If visiting museums is your cup of tea, Amsterdam is the place to be.
Amsterdam has the highest museum density in the world with its 60 museums. From cannabis to cats to tulips, there’s a museum to suit almost any taste.
I’ve lived in Amsterdam for 9 years and have visited almost all of the museums in the city. Here’s a list of the best museums in Amsterdam I recommend visiting.
The Top 10 Best Museums In Amsterdam
The Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is a must-visit for any museum lover. It houses over 8,000 items from the Middle Ages to the present day, with a focus on Dutch Golden Age paintings by famous artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Frans Hals.
The highlight of the museum is The Gallery of Honor and its crown jewel, Rembrandt’s “Night Watch”.
Apart from paintings, the museum showcases various artifacts from Dutch history, including antique Delftware, Asian art, weapons, musical instruments, jewelry, and antique furniture.
Rijksmuseum attracts around 2.2 million visitors annually, making it one of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam.
The Van Gogh Museum
There probably isn’t an artist more loved than Vincent van Gogh. His personal struggles and challenges combined with his distinctive artistic style, have made van Gogh one of the most celebrated artists today.
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is entirely dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. There are approximately 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and 700 letters written by Van Gogh, along with works by other artists of the 19th-century art movement.
Many of Van Gogh’s most well-known and famous works, including “Sunflowers,” “The Bedroom,” “Irises,” “Almond Blossoms,” and the self-portraits, are on display at the museum.
The museum is a very popular attraction in Amsterdam, so make sure to book well in advance!
Stedelijk
Next to the Van Gogh Museum, you’ll find Stedelijk, a museum for modern and contemporary art.
Inside the museum, you’ll find works from artists like Piet Mondriaan and Pablo Picasso.
The building itself is a work of art mixing modern with old. The giant Bathtub (the modern part of the building) is hard to miss.
Moco Museum
The Moco Museum is an independent museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The collection consists of artwork from artists such as Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Jeff Koons.
The museum is relatively small in size and can get quite crowded. To avoid queueing, book a time slot in the morning.
If you’re into modern/pop art, this is the museum for you.
Rembrandt House
The Rembrandt House Museum, or Museum Rembrandthuis, is situated in a historic house on Jodenbreestraat in the heart of Amsterdam.
This residence was once inhabited by Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn from 1639 to 1658, where he not only lived but also used the space as his studio and art dealership.
The museum focuses on the life and art of Rembrandt and offers a close-up view of his life and creative methods.
You’ll get a chance to see how Rembrandt and his family lived, take a peek in the master’s art studio, and see some of the artifacts Rembrandt acquired from around the world.
Note that you won’t see original Rembrandt paintings here. But the museum is very much worth the visit if you wish to learn more about the Dutch Golden Age master.
Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is a museum inside the building where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II. Visitors see the small, concealed rooms where they lived for over two years.
This is where Anne wrote her famous diary, which you can see on display.
You’ll get a glimpse of what life was like for Anne and her family during their time in hiding. You can even see some of the pictures and magazine clippings that Anne pasted on the walls of her room in the Secret Annex.
The Anne Frank House is the most popular attraction in Amsterdam and tickets sell out fast. Make sure to book well in advance to secure your visit. Often you need to book weeks ahead to get in.
It can be an overwhelming experience standing in the same rooms where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis. I highly recommend visiting if you can.
Museum Van Loon
A hidden gem, Museum Van Loon is a well-preserved canal house on the Keizersgracht.
The museum reveals how prominent people lived in the elegant 18th century. Inside, you’ll find well-preserved rooms, art, antiques, and a beautiful garden (open when weather permitting).
The house was once home to the Van Loons, a Dutch noble family who gained most of their wealth in trade. The Van Loons still own the house although they don’t live there anymore.
The museum is a must-visit for history buffs (and fans of periodic dramas like Downton Abbey).
Nemo Science Museum
NEMO Science Museum is a great destination, especially for families with kids.
The museum provides various experiments and easy ways to understand even the toughest scientific ideas. It covers topics like natural sciences, electricity, robots, motion, and water through exhibits and live shows.
The museum is great for all ages and a must-visit for aspiring scientists.
Except for it to be busy though. I recommend coming early.
After your visit, make sure to grab a cup of coffee at the rooftop cafe and enjoy the amazing view.
Het Scheepvaartmuseum
A short walk from NEMO, is Het Scheepvaartmuseum, the National Maritime Museum.
The museum is dedicated to maritime history and showcases numerous items linked to shipping and sailing.
Its collection includes paintings, scale models, weapons, and world maps, among other artifacts.
Outside the museum, there’s a replica of the Amsterdam, an 18th-century ship that once journeyed between the Netherlands and the East Indies.
There’s a lot to see and experience in this museum. So make sure you have plenty of time, a couple of hours at least.
I highly recommend visiting this museum even if you’re not that into maritime history. The building alone is stunning and the visit inside the large merchant ship will make your visit memorable.
Grachtenmuseum
The Grachtenmuseum, also known as the Museum of the Canals, offers an interesting perspective into the history of Amsterdam, the canal houses, and how it was all developed.
If you wish to know how Amsterdam canals and the impressive canal houses came to be, this is the place.
The audio-guided tour takes you through different rooms where you’ll experience how the canal houses were designed and constructed.
The audio guides are available in multiple languages (Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, and Russian). A complete tour takes approximately 45 minutes, and there’s a new group every 10 minutes.
After the tour, you’ll get a chance to visit the periodic rooms and the lovely garden.
If you’re looking to visit some of the best museums in Amsterdam, make sure to check these recommendations by a local.
You can visit all the museums mentioned for free with the I Amsterdam Card except for Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum.
