. For several generations, the villa was privately owned, rented immediately before World War II to a priest who taught at the neighbouring Saint Nicolas School, and in later years converted into a law office.
More tickets for Moco Museum
Adult visitors can save a little money by purchasing a combination ticket for admission to the museum and the obligatory canal cruise.
If you want to increase the number of your Instagram followers, you should join a trendy tour of the most beautiful places of the famous canal city, including a visit to the modern Moco Museum.
| Moco Museum + | Price * | Ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Canal Cruise | 35,50 € | Book Online |
| Madame Tussauds | 43,65 € | Book Online |
| Van Gogh Museum | 42,70 € | Book Online |
| Xtra Cold Ice Bar | 47,00 € | Book Online |
| Instagram photo spots | 49,00 € | Book Online |
All details and necessary information about the combination tickets are available on the provider’s site.
Opening hours of the Moco Museum
The popular Moco Museum currently states its admission hours as follows:
| Moco Museum | Opening hours | Last admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday - Thursday | 9:00 till 19:00 | approx. 18:15 |
| Friday - Sunday | 9:00 till 20:00 | approx. 19:15 |
Interested visitors should plan on spending about an hour in the exhibition rooms. Many surrounding museums close earlier, so a visit to the Moco Museum can be conveniently scheduled at the end of an extensive museum tour.
The best time to visit the museum
This is a good question because, on certain days, there is a massive demand for tickets to enter the museum. I always suggest visiting the museum on weekdays, of course, and not on weekends. The best time to visit the museum is in the afternoon when things are always more relaxed.
You can now take time to enjoy the art experience to the fullest. On weekends it is always and everywhere in the museums in the area very crowded. There it goes, then quickly very hectic.
What is unique about the Moco Museum?
Among the imaginary stars of this exhibition is the mysterious British artist Banksy, who has shaped the art of the street with his humour and ideas. Amsterdam’s Moco Museum features many of his works – including the gigantic Beanfield painting on display in the foyer. While Banksy’s tongue-in-cheek humour dictates his actions, Daniel Arsham takes us into the world of the unexpected. With his high-tech works, the visitor enters another world, while the Iranian brothers Icy & Sot call their retrospective Moment of Clarity.
Many will then leave it at a visit to the garden with their interesting sculptures or a stop at one of the nearby cozy cafes. The rest of the visitors will be amazed by the works of pop art legend Andy Warhol or puzzled over the deeper meaning of connectivism in Studio Irma with its colourful lights and movement in digital spaces.
Where is the museum located in Amsterdam?
The Moco Museum is located in the historic Villa Alsberg on the Museumplein in Amsterdam:
- Address: Honthorststraat 20, 1071 DE Amsterdam
- Directions: Tram lines 2, 5 and 12; stops Van Baerlestraat or Rijksmuseum
- Parking: Q-Park Museum, Van Baerlestraat 33B, 1071 AP Amsterdam
Otherwise, look at the accessibility options for the surrounding museums, as you will indeed combine your visit to the Moco Museum with a visit to one of Amsterdam’s most famous museums, such as the Imperial Museum or the unique Van Gogh Museum. You can also find the closest parking for all museums at Mobypark.
The souvenir store in the Moco Museum
The Moco Museum Gift Shop is open daily from 9:00 to 19:00. The unique art direction of the museum is, of course, reflected in the offers of the gift store.
Those interested in the museum’s modern forms on display will undoubtedly find a few noteworthy specimens among the books on offer. Otherwise, there is a chic selection of T-shirts, sweaters, and hoodies as souvenirs, in addition to the usual bags, caps, and posters.
Practical tips for the visit
If contemporary art is a foreign word to you, you should get an accompaniment at the Moco Museum. It is offered there as audio guides in Dutch and English. The entire tour through the historic building and the many different forms of expression of the artists lasts a little more than half an hour.
📷 The museum gets its unique charm from the variety of exhibits and the characteristics of the villa. Since there is no elevator, the visit is difficult for people with physical problems.
Photography is allowed as long as you do not disturb anyone.
The building, unfortunately, has no storage facilities for luggage, backpacks, strollers, etc.. For this, there is a central solution on the Museumplein, which many other visitors of the surrounding museums also use. Only 125 metres away from the Moco Museum is the Lockerpoint Luggage Storage.
Is the visit worthwhile?
✅ No question: The Moco Museum in Amsterdam is worth more than just a visit. This gallery takes you to a world of fantasy, to a mysterious red gummy bear in a beautiful garden and, above all, to the superstars of modern art. The exhibition dedicated to Banksy, who used to be called a greaseball in London and who then rose to become one of the most influential street artists of our time, is of particular value.
The museum sees itself as a reflection of the world and as a contribution to the search for truth. Kim Logchies, the owner of the house, put it in a nutshell: “Most museums are similar, but we want to be different. More rebellious and funky.” And that’s why there are no long explanations on the walls at this museum. Instead, the exhibits are meant to make you think.
What can you visit nearby?
Right next door are the three top museums of Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and Design. If you plan to visit multiple museums, you should ensure you have the right tickets online to avoid unnecessary waiting times.
✅ Tip: If not enough, you can visit the Diamond Museum or a diamond-cutting workshop just a few steps from the Moco Museum. A drink is included in the entrance fee when visiting the House of Bols, directly opposite the “Villa Alsberg”.
Suppose you are looking for relaxation before, during, or after you visit Museum Square. In that case, you will find the Heineken Brewery not far away or a nearby departure point for one of Amsterdam’s classic canal cruises.
