Amsterdam, though a relatively small national capital, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Incredibly, the city welcomes more than 4 million visitors every year on average. That figure dwarfs the tourism totals for many nations in Europe.
While the city of canals has a somewhat infamous rap because of cannabis coffee shops and a sex industry that draws the curious and randy to a busy red-light district, the fact of the matter is that Amsterdam and indeed, the Netherlands, is a world leader in museums. The city can lay claim to some of the best in Europe and a few that constitute veritable household names.
10. The Rembrandt House Museum
Rembrandt, the Dutch Golden Age master, made a home in Amsterdam from 1639 until 1656. His former home and studio is now the premier exhibition hall to display his works in Europe.
The Amsterdam incarnation of the famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, displays diverse collections on rotation in a splendid and historic landmark edifice on the Amstel River.
8. The NEMO
One of the most unusual and impressive architectural landmarks in Amsterdam has to be the NEMO science center. Built to resemble a topsy-turvy ocean liner, the museum features five floors of in-depth educational exhibits in the realm of science and technology and a first-rate observation deck, with great views of the city.
7. Het Schip
The Amsterdam School was one of the most important movements in architecture and design in Europe. Many indelible structures in the city hint at the distinctive expressionist style, most notably Het Schip. The former apartment complex is now a museum with exhibits devoted entirely to the Amsterdam School.
The Netherlands has long had a paramount association with the diamond industry, most famously in Antwerp and Amsterdam. Located on the Museumplein, or Museum Square, along with several other cultural institutions, the Diamond Museum is all about the bling.
5. The Amsterdams Historisch Museum
Although not as old as Rotterdam or Utrecht for example, Amsterdam’s history over the past millenium has been rather remarkable. From the Hanseatic League to the Dutch Golden Age, Industrial Revolution to the horrors of Nazi Germany, the city has been through a lot. In today’s fiercely progressive and cosmopolitan Amsterdam, the Amsterdams Historisch Museum is the best place to soak it all in.
4. The Joods Historisch Museum
A considerable Jewish population made remarkable contributions to Dutch society between the end of the 16th century and World War Two. Subsequent to expulsion from Spain, Amsterdam and the Netherlands as a whole, became a hospitable haven for the persecuted religious group. Until the genocidal objectives of Hitler, the city was a hub of Jewish culture. Today, the Joods Historisch Museum, recently renovated to international acclaim, stands apart from most attractions in Amsterdam.
One of the most popular museums in Europe, the Van Gogh Museum is infamously jammed with tourists in the busy summer season. Even if you have to jockey for position to catch a glimpse of Sunflowers however, it’s still well worth your while to visit this Amsterdam institution.
Long lines are a staple at this world famous museum. But if there is one museum worth the wait, worth the time and effort, it would be the Anne Frank House. The author of The Diary of a Young Girl, one of the all-time bestsellers in history, wrote her diary here, under cover for two years, while Nazis took over the city. A transformative and emotional experience, no matter what your background.
The de facto State Museum of the Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam contains a treasure trove of art. Up there with the Prado, Louvre and Hermitage in scope, the museum has the best collection of works from the Dutch Golden Age, from Rembrandt to Vermeer, Hals and Steen.
A trip to Amsterdam to explore the city’s magnificent museums is a must for lovers of art and culture. Disover the best hotel rates in the city before you go.
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