English
Fashion lovers will find a paradise in the Amsterdam Museum of Bags and Purses. There they can get lost for hours while admiring the 4,000 pieces of its extensive permanent collections that include: handbags, wallets, suitcases and accessories. This is a journey that begins in the sixteenth century.
Founded in 1996 as a museum in her own house, Hendrikje Ivo, a collector who decided to share her passion for handbags, decided to show her collection to the public after 35 years gathering valuable pieces. The museum soon became famous and started receiving more visitors and donations. In 2007 its location became so small and the collections were moved to a magnificent seventeenth century palacete, which is located in the Herengracht neighborhood. The building was home of the governor of Amsterdam in 1664, has three floors and retains its original painted ceilings and chimneys.
What can you see at the museum?
In addition to its permanent exhibitions, at the museum it is also possible to organize all kinds of events, so those captivated by its classic and romantic atmosphere can have a birthday party in one of its rooms, have a snack in its lovely coffee or even get married in its magical garden, as the museum has wedding license.
In its permanent collection (the largest in the world dedicated to bags and purses) you will be able to see elegant handbags, purses, chic handbags, and outstanding pieces; as a bride bag made by tiny pearls in France in the eighteenth century, a leather purse from 1935 called Normandy, which was given to first class passengers on the most luxurious cruise of the time: Le Havre – New York, or Judith Lieber Cupcake, which is a piece made by Swarovski crystals that became famous, because its replica was displayed on the TV series Sex and the city. Chanel, Hermes and Vuitton are some of the designers that are exhibited at the museum, while showing not only the trends, materials and manufacturing techniques used in western fashion for the last 500 years, but also showing a portrait of the significant social changes in this period, such as the emancipation of women. The museum also organizes many interesting exhibitions of local and international designers.
Additionally, at the museum’s gift shop visitors can buy handbags, accessories and other gifts. The items at the gift shop are so famous that they are also sold online from the official website of the museum.
Useful Information
Opening hours: from 10 to 17 hours every day.
Prices: Adults – 8.50 Euro, 13 to 18 years – 5 Euro, children under 13 – free.
Address: Herengracht 573, Amsterdam
Directions: by subway, lines 51, 53 and 54 (stop Waterlooplein). By tram: lines 4 (Herengracht stop) and 9 (stop Rembrandtplein). Also, it is possible to get there by boat since there are several companies that stop by the museum.
Visit this magnificent museum and enjoy a few days of vacation in the Dutch capital, without spending more than you are supposed to. Book one of our apartments in Amsterdam city center ; they are the best alternative to boring hotels.
