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Amsterdam is a magical city brimming with unique details and rich in architecture, history, art, culture and museums alike. With artists of the likes of Rembrandt and Van Gogh dominating the local art scene, art lovers will find that this city more than satisfies any of their fine arts cravings. However, the Dutch capital has a lot more to offer than mere brushstrokes on canvas, with an almost endless array of oddities on display to please even the most curious of travelers. If you are planning on spending some days at one of our center Amsterdam apartments, you may want to have a look at this museum review to complement your plans in the city.
ART
Amsterdam’s art scene has always been very vibrant, and one particular museum proves it, the Rijksmuseum, one of Europe’s most prominent art collections. You can visit the Dutch Golden Age in the heart of the Dutch capital anytime from 9am to 5 pm. Among its collections, you’ll find paintings by Masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer, as well as the popular painting The Night Watch.
Rembrandt fans, baroque aficionados, and those who wish to learn more about Europe’s cultural heritage should not skip a visit to the Rembrandt House, in the Jodenbreestraat, behind the Waterlooplein. This was the painter’s home and studio between1639 and 1659, where he created many of the famous art works that hang on the walls of this home turned museum. You can visit it any day of the week from 10am to 5pm.
And it’s time now for the Master of impressionism, Vincent van Gogh. The Van Gogh Museum, a favorite with visitors and tourists, has over 200 original art pieces on display signed by the eccentric Dutch painter. The organizational structure of the museum is in itself very interesting, divided into 5 different sections for each of the painter’s artistic periods: the Netherlands, Paris, Arles, Saint Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise. The museum opens its doors weekdays from 10am to 5pm, and until 10pm on Fridays, so you can visit it at night if you find yourself in the area.
In any case, be prepared to queue up a bit regardless of what time you head down to the Van Gogh Museum.
MODERN ART
If you prefer the contemporary art scene, be sure to visit the Stedelijk Museum, a world apart from the ones mentioned up to this point. Its collection combines the best of Dutch modern and contemporary art. It is well worth a visit in the morning; it opens at 11am and closes at 5pm.
HISTORY
A visit to the Anne Frank House is a must if you are out strolling through the heart of Amsterdam. The visit will let you relive parts of her famous diary, at the exact location where she hid with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. An emotional visit, no doubt.
The museum opens from 9am to 9pm, March to September; and from 9am to 7pm, September to March.
Carrying on with the Jewish theme and the specifics of a historical period that marked a before and after in the history of the Dutch capital, a visit to the Joods Historisch Museum is highly recommended. This is a modern museum of Judaism, located across four monumental synagogues near Waterlooplein. The 3D screenings, films, photographs and paintings effectively bring Dutch Jewish culture and history closer to our day and age. The museum opens its doors from 11am to 5pm Monday to Sunday.
Another visit that comes highly recommended for those interested in the history and culture of this city is the Amsterdam Museum, where you will discover how the city has changed through time, since its birth to our day. The exhibit is spread across 20 rooms spanning three floors, and you can visit it from 10am to 5pm.
SCIENCE
We are on to science next, and that calls for a visit to the NEMO Museum, the largest of its kind in the Netherlands. Housed in a large peculiar structure shaped like a green ship, it boasts interesting exhibits on magnetism and gravity, and it is the perfect place for a day of family fun learning about science. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm.
OTHER MUSEUMS
If you are not sure what to visit; if art is not quite your thing; or if you’ve already visited some of the other museums, don’t despair because Amsterdam caters to all tastes.
Did you ever think there could be such a thing as a Tulip Museum? What better place for it than Amsterdam? A museum where you’ll learn all about the tulip mania period and this flower’s astounding influence on the country’s economy during the Dutch Golden Age. The purpose of this museum is to provide a yearlong historical context for the tulip festivals and markets held country-wide. It is a small museum with a rich history and a wide array of interesting events. It includes historical exhibits about the tulip mania, the use of bulbs as food during war periods, and this flower’s origins in Turkey.
Besides its tulips, Amsterdam is also popular for far less bucolic aspects, like sex. And yes, there is also a sex museum.
The Amsterdam Sex Museum, also known as the Venustempel, opened its doors in 1985 with a small collection that consisted in erotic objects from the 19th century. Over time, the collection has grown to the point that it is now regarded as the largest sex museum in the world and one of the city’s favorites with visitors. Its doors open from 9:30am to 11:30pm and, logically, children under 16 are not allowed in.
Last but not least is the Heineken Experience, an interactive tour through the story of Heineken beer. This is the place to learn all about the beer brewing process and the evolution of this world-brand created by the Heineken family.
