Top 6 Must-Visit Museums in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is home to some of the world’s most renowned museums, offering a rich tapestry of art, history, and culture. From the iconic Rijksmuseum, where masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer come to life, to the thought-provoking works of Van Gogh at the Van Gogh Museum, the city is a treasure trove for art enthusiasts. The Anne Frank House offers a poignant glimpse into the history of World War II, making it a must-visit for history buffs.
Visitors can also explore modern art at the MOCO Museum or get a glimpse into the world of beer at the Heineken Experience. Whether you’re an art lover, a history enthusiast, or just curious about Dutch culture, Amsterdam’s museums cater to all interests. Plan your visit to these cultural gems and immerse yourself in centuries of creativity and innovation. Make Amsterdam’s museums a key part of your travel itinerary!
You might also like: Exploring North Brabant during a 3-Day Cycling Adventure
For your information, all these pictures were taken in October 2024.
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How to travel around Amsterdam?
You can travel around the city by foot, public transportation, or bike. The Netherlands is well-known around the world for being a bike country, so I took the bike option for this trip. And I will say that it’s such an easy way to explore the region of North Brabant.
The cycle paths are well-maintained. If you don’t have a bike, but still would like to have the same experience as I had, you can rent your bike here. This rental company is included in the I Amsterdam City Card for free, exclusive the extra €3.95 for insurance.
Best time to visit Amsterdam
The Netherlands is an all-year travel destination, but the peak season is between June and August. July is the busiest month in summer because of the start of the summer vacation around Europe. Summer is so popular because of the pleasant temperatures and longer days. Spring and autumn would be the perfect time to visit the Netherlands because of the fewer crowds, cheaper prices, and pleasant temperatures.
I Amsterdam City Card
The I Amsterdam City Card is literally a lifesaver if you want to save lots of money on museums, transportation, and activities. With this card, you get access to a lot of major highlights and more than 70 museums, where you can get major discounts or even entrance for free!
You can order a city card for 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. The longer your duration, the cheaper it gets per day. The prices are €60, €85, €100, €115, and €125.
Best museums to visit in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is home to about seventy-five museums and galleries, so logically these cannot be missed during a visit to this city! I visited a few of them on my last visit, and I hope I can add much more to this list the next time I visit this beautiful city.
1 | Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum showcases Dutch history from 1200 until now. It’s the perfect way to start your trip to Amsterdam as you get a lot of different insights about the Netherlands.
It’s a very beautiful museum with a magnificent showcase of artworks. You can easily spend the whole day here and get lost in the three different floors with various artworks. The highlight of the museum is Rembrandt’s painting ‘The Night Watch’, which is showcased in a separate hall of the museum.
There is a cafe if you need a rest, and there are free lockers to put your stuff in. The museum costs €22.5 for an adult but is free with the I Amsterdam City Card. It’s open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM. Make sure to book in advance!
2 | Van Gogh Museum
I was really excited for the Van Gogh Museum as I recently got to learn a lot more about his work without seeing it with my own eyes. The museum showcased a glimpse into the life of Vincent Van Gogh as a person, and not only as an artist. His relationship with his brother is also a very important part of the museum.
We booked the first slot in the morning and the museum got really busy already. I recommend going directly to the first floor as there are the most important works of Vincent Van Gogh and that way, you can see them without the crowds. We easily spent hours in this museum and loved every second of it.
There is a cafe if you need a rest, and there are free lockers to put your stuff in. The museum costs €22 for an adult. The museum is mostly open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM, but it’s best to check the website beforehand. Make sure to book in advance!
3 | MOCO Museum
The MOCO Museum is different than other museums I’ve been to. And I quite liked it, but it’s quite small and we only spend a good 45 minutes here. This museum has great modern art from different great artists, like Bansky, Robbie Williams, and Keith Haring. There is also an immersive room, which is very impressive.
Tickets are quite expensive for this gallery, for the amount of artwork. A ticket for an adult is €24.95, but with the I Amsterdam City Card, the entrance is free. The museum is open daily from 9 Am to 8 PM from Monday to Thursday and to 9 PM from Friday to Sunday.
4 | Fabrique de Lumières
This has to be my favorite experience I did in Amsterdam! This immersive museum is a great eyecatcher with a visual and audio show, showcasing the Dutch great masters and Mondriaan. The background is in an old converted gas works built inside the Westerpark. The whole space is lit up, and you can wander around while enjoying the show. It’s really a must-visit, as it brings the classic artwork to life!
There is a free locker area to put your stuff in, so you don’t need to carry it with you. We stayed for a few hours to watch the show from different angles and there is enough space to sit and just look. The entrance price for an adult is €17, but with the I Amsterdam City Card, it’s €13. Fabrique de Lumières is open daily from 10 AM till 8 PM.
You might also like: Ultimate guide for Amsterdam (coming soon)
5 | Heineken Experience
The Heineken Experience is exactly what the name is, an experience through the history of Heineken in the oldest brewery of the company. The historical building serves as a venue to learn more about the heritage and the brewing process, in an interactive and immersive way. At the end of the tour, you’ll get 2 beers at the bar, which you can enjoy with some music. I truly had a blast wandering through so much history!
The Heineken Tour costs €23, and with the rooftop experience, it costs €27.5. You’ll get a 25% discount when showing your I Amsterdam City Card. The brewery is open daily from 10.30 AM to 7.30 PM from Sunday to Thursday and till 9 PM on Friday and Saturday.
6 | Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is a sobering walk through time while learning more about the tragic events surrounding Anne’s life. You’ll get to wander through the confined quarters Anne and her family and the others lived for two years. There are many fragments where you’ll get to learn more about their lives. Be prepared to climb very steep stairs.
You must book your tickets online well in advance and arrive at least 5 minutes beforehand as it can get very busy. The entrance price for an adult is €16. The museum is open daily from 9 AM to 10 PM. Lastly, it’s important to know that you can’t take any pictures inside the museum.
Other things to do in the Netherlands
I love going to the Netherlands as there is always something unique to discover. As the Netherlands is within driving distance of me, it’s perfect to discover this country one weekend at a time. And I want to encourage you to do the same.
Be sure to check out my other blog posts about things to do in the Netherlands:
- Discover the Beauty of Land van de Peel in a Weekend Getaway – A fun weekend trip in the Netherlands lies in North Brabant. This itinerary is filled with fun hikes and activities!
- Exploring the Charming Scenery of North Brabant during a 3-Day Cycling Adventure – If you want a different type of vacation, make sure to check out my biking trip in the Netherlands. Check it out, so you know what to expect
- The Perfect Itinerary for a City Trip to Breda – Breda is such a beautiful city, which I loved to explore. It’s the perfect combination of city and nature!
- The Ultimate Guide for 3 Days in Flevoland – I discovered this new region of the Netherlands, which has very surprising things to do!
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Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!
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