Museums

Amsterdam has several excellent museums and two of the best are next to each other. The Van Gogh Museum is a must for anyone interested in the artist’s work. It house’s some of his most famous masterpieces beginning with his time in Holland to the period of his death in France. On the same square is the 250-room Rijksmuseum, which contains among its treasures a handful of exquisite Vermeers and one of the best Rembrandt collections in the world. "The Night Watch" is exhibited in the Hall of Honor and is most definitely a "work of art". Astonishing is only a portion of the original painting which had to be cut down to fit its intended spot in the city’s old town hall. There is a copy of an uncut version of the painting hanging in the room just before the Hall of Honor.

The excellent Stedelijk Museum displays contemporary art including traveling exhibits from other countries. Museum Amstelkring also known as "Our Lord in the Attic" is set in a 17th-century merchant house. It contains a secret Catholic church on the top floor. The house has its original furnishings giving a good idea of what life at that time was like. [Note: the Stedelijk is currently closed for renovations - February 2004]

If time permits take a look a Rembrandt’s house near the Waterlooplein (the artist lived there 1639-1657). And the church where he is buried at the Westerkerk, (you’ll walk passed it on the way to The Anne Frank House). Have a look for the crown on top of the church given to Amsterdam by Maximilian I in 1489 and you can also climb the spire for a great view of the city. There are also a number of other Rembrandt-related sites: the 13th-century Oudekerk (Amsterdam’s oldest church), where Rembrandt’s wife Saskia is buried. The 15th-century Waag (weigh station) where Rembrandt painted "The Anatomy Lesson" (it now houses the Jewish Historical Museum) and the Zuiderkerk (South Church) where he painted "The Night Watch".

Contributors
August 24, 2004 new by giorgio

Vodka Museum Amsterdam

Experience a spectacular adventure in history: see, hear and experience the glamorous World of Vodka. Visit the first and only Museum of Vodka in Europe: “VodkaMuseum Amsterdam”! It is an adventure that takes you back in time from the origins of Vodka to the world of cocktails and bartending today. In the oldest building of Damrak (central tourist street of Amsterdam), you can receive a short guided tour through the 3-story museum! Here you will enjoy a collection of up to 500 various Vodkas and watch a VodkaMovie in the relaxing VodkaMuseum Lounge! more..

World66 rating:	[rate it]
accessibility:	5 min walking from Central Station
tel:	0205286035
openingHours:	9:00-22:00
url:	www.vodkamuseum.com
address:	Damrak 33
email:	info@vodkamuseum.com

Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum
photo by: Hans-Peter Harmsen

This is the number one museum in the city. Located in a majestic 1885 building designed by Pierre Cuypers who also designed the Stadsschouwburg and the Central Station.

Why is the Rijksmuseum the number one museum in Amsterdam (in the Netherlands)? For one, this is where Rembrandts most famous work, the Nightwatch, is displayed along with a lot of other Rembrandt pictures. But the other 17th masters are also present. Vermeers milkmaid can be found here along with pictures by Jan Steen, Frans Hals and Breughel.

Van Gogh? No, although the museum has a couple of van Goghs in more..

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Jan Luijkenstraat 1
url:	www.rijksmuseum.nl
zipcode:	1071 ZD Amsterdam
openingHours:	Daily from 9.00 to 18.00 (closed on 1 January).

Anne Frank House

The most dramatic and powerful attraction in Amsterdam is the Anne Frank hiding place. As you climb the stairs to their little attic, each step becomes heavier and heavier with the realization of what transpired in the middle of this beautiful tranquil city. People from all over the world stand in line in cold and rain to see where a young girl touched the heart of the world with the diary that has been translated into more languages than any other book, except the Bible.

Tickets:
Adults € 7.50
Young people, 10-17 years € 3.50
Children up to 10 years free

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
openinghours:	9.00 - 19.00 until 21:00 in summer. Closed Yom Kippur

Maritime Museum

On the Kattenburgplein (east from the central station, visible over the water). Entry fee is 7.50 Eur, the Museum is open tues-sun 10 am-5 pm all year round, from June to September also on Mondays. Gives good insight into the Maritime history of the Netherlands.

Before a ship was built a model was made. There are a large number of these beautiful models in the Museum.

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Kattenburgplein1
openinghours:	Tues-Sun 10 am-5 pm
zipcode:	1018 KK

Nemo

Nemo science museum

Nemo science museum
photo by: Hans-Peter Harmsen

Renzo Piano built this great green building right on the entrance of the IJ-tunnel (near the Central Station) to house a museum for technology. Most people see just the bow-like form of the building, but is can also be conceived as a theater. The city side of the building is one giant staircase which is wheel chair accessible. On a sunny day this is the perfect place for a picknick.

Open every day from 10am to 5pm. Closed on Monday (except during national school holidays), on Christmas day, on 1st January and on Queen's day (30th April)

Tickets: 11 euro. Children below 4 more..

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url:	www.e-nemo.nl
address:	Oosterdok 2, Amsterdam
tel:	09009191100 (€ 0,35)
zipcode:	1000 AK

Jewish Historical

Open daily 11am-5 pm, closed on Yom Kippur. The Jewish Historical musuem is located near the Waterlooplein and offers a good introduction into the history of Jews in the Netherlands. Housed in an old synagogue. In this old synagoge, the last peace of the railway track to the Westerbork concentration camp is still embedded in the street.

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Jonas Daniël Meijerplein 2-4
openinghours:	11.00 - 17.00, closed Yom Kippu

Rembrandt House

The 17th century house in which Rembrandt lived and worked from 1639 till 1658 is today still to be found in the Jodenbreestraat in Amsterdam. The house in which his son titus was born and his wife Saskia prematurely died is also the place where he painted and made his prints. In 1911 Rembrandt's house became a museum and it now owns and houses almost all of Rembrandt's etchings ( 250 in total). It is unique to see these exhibited in the very same surroundings in which they where created. Also to be found in the museum are a small number of his drawings as well as paintings by more..

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Jodenbreestraat 4-6

Amsterdams Historisch Museum

Situated in a former monastary this museum tells the story of the city of Amsterdam. You will be fascinated by the interactive tools and all the daily stuff of Amsterdam people of the last centuries. Discover how they build ships or how flats looked like 200 or 300 years ago. The museum has the only museumstreet in the world, which is made for people passing by during their shoppings: a street connecting the inner court of the museum with the court of the adjacent begijnhof. On the walls of this street there are 17th century paintings for witch you do not have to pay to see them. more..

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Kalverstraat 92

Van Gogh museum

van Gogh museum seen from museum square

van Gogh museum seen from museum square
photo by: Hans-Peter Harmsen

This is one the most popular museums in Amsterdam and not for nothing. It really is a nice museum. The paintings tell the story of Van Goghs tragic life, from his start in the Netherlands to his brilliant time in France.

The Van Gogh Museum first opened its doors in 1973. The building, designed by Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld, houses the world's largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh: some 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters, as well as the artist's own collection of Japanese prints.

The collection originally belonged to Theo van Gogh (1857-1891), more..

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Paulus Potterstraat 7
url:	www.vangogh.nl

Allard Pierson Museum

Good museum of Antiquities, collections of Egyptina, Etruskan, and Near Eastern artefacts. An important part of the collection was donated from the private collection of the Royal family. The museum is located in an old Bank Building dating from the mid 19th century.

It's a great museum if you happen to like plaster, there are few large statues, lots of small stuff and a great plaster collection from the 19th century. Admission is free if you have a students card.

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
openinghours:	Closed on mondays

Museum Amstelkring

Also known as "Our Lord in the Attic" is set in a 17th-century merchant house. It contains a secret Catholic church on the top floor. The house has its original furnishings giving a good idea of what life at that time was like.

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Oudezijds Voorburgwal

Ajax Museum

photo by: Tornike (Geo)

This is a bit of a rip off. They display different things from the history of Ajax but you have to be a big fan to think it's worth any money and time. The stadium itself is quite nice though.

Visitor Comment: "The Stadium is impressive, but the museum is just for real fans. I thought it was a rip-off." - Sigourney

http://www.ajaxmuseum.nl

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Amsterdam Arena

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

The Stedelijk Museum is one of Europe's most important museums for modern and contemporary art. It is a dynamic museum that closely follows developments in art, particularly those of the second half of the 20th century, with a comprehensive exhibition programme. The collection of paintings and sculptures, drawings, prints, photography, graphic design, applied arts and new media is world-renowned.

type:	Museums
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	(020) 5732.911
openingHours:	10.00 - 18.00
url:	www.stedelijk.nl
address:	Oosterdokskade 5
email:	info@stedelijk.nl

Hermitage Amsterdam

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Hermitage aan de Amstel
photo by: Hans-Peter Harmsen

As of february 2004 on Amsterdam has its own Hermitage:

The first phase of the Hermitage Amsterdam will open to the public on 28 February 2004. Small temporary exhibitions drawn from the rich collection of The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg will be presented in six rooms. Each exhibition will be on view for around 5 months. For the inaugural exhibition the finest Greek gold jewellery from the treasure rooms of the Hermitage will be coming to Amsterdam. This Greek gold was found during various expeditions to the Black Sea, where there were Greek colonies. This more..

type:	Museums
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address:	amstelhof

Madame Tussad Wax Museum

This interesting and exciting place captures many different actors, presidents, genusis, and others in thier finest. In one walk through you notice familier faces that through the years you've staired in the eyes of and adored such as Albert Einstien, or Anne Frank.

Plus theres a part in which will scare the pants off anyone who walks in the door. I wouldn't want to give away any frightening secrets!

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address:	in Court Yard

Destinations in Amsterdam

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