Amsterdam – 25 museums worth seeing | Typical Amsterdam is, first and foremost, the famous waterways, along which the narrow canal houses are lined up. Then come cheese, tulips, bicycles, clogs, or klompen as they are called here. Add the bicycles, cannabis, and fricandels with tasty fries, and you have a likeable Amsterdam.
But of course, the city cannot be reduced to all of this. For many tourists, the main attractions in Amsterdam include the city’s numerous museums. With over 60 museums, the canal city has the highest density of museums in the world. Many of the exhibitions have become famous far beyond the country’s borders.
Tips for visiting the museum
Before I introduce you to 25 museums worth visiting, here are a few tips to remember when planning your visits. Many exhibition buildings can only sell limited tickets for a specific time slot due to the constantly high number of visitors. It can be unpleasant if the planned visit cannot occur as planned.
So get the right online tickets in advance. This avoids unpopular waiting times. This is also in the interest of the city of Amsterdam, which is why tickets on-site are not cheaper.
Exploring the various museums is expensive. You can only get discounts with a suitable discount card. My suggestion would be the I Amsterdam City Card. It offers free or discounted admission to many museums. Use of all public transport is free, and the obligatory canal cruise is also included in the card’s price.
Without exception, all the museums mentioned are worth a visit. Unfortunately, you cannot take photos everywhere in the exhibition rooms. So ask in advance. Otherwise, the museum shops always offer a wide choice of unique souvenirs.
1. Rijksmuseum
This museum is a must for Amsterdam visitors interested in art and culture, as it allows you to see some of the world’s most famous works of art with your own eyes.
The Rijksmuseum is one of the most famous museums in the world and is home to the most extensive art collection in the country. Over 8000 works of art from 800 years are exhibited in the magnificent building in the centre of the museum quarter. These include world-famous and unique works by artists such as Van Gogh, Vermeer, and Rembrandt.
Rembrandt’s largest and most famous painting, The Night Watch, is also a unique showpiece in the museum’s Gallery of Honour. It is 379.5 cm high and 453.5 cm wide.
Online-Tickets for the Rijksmuseum
- Address: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam
- Opening hours: 9:00 to 17:00
- Directions: Tram lines 2, 5 & 12, Stop Rijksmuseum and line 19, stop Spiegelgracht
2. Stedelijk Museum
Amsterdam has even more to offer when it comes to art! While the Rijksmuseum mainly exhibits the great classics, the neighbouring Stedelijk Museum is dedicated to modern, contemporary art. However, the artists shown here are no less renowned. Works by world-famous masters such as Paul Cézanne, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Henry Matisse, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein can be seen here.
The museum’s permanent exhibition comprises more than 750 pieces of art and design from various trends in modern art and traces their development – an impressive and unique collection. In addition, temporary exhibitions dedicated to different artists or themes of contemporary art can be admired from time to time.
Online-Tickets for the Stedelijk Museum
- Address: Museumplein 10, 1071 DJ Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 18:00
- Directions: Tram 2, 3, 5 & 12, stop Van Baerlestraat from. Tram 2, 16 & 24 stop Museumplein
3. Van Gogh Museum
The name Van Gogh is probably not only familiar to art fans. Amsterdam has dedicated a museum to the brilliant, eccentric artist. It attracts over two million visitors annually, making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The museum has over 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and numerous letters by Van Gogh.
The exhibition also includes famous and well-known significant works by the artist, such as a version of The Sunflowers, The Potato Eaters, and The Bedroom at Arles. As a curious specialty, the gun with which Van Gogh presumably committed suicide in 1890 at the age of 37 is also on display. Alongside Van Gogh’s works, works by other famous artists such as Monet, Munch, and Gauguin are also exhibited in the museum.
Online-Tickets for the Van Gogh Museum
- Address: Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 9:00 to 18:00
- Directions: Tram 2, 3, 5 & 12, stop Van Baerlestraat
4. Body Worlds Amsterdam
The German anatomist Gunther von Hagens invented a unique preservation process for dead bodies. The bodies are preserved using special plastics, and their anatomy is visualised. The results of this process can now be seen in Body Worlds Amsterdam and over 100 exhibitions worldwide with different focal points, attracting millions of visitors.
In Amsterdam, the focus is on happiness and its influence on the human body. Over 200 unique exhibits spread over six floors invite you on a fascinating journey through human anatomy. A visit is entertaining, educational, and perhaps a little gruesome for some, but worthwhile.
Online-Tickets for the Body Worlds Museum
- Address: Damrak 66, 1012 LM Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 to 21:00, last admission 20:00
- Directions: Tram 4, 13, 14 & 17, stop Dam / De Bijenkorf
5. NEMO Science Museum
In this museum, touching many exhibits is not forbidden but expressly encouraged. The NEMO science museum is mainly aimed at children visiting Amsterdam but is also exciting for adults. It’s a fun place to visit because NEMO is about discovering and exploring things.
Visitors are introduced to the exciting world of science through hands-on experiments and demonstrations. The architecture of the building in which the museum is located is also impressive. Situated in the harbour, its shape is reminiscent of the prow of a huge ship. The roof terrace also offers a beautiful view of the city – just a 15-minute walk from the railway station. See how to get there.
Online-Tickets for the Nemo Museum
- Address: Oosterdok 2, 1011 VX Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 17:30, Sep to Feb – Mon often closed
- Directions: Bus line 22 from Centraal station, Kadijksplein stop
6. Heineken Experience
The Heineken Brewery has been home in Amsterdam’s centre since 1864. In 1988, the brewery’s production moved to a new location. Since then, the old building has been an attraction for visitors. There is a lot to see and experience here. There is information on the brewery’s history, an introduction to the beer production process, and interactive stations to provide the necessary entertainment.
Finally, of course, beer can also be sampled, with fun at the table football, at a karaoke station, or completely relaxed on the roof terrace with a beautiful view. Especially, but not only worth a visit for beer lovers!
Online-Tickets for the Heineken Experience
- Address: Stadhouderskade 78, 1072 AE Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 12:30 pm to 7:30 pm
- Directions: Tram 16 & 24, stop Stadthouderskade, tram 7 & 10 stop Weteringcircuit
7. Madame Tussauds
The world-famous Madame Tussauds wax museum is also located in Amsterdam. Visitors can get up close and personal with the stars and starlets. The fact that they are only made of wax doesn’t make it any less entertaining. Madame Tussauds Amsterdam offers lifelike replicas, elaborate backdrops, music, and modern animation technology that surprises many.
Of course, all the significant celebrities are represented. Whether Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, or the Incredible Hulk, everyone can meet their idol here – even if only as a wax version. A visit is a fun experience, and the snapshots with The Celebrities are an excellent and deceptively authentic souvenir.
Online-Tickets for Madame Tussauds
- Address: Dam 20, 1012 NP Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 19:30
- Directions: Tram 2, 11, 12, 13 & 17 – stop Magna Plaza/Dam; Tram 4, 14 & 24 stop Bijenkorf/Dam. Metro Zuid stop Rokin.
8. Het Rembrandthuis
The Rembrandthuis is a museum in honour of the artist and was once his home. Interested visitors can not only see works by the artist but also get an impression of how he lived at the time. With the help of old records, the building has been reconstructed as it would have looked during Rembrandt’s lifetime.
In addition to the faithfully recreated interior, the museum primarily exhibits etchings by Rembrandt and works by other artists who either served as his models or were his pupils. One of the museum’s rooms (see end of text) also shows the artist’s passion for collecting. The objects include taxidermied butterflies, coins, shells, antlers, and stuffed crocodiles.
Online-Tickets for Rembrandt House
- Address: Jodenbreestraat 4, 1011 NK Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 18:00
- Directions: Tram 9 & 14, stop Waterlooplein
9. Straat Museum – Graffiti Museum
This museum is different but exciting! Do you consider Graffiti to be Art? Is it a form of painting?
In this museum, you can see various styles, shapes, techniques, and messages, as told through the most significant art movement of our time: street art. You’ll find a giant multicolored portrait of Anne Frank on the building’s exterior. The size of the painting hasn’t been sacrificed; their canvases remain original, as do the stories and timelines that brought the artists’ work here.
Visiting the Straat Museum isn’t just a passive observation of Art – it’s an interactive journey in which you can admire the work of some of the most talented graffiti artists in the world.
Online-Tickets for the Straat Museum
- Address: NDSM-Plein 1, 1033 WC Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 17:00, last admission 16:30
- Directions: Free ferry to the NDSM from Amsterdam Central Station. The journey takes less than 15 minutes. The ferry departs once every 15 minutes.
10. Maritime museum
Shipping has shaped the harbour city of Amsterdam, and there is also a maritime museum here. Het Scheepvaartmuseum is housed in the former warehouse of the Amsterdam Admiralty. As a warehouse, it once housed ships’ equipment and cannons. The building has been extensively renovated. The new highlight is an impressive dome of glass fragments above the inner courtyard. The exhibition includes numerous models and original artefacts and is one of the most essential shipping and shipping history collections.
The largest and most impressive exhibit is anchored outside the museum: the replica of a historic ship of the Dutch East India Company. The museum also has a reference library with some very old books. Special events for children are also organised on a regular basis.
Online-Tickets for the Maritime Museum
- Address: Kattenburgerplein 1, 1018 KK Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 to 17:00
- Directions: Bus line 22 from Centraal station, stop Kadijksplein/Scheepvaartmuseum
11. Moco Museum
Moco stands for Modern Contemporary. Accordingly, this museum is dedicated to modern, contemporary art. The Moco Museum presents itself as particularly colourful and unusual and aims to appeal to younger visitors. Even those who are not art fans will feel well entertained here, as the Moco Museum shows modern artists whose works are unusual and entertaining but also thought-provoking in its changing exhibitions.
Here you won’t find the oil paintings of classic painters but street art and digital installation art. The museum is housed in a pretty old town villa in the museum quarter, the exterior of which provides an exciting contrast to the hip exhibits.
Online-Tickets for the Moco Museum
- Address: Honthorststraat 20, 1071 DE Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 20:00, last admission 19:00
- Directions: Tram lines 2, 5 & 12; stops Van Baerlestraat or Rijksmuseum
12. Foam Fotografiemuseum
The Amsterdam Photography Museum, or Foam, enjoys an excellent reputation among connoisseurs. It is located in a pretty old canal house and presents photographic art in regularly changing exhibitions. Works by 2-3 different artists are included in each exhibit. Works by well-known artists are combined with those of up-and-coming talents.
This concept is designed to allow visitors to get to know famous and less well-known talents. Once a year, the museum organises a special exhibition with works by new talents in collaboration with the music channel MTV. In addition to photographs, the museum also focuses on modern multi-media installations and offers workshops.
Online-Tickets for the FOAM Museum
- Address: Keizersgracht 609, 1017 DS Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 18:00, Thu and Fri until 21:00
- Directions: Metro 52, stop Vijzelgracht; Tram 24, stop Muntplein; Tram 4 & 14, stop Rembrandtplein; Tram 2, 11 & 12, stop Koningsplein; Tram 19, stop Spiegelgracht
13. Anne-Frank-Haus
The Anne Frank House is a place steeped in history. This house was the hiding place of Anne Frank and her family during the persecution of the Jews by the Nazi regime. She wrote her famous diary here. Before the hiding place was discovered, the Jews in hiding were deported, and almost all of them were murdered. Today, the house is both a museum and a memorial. Visitors to the premises are given a touching insight into how the people in hiding had to live here.
The original diary and several other personal items are also on display. In addition, there are changing exhibitions on topics such as racism and anti-Semitism, and this unique, thought-provoking place is popular with visitors to Amsterdam and undoubtedly worth a visit. It is not easy to get tickets; please read the information pages.
Online-Tickets for the Anne Frank Museum
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily approx. 9:00 to 19:00, exact times see here
- Directions: Tram 13 & 17, stop Westermarkt
14. Houseboat Museum Amsterdam
There are several houseboats moored in the Amsterdam canals. Anyone wondering what life on such a boat might be like should visit the world’s only houseboat museum on the Hendrika Maia. The historic former cargo ship was once converted into a houseboat and was inhabited for 20 years.
Today, it is open to visitors. It gives the impression that the occupants could come home at any moment. Visitors are always surprised by the comfortable conditions on board. You should visit the Hendrika Maia in the Prinsengracht if you want to see for yourself.
Online-Tickets for the Houseboat Museum
- Address: Prinsengracht 296K, 1016 HW Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Fri, Sat, Sun from 10:00 to 17:00
- Directions: Tram 13 & 17, stop Westermarkt
15. Royal Palace
Visitors to Amsterdam should take advantage of the Royal Palace. Fans of the royal celebrities will get their money’s worth here, as will those interested in history or architecture. The Royal Palace is one of the residences of the Dutch royal family, but they only rarely use it on special, official occasions.
The royal palace is usually empty and open to the public. Visitors can marvel at the magnificent furnishings and historical flair of the castle. We recommend participating in one of the guided tours, which occur several times daily and provide lots of exciting information about the palace and the royal family. Concerts and exhibitions are often organised in the Royal Palace, especially in summer.
Online-Tickets for the Royal Palace
- Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147, 1012 RJ Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Thu to Sun from 10:00 to 17:00
- Directions: Tram 2,11,12,13 & 17, stop Amsterdam, Dam
16. Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum
Amsterdam is known as a mecca for cannabis users, so it is no surprise that there is also a hemp museum here. However, this museum is by no means only of interest to passionate coffee shop visitors; it also offers a comprehensive and exciting overview of hemp.
Around 12,000 exhibits show how versatile the plant is and what significance it has had and still has for mankind. Not only is its use as a medicinal plant and intoxicant covered, but also its agricultural and industrial use and the political significance of the plant. The Hemp Museum is therefore home to a thoroughly serious, informative exhibition – but it is entertaining nonetheless.
Online-Tickets for the Hash Museum
- Address: Oudezijds Achterburgwal 148, 1012 DV Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 22:00
- How to get there: slightly away Tram 4 & 14, Metro 52, Rokin stop
17. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Anyone who thinks a city with a houseboat museum and a hemp museum could not offer anything more curious about museums should visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not! It’s not for nothing that this museum is known as the weirdest in Amsterdam.
There are over 500 bizarre exhibits: Figures of unusual people, strange animals, and even a Transformer. The 5-dimensional film room is a particular highlight, which offers an exceptional film experience. A visit to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is an excursion into unknown worlds of amazement, smiles, and wonder. Let yourself be surprised is the motto here!
Online-Tickets for Ripley’s Believe It or Not
- Address: Dam 21, 1012 JS Amsterdam
- Opening hours: 10:00 to 21:00, last admission 20:00
- Directions: Tram 1, 2, 5, 13, 14 & 17, stop Dam Raadhuisstraat/ Paleisstraat, Tram 4, 9 & 24, stop Bijenkorf/ Dam
18. Museum of the Canals – The Grachtenhuis
What would Amsterdam be without its canals? Today, the picturesque canals are a crucial part of the cityscape and an important tourist attraction. But they have played a unique role in the city’s history and have a fascinating story. You can learn more about this in the interactive exhibition in the canal museum Het Grachtenhuis.
The museum is appropriately located in a remarkably well-preserved canal house on the Herengracht Canal and provides information about the history and development of the historic canal belt. You can also learn a lot about the canal houses along the canals here. The many historical photos in the exhibition are well worth seeing.
Online-Tickets for the museums of the canals
- Address: Herengracht 386, 1016 CJ Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Tue to Sun 12.00 to 16:00, Sat + Sun until 17:00, Mon closed
- Directions: Tram 2, 11, 12 Koningsplein
19. The Cat Cabinet
Cat lovers should take advantage of this museum, but the Kattenkabinet also has something of interest for everyone else. It is dedicated entirely to the importance of cats in art and culture. On display are paintings, sculptures, and other works centred on cats. These include works by renowned artists such as Rembrandt and Picasso.
Apart from the museum’s collection, the beautiful old canal house’s fantastic interior is worth seeing. Film fans may recognize it from scenes from Ocean’s Twelve filmed here. The Kattenkabinet falls into the small but nice category, and visiting here is undoubtedly a good use of time.
Online-Tickets for the The Cat Cabinet
- Address: Herengracht 497, 1017 BT Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 17:00; Sat and Sun from 12:00, Mon closed
- Directions: Tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 24 & 25, stop Muntplein
20. Eye Filmmuseum
The Eye Film Museum offers its visitors plenty of information and entertainment. It is a mixture of museum, cinema and art exhibition. The permanent exhibition provides entertaining information about the history of film and cinema. In addition, there are changing exhibitions and art installations on suitable themes. Much multimedia technology is used, which is particularly appealing to young people.
Film screenings are constantly taking place in four differently designed cinemas. One of them recreates a historic cinema hall from around 1900. Another represents the contemporary cinema with state-of-the-art technology and an auditorium with 315 seats. The choice of attractions here is large and varied.
Online-Tickets for the Eye Filmmuseum
- Address: IJpromenade 1, 1031 KT Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Exhibition 10:00 to 19:00
- Directions: Ferry Amsterdam Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg
21. The Sex & Erotic Museum in the red light district
Amsterdam’s red light district is home to a museum of the raunchy kind. Since its opening in the 1980s, the Erotic Museum has exhibited four floors worth seeing on the subject of seduction and sex. Illustrations, objects, films, and printed matter from different times and all over the world provide an insight into the world of eroticism.
From pornographic cartoons and unusual condoms to curious S&M articles, the exhibition offers a colourful mix of non-adult content. The life and work of people in the red light district are also thematized. This museum provides an exciting opportunity to explore it indirectly, especially for those interested but not wanting to participate.
Online-Tickets for the Sex & Erotic Museum
- Address: Oudezijds Achterburgwal 54, 1012 DP Amsterdam
- Opening hours: 11:00 am to 1:00 am at night, Fri and Sat until 2:00 am
- Directions: Nearest metro 51,53 & 54, Nieuwmarkt station
22. Tropical Museum
The Tropenmuseum is one of the largest museums in Amsterdam. Initially, its primary purpose was to inform people about life in the Dutch colonies of the time. After the end of the colonial era, the exhibition was expanded to include other tropical regions, and the museum was given an ethnological focus. Today, the aim is to inform and promote cultural interaction.
Development education on topics such as poverty and exploitation is also covered. The museum’s extensive collection comprises around 175,000 objects of various kinds and is presented in several rooms with a different regional focus. The numerous historical photos from the former colonies are exciting. The museum has a special section with interactive stations for children.
Online-Tickets for the Tropical Museum
- Address: Linnaeusstraat 2, 1092 CK Amsterdam
- Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00, Mon closed with exceptions
- Directions: Tram 7 & 14, stop Alexanderplein, tram 19, stop Eerste van Swindenstraat, tram 1 & 3, stop Linnaeusstraat
23. Nieuwe Kerk
The Nieuwe Kerk is the second oldest church in the city and, as the coronation church of the Dutch monarchs, the most important in the country. The late Gothic church was built in the 15th century in the neighbourhood of the Royal Palace and has been altered and restored several times since then. Despite its designation as a new church, it is several hundred years old.
When the church is not used for royal weddings or coronations, it is open to visitors and is used for exhibitions on various themes. The magnificent altar, the nave’s vaulted ceiling, and the elaborately designed stained glass windows are worth seeing. The church’s organ and historic tombs are also among its unique features.
Online-Tickets for the Nieuwe Kerk
- Address: De Dam, 1012 NL Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 17:00, Mon closed
- Directions: Tram 2, 11, 12, 13 & 17, stop Amsterdam
24. Cheese museum in Amsterdam
Cheese production is a centuries-old tradition in the Netherlands with special significance. In the Cheese Museum, visitors can find out how cheese is made and get an impression of the variety of Dutch cheeses. The museum is small, but the exhibition section is informative and exciting.
The highlight is, of course, a tasting of different types of cheese afterward. The museum includes a cheese shop, where the employees present themselves in traditional clothing. You can take a piece of your favourite cheese home with you here. In this small but original museum, everything is cheese in the truest sense of the word!
- Address: Prinsengracht 112, 1015 EA Amsterdam
- Admission: Free admission
- Opening hours: 9:00 to 19:00
- Directions: Tram 13 & 17, stop Westermarkt
25. Pipe Museum Amsterdam
This museum is dedicated to the culture of tobacco pipe smoking. The theme may seem specialised, but the museum is well worth a visit for non-smokers, too. Visitors are given an insight into the cultural history of smoking, which can be traced back to 500 BC. The museum’s collection is astonishingly large and comprises around 20,000 tobacco pipes. These include archaeological finds, historical peculiarities, and curiosities from modern times in various designs.
If you would like to get to know the world of pipe smoking in practice, you can take part in the museum’s monthly courses and learn how to use a pipe correctly. The museum also has a specialised shop and a pipe repair service.
Buy I Amsterdam City Card online
- Address: Prinsengracht 488 – 1017 KH Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily from 12:00 to 18:00, closed on Sun
- Directions: Tram 1, 2 & 5, Prinsengracht stop
Other museum visit
Here’s another suggestion for a rather unusual museum visit: Instagram experience, interactive playground, adventure museum… The Upside down
If you want to see something different instead of the traditional museum tour, you can visit AMAZE or Fabrique des Lumières, audiovisual, digital adventure tours in Amsterdam. Tickets for AMAZE and Fabrique des Lumières are available online here.
Important notes
📝 Note on admission prices: The admission prices quoted are always subject to change. Changes are possible at any time. The current prices on the provider’s website always apply. Discounts for children, young people, schoolchildren, students, senior citizens, visitors with disabilities, and other groups of people are also listed here.
📝 Note on opening hours: The museums can be visited daily during the opening hours mentioned. The information is, of course, without guarantee. There may be deviations on 25 and 26 December, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Travellers wishing to visit the canal city on 27 April, i.e., King’s Day, should find out in advance whether the museum is open. There are generally no restrictions on classic travel dates such as Easter or Whitsun. As mentioned above, it is best to buy tickets online in advance.
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