Looking for the best museums in Amsterdam? Here’s our 2019 museum guide with more information about the exhibitions, opening hours, entrance fees and addresses.
The museums of Amsterdam are well-renowned worldwide, especially when it comes to art, and there are a wide plethora of exciting Amsterdam museums that you can visit on your next trip to the Dutch capital.
Furthermore, if you’re visiting Amsterdam with kids, there are plenty of museum choices as well that are interesting and fun for the whole family.
Van Gogh Museum
Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam offers a rich variety of timeless works of art dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh along with his contemporaries. The most interesting part is that this Museum is built in the old residence of Van Gogh, which definitely a great site is seeing to explore the historical building.
Address: Museumplein 6, 1071
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 18, €19 for General Admission
*Tickets are only available online and in limited numbers. Book in advance to make sure you don’t miss out!
**The Rembrandt House Museum is included in a variety of City Passes and Packages like Museumcard, Amsterdam Pass, BGL VIP Card, Amsterdam City Card and Friends of the Museum membership for free.
Rijksmuseum
If you’re planning to visit the Van Gogh Museum, you can also combine it with a visit to the Rijksmuseum as well because they are located pretty close to one another. The Rijksmuseum has more than 1 million objects and is solely dedicated to art, crafts, design and historical pieces from around 1200 to 2000 years ago.
There are around 8,000 objects in the museum’s current permanent collection. Amazing, right? Plan your visit and get the most exciting experience of Dutch history. It might not be one of the hidden gems in Amsterdam, but it’s well worth visiting.
Address: Rijksmuseum, Museumstraat 1, 1071
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children under 18 and Members (called Friends), €19 for Adults
Anne Frank Museum
Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam has many educational programs for young people as this Museum helps in creating the lesson materials and also organizes the workshops about Second World War, Anti-Semitism, prejudice, the Holocaust, Anne Frank and many more.
It tells the story of Anne Frank and her diary that tells more about the living conditions and horrors that Jews experienced during the Holocaust. Be sure to book your ticket ahead, as entries are limited and queues are often very long.
Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016
Opening Hours: Seven Days a week from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 9, €5 for Youth Under 17, €10 for Adults
* €0.50 booking fee per ticket (even for free tickets for Children).
Amsterdam Museum
If you are living in Amsterdam or here just to visit it, then you should probably visit Amsterdam Museum because this place is all about this remarkable city; past, present and even the future of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Museum has a rich variety of artworks that includes an online collection, a portrait gallery of the golden age and also modern contemporary art.
Address: Kalverstraat 92, 1012
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 17, €12.50 for Students with ID, €15 for Adults
Stedelijk Museum
Do you like modern and contemporary visual art and design? With a vast collection of over 90,000 items and a unique building with modern design, this museum welcomes visitors all year long and is a local favorite.
The great news is that it is located near to the Van Gogh Museum, so it’s easy to visit both museums together.
Address: Museumplein 10, 1071
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Open till 10:00 PM on Fridays)
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 18, €10 for Students with ID, €18.50 for Adults
Rembrandt House Museum
Are you fascinated by old historical houses where each and every corner has a story to narrate? Rembrandt House Museum is one of those places that take the visitors right into historical events.
It is a historic house and also an art museum. The great part is that the great painter Rembrandt used to live and work in this house from 1639 to 1656. The collection is amazing containing paintings and etchings of Rembrandt’s contemporaries.
Address: Jodenbreestraat 4, 1011 NK
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 6, €5 for Youth Under 17, €14 for Adults
NEMO Museum
Are you interested in colorful museums that offer a lively experience to kids and adults? NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam is one of the best science museums that offer the best experience to adults but especially kids.
Boasting over 670,000 annual visitors, NEMO Science Museum is also the 8th most visited museum in the Netherlands. With over 19,000 artifacts in its collection, the NEMO Museum aims to show us the importance of science in our lives.
The location of the museum is also scenic and extremely photogenic offering plenty of photographic opportunities. Make sure you snap one too many to make your trip memorable.
Address: Oosterdok 2, 1011 VX
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 4, Disabled Persons and One Accompanying Carer, €8.75 for Students with ID, €17.50 for Adults
Museum Willet-Holthuysen
It’s amazing to find so many museums that are built-in houses scattered all around Amsterdam and Museum Willet-Holthuysen is one such gem you should definitely explore. The museum has a unique offering to the audiences in terms of how the floors are organized.
There are three floors which are open to the public, and the rooms are used for exhibitions. There is a very interesting blue room in the house that attracts many visitors because of the several paintings on the walls that show the previous owners.
The decorative paintings by Jacob de Wit are also displayed in the blue room that adds much to the attraction of the displays. If you plan to visit this place, then you should always remember to visit the flower paintings that are displayed by the various Amsterdam artists and painters including the famous works of Adriana Johanna Haanen.
Address: Herengracht 605, 1017 CE
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 18, €10 for Students with ID, €12.50 for Adults
Museum Van Loon
Built in 1672, this is also one of the city’s earliest surviving constructions. It was actually the home of the artist named Ferdinand Bol. There are four sculptures Mars, Minerva, Ceres and Vulcan are present on the top of this museum and they are a sight to behold adding so much to the pleasing effect of the house.
Address: Keizersgracht 672, 1017 ET
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 6, €5 for Youth Under 18, €7 for Students with ID, €9 for Adults
Eye Film Institute Netherlands
If you are interested in Dutch life then planning a visit to Eye Film Institute Netherlands should be included on your list of museums in Amsterdam to visit. You will definitely be amazed by the great collection and preservation of foreign and Dutch films screened in the Netherlands.
The artifacts include an incredible number of 700,000 photographs, an overwhelming 60,000 posters and also a very satisfying yet mind-numbing number of books totaling at 20,000.
Address: IJpromenade 1, 1031 KT
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Open till 11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday)
Admission Fees: €7.50 for Children Under 11, €8 for Eye Society Members, €11 for Adults
Joods Historisch Museum (Jewish Historical Museum)
If you want to experience the beauty of Jewish artifacts then, you should pay a visit to the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam as it is dedicated to the Jewish culture, religion and its outstanding history.
This is the only museum in the Netherlands that has been dedicated to Jewish history. This is best suited for people who want to explore Jewish culture and its history while showcasing the historical events.
Address: Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1, 1011 PL
Opening Hours: Wednesdays to Sundays from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 5, €4.25 for Children Under 12, €8.50 for Children under 17 and Students with ID, €17 for Adults
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is the place to explore the maritime history of the Netherlands and the adjoining regions. With many artifacts from maritime history in its collection, the museum is home to paintings, scale models, world maps and weaponry.
This is also where you can see the replica of the Amsterdam, an 18th-century ship that sailed from the Netherlands to the East Indies. The replica was commissioned and built circa 1990 and is an amazing sight.
Address: Kattenburgerplein 1, 1018
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 3 and Members, €7 for Children Under 17 and Students with ID, €15.50 for Adults
Hermitage Amsterdam Museum
Are you the kind of person who wants to have a deeper insight into the history and what it offers? Hermitage Amsterdam Museum is a must-go place for anyone who is interested in classical antiquity to modern age art pieces.
As a branch museum of the Hermitage Museum of Russia, the location along the Amstel river gives this a very elegant aura. The museum has showcased some famous exhibitions including one on Alexander the Great.
Address: Amstel 51, 1018
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 11, €2.50 for Museumcard holders, €25 for Adults
Moco Museum Amsterdam
If you are interested in contemporary, modern and street art, then Moco Museum is one place where you would find yourself at home. Housed in a building with stunning architecture, this construction dates back over a century all the way back to 1904.
The entire museum gives a stimulating experience to the visitors who are interested in the work of modern and contemporary artists. We simply loved the featured works by Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, and Os Gemeos to name a few.
Address: Honthorststraat 20, 1071
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Open till 8:00 PM on Friday and Saturday)
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 10, €9.50 for Children Under 15, €12.50 for Youth Under 17 and Students with ID, €15 for Adults
Museum of Bags and Purses
Museum of Bags and Purses is indeed one of the must-visit for everyone who is interested in fashion. This is a very unique museum in Amsterdam that is devoted to the history of purses, bags and also other related accessories.
It showcases Fashionable items and artifacts dating back as far as the 16th century. The interesting part is that there are even more than 5,000 items related to fashion.
Address: Herengracht 573, 1017
Opening Hours: Seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Fees: Free for Children Under 6, €7.50 for Students with ID, €12 for Adults
More about the Museums in Amsterdam
Almost all the public museums in Amsterdam are paid. Some paid exhibitions which are usually temporary are worth your time and money and we definitely recommend checking them out.
A large majority of the museums are quite small and focused on a particular theme, person or culture which adds to the experience, most of which were once houses of influential and important people in their times.
Museums in Amsterdam for Kids
NEMO Science Museum
If you want to engage your kids with the exciting science learning experience then you must visit the NEMO Museum in Amsterdam. It offers a great experience to kids and has unique science-based interactive items to keep them engaged.
Anne Frank Museum
This museum could provide some of life’s very important lessons for your children. We recommend planning your visit and preparing them beforehand to make the most of your visit.
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum can provide a memorable day out for your children.
Frequently Asked Questions about Amsterdam Museums
Which museums are free in Amsterdam?
While there aren’t many free museums in Amsterdam, there are some amazing offers like the Amsterdam City Pass and the Museumcard, for example. These packages provide many perks in addition to free entries in most museums and highly discounted admissions into many others.
Is it possible to volunteer in an Amsterdam museum?
Yes, almost all museums have volunteer programs and welcome the help of volunteers from everywhere. The positions may be limited though so it’s best to contact the museum of your choice well in advance.
Is there any museum in Amsterdam which is open on Christmas day?
Rijksmuseum is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM throughout the year including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Is there any museum in Amsterdam that offers educational programs and learning for young people?
Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam has many educational programs for young people as this Museum helps in creating the lesson materials and also organizes the workshops about Second World War, Anti-Semitism, prejudice, the Holocaust, Anne Frank and many more.
Is there any museum in Amsterdam that offers a family tour?
Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam provides a great family tour experience. It is a completely new experience and the tours are guided accompanied by a tour guide.
Want more suggestions on museums in Amsterdam? Leave a comment below!