The best museums in Amsterdam
With the tumultuous Dutch weather, it's good to know what you can do on a rainy day. Fortunately, there are more than enough museums to visit in Amsterdam, from classical art to digital installations and more. Don't know where to start? We've collected some of our favorite museums here!
Getting the best for your buck
Before we get to the recommendations, it’s good to know that visiting museums in Amsterdam can be expensive. But this doesn’t have to stop you ! At most places, you’ll get a pretty good discount if you’re a student or if you have a CJP pass (youth culture card), so remember to always bring it with you.
If you regularly visit museums and exhibitions, the Museumkaart (museum card) might be an option for you. The Museumkaart is € 75* per year and offers you unlimited access to almost all museums in the Netherlands at no extra cost.
*This is the price in 2024
Find infinite inspiration: Amsterdam’s art museums
Amsterdam is densely packed with various art museums, exhibitions, and galleries to be found all around the city. You’ll find the most popular ones in the Museum Square, such as the van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. If we should recommend only one here, it’s the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Their permanent collection offers some of the best contemporary works, from Picasso and Pollock to Rietveld and Abramović, and many, many more. Additionally, the museum has temporary exhibitions that change every few months.
If you’re into photography, you can’t miss out on FOAM, where you’ll find photography exhibitions ranging from renowned artists such as Helmut Newton to just-discovered talents. And for cinephiles, we recommend the Eye filmmuseum - which is the funky-shaped building across the IJ from the central station. Afterward, you can have a drink on their terrace and enjoy a cinematic view of the IJ.
A relatively new museum is STRAAT, located on the NDSM-Wharf. Don't expect small and delicate pieces here because STRAAT is all about street art and graffiti. That means some of the pieces are not just big; they're HUGE!
Important cultural knowledge: historical museums
Feel like learning more about the history of Amsterdam or world history? At Allard Pierson, a museum on the canal Rokin, you can learn about all kinds of things! Their extensive collection includes international archaeology, natural and cultural history, and even historical graphic design.
At the Wereldmuseum (formerly called Tropenmuseum), you'll learn about the connection between humans today and in the past. Its exhibitions focus on topics such as the Dutch history of colonialism as well as topics such as migration, climate change, and inclusivity.
Lastly, the Jewish Cultural Quarter is a must-see to learn about Jewish history and the cultural history of Amsterdam. The Jewish Cultural Quarter consists of four venues: The Jewish Museum, the Hollandsche Schouwburg, the National Holocaust Museum, and the Portuguese Synagogue.
Prepare to be amazed: immersive experiences
If you want to be immersed in interactive, audiovisual, and light shows, you’ll love the following experiences. At Amaze and NXT museum, you’re invited to walk through and interact with the digital art installations. At Fabrique des Lumières, you can see famous artworks come to life as they’re projected onto the walls, floors, and ceilings of the venue. The works are by great artists such as Dalí and Gaudí, and more to come. At WONDR and Upside Down, you can become part of the installation yourself. Bring your camera and unleash your inner child for the best Instagrammable shots!
You're never too old to learn: science museums
Science isn’t boring! At Micropia, you can learn about the world you can’t see with your naked eye, from fungi to shrooms and everything in between. At first, this may sound like a place you’d want to skip (because ew!), but the things you see here will actually blow your mind. Are you curious about how many microbes you share when kissing your partner? Well, here you can find out.
Would you rather learn about plants than microbes? Then you’ll like Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam’s botanical garden. This green oasis in the heart of Amsterdam has over 1000 different plant species in the garden and greenhouses. There’s even a butterfly greenhouse where you can walk through hundreds of tropical butterfly species!
As you can see, the possibilities are endless, and now you know how to spend a (rainy) day in Amsterdam. Which museum will you visit first?
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