Museums in Amsterdam

Amsterdam's landscape is dotted with various museums, each housing rich stories, artwork, mechanisms, and tributes to some of the greatest artists of our time. A visit to the city is incomplete without exploring these museums and discovering the fascinating secrets each holds. Whether it's a museum dedicated solely to the works of the enigmatic Van Gogh or Anne Frank House that pays solemn tribute to the horrors of Nazi Germany, there's plenty to learn and soak in here.

Amsterdam's museums are brimming with culture and there are endless options to choose from. Here's a quick look at the best museums in Amsterdam:

The best museums for children in Amsterdam are:

Yes. Amsterdam's museums witness heavy footfall throughout the year and the best option to save time is by booking skip-the-line tickets. These will enable you to bypass the long waiting lines and get priority entry into the museum of your choice.
You can enjoy skip-the-line entry with Rijksmuseum tickets, National Maritime Museum tickets, Body Worlds tickets, Madame Tussauds Amsterdam Museum tickets, Stedelijk Museum tickets, Red Light Secrets - Museum of Prostitution, Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum tickets, and Youseum Museum Amsterdam tickets.

While skip-the-line access and audio guides are available for most museums, only Amsterdam Heineken Experience tickets, Van Gogh Museum tickets, and Rijksmuseum tickets provide guided tours. The guided tours, in addition to skip-the-line access, will allow you to explore the museum while you are ushered by an expert local guide who will provide you with in-depth information about the museum and the installations.

With the I Amsterdam City Card, enjoy a canal cruise, free transportation, and attraction entry to several popular museums in the city. Some of these are the Allard Pierson Museum, Rembrandt House Museum, Rijksmuseum, NEMO Science Museum, National Holocaust Museum, Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam Tulip Museum, Batavialand museum, and many more. An added benefit of purchasing this city pass is that you also enjoy skip-the-line entry to the attraction of your choice.

Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk, EYE Film, Amsterdam Museum, Huis Marseille, Luther Museum, the Royal Palace, Van Gogh Museum, and Willet-Holthuysen Museum offer free entry to people under 17 years of age. Apart from these, the Multatuli Museum, Museumkaart, Schuttersgalerij, Melkweg Photogallery, and Reflex New Art Gallery are some of the museums that are free to visit on all days.

The cancellation policy varies depending on the type of ticket you purchase. While some museum tickets in Amsterdam allow you to cancel up to 24/48/72 hours before your scheduled visit, some of them cannot be canceled or rescheduled.

The Rijksmuseum is the largest museum in Amsterdam, hosting a collection of over 1 million pieces of art. It is also the largest art museum in The Netherlands. On display, one can find art, artifacts, and pieces of history between the years 1200 to 2000, with over 8,000 on display right now.

There are not many days on which Amsterdam museums are free to visit. However, you can find plenty of museums that have no entry charges all year round.

While some museums completely restrict photography, popular ones such as Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum permit photography for private use and ban the use of flash, tripods, selfie sticks, and other professional equipment. Make sure to read the relevant information either on the museum’s official website or on entry. Each museum features several signboards marking where photography is permitted or not.

Early mornings and late evenings on weekdays would definitely be the best time to visit a museum in Amsterdam. You would be able to explore comfortably, at your own pace, due to the limited number of visitors. The best time to visit Amsterdam museums in the year would be between October to April since the summer months tend to get quite crowded due to the holidays. Keep in mind that December gets quite busy as well due to the festive season.

Most museums in Amsterdam are closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. However, most museums and attractions remain open on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, and New Year's Eve. Refer to the museum’s official website to be on the safer side before your visit.