12 MUST-VISIT MUSEUMS IN AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam, a city of endless charm and cultural riches, has a secret beyond its cozy restaurants and picturesque sights – a treasure of must-visit museums. In this guide, we’ll unveil 12 best museums in Amsterdam, each offering its unique charm and intrigue, with the best saved for last! Whether you’re an art lover, history enthusiast, or simply seeking curiosity, these museums are poised to make your Amsterdam experience truly memorable, all within biking distance of Hotel Casa.
1. Stedelijk Museum
Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum stands out as a hidden gem among the city’s renowned museums. Unlike other municipal museums in the Netherlands that focus on their city’s history, this museum is dedicated to modern and contemporary art. It houses one of Europe’s most important collections in this genre. You can explore thought-provoking temporary exhibitions or immerse yourself in the museum’s remarkable permanent collection of contemporary artworks.
Bike ride Hotel Casa - Stedelijk Museum 🚲 15 minutes
2. New: H'ART Museum (Hermitage Amsterdam)
The Museum Hermitage in Amsterdam is now the H’ART Museum. The museum underwent a transformation in September 2023 after breaking ties with the Russian Hermitage. Collaborating with institutions like the British Museum, Centre Pompidou, and the Smithsonian, H’ART Museum promises world-class exhibitions, including an exciting Kandinsky show next year, and a special showcase of all seventeen Rembrandts in 2025 for Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary. It’s a fresh start for cultural exploration.
Bike ride Hotel Casa - H'ART Museum 🚲 9 minutes
3. Eye Film Museum
Celebrating the world of cinema, the Eye Film Museum on Amsterdam’s IJ river houses a remarkable collection of 54,000 films, including blockbusters, classics, and cult favorites. In addition to discovering the art of filmmaking, you can enjoy movies in one of its four theaters. The museum’s captivating design appears to be in motion, a work of art in itself. Explore film photos, books, archives, and posters, from the pioneering days of 1896 to the present.
Foto: Frans Ruiter
Bike ride Hotel Casa - Eye Film Museum 🚲 20 minutes
4. NXT Museum
NXT Museum is the Netherlands’ pioneering media art museum, offering a glimpse into the future as soon as you step through its doors. At NXT, the belief is that art mirrors the spirit of the times, and media is an inherent part of that reflection. Here, they employ the latest technologies while also introducing you to digital innovations you may not have encountered before. Immerse yourself in the rapid evolution of media and let the movements, colors, and stimuli captivate you within the walls of this former production house in Amsterdam North.
Bike ride Hotel Casa - NXT Museum 🚲 23 minutes
5. Fabrique des Lumières
Celebrate the fusion of art and light at the French light factory known as Fabrique des Lumières, now situated in Amsterdam’s Westerpark. Opened in April 2022, this museum is the sibling of the renowned Atelier des Lumières in Paris, where you can immerse yourself in the works of Monet, Van Gogh, and Klimt. In its Amsterdam location, you’ll encounter classical and modern masterpieces as well as contemporary art, all brought to life with vibrant light, movement, and astonishment. It offers a unique sensory experience that appeals to everyone, even those who may not consider themselves avid museum-goers.
Bike ride Hotel Casa - Fabrique des Lumières 🚲 28 minutes
6. Houseboat Museum
Looking to avoid megastructures and the typical tourist hotspots? Then a visit to the Houseboat Museum, situated on Prinsengracht in the heart of Amsterdam, might be just what you’re after. Vincent, both the creator and resident of this museum, observed a growing interest in understanding the houseboat lifestyle. Visitors are curious about the logistics of living on a houseboat, from navigation to utilities like electricity. In response, Vincent transformed his own dwelling into a museum, offering an intimate glimpse into this unique way of life.
Bike ride Hotel Casa - Houseboat Museum 🚲 16 minutes
7. Red Light Secrets
Located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Red Light District (the Wallen), Red Light Secrets is a museum where you can gain insight into the world’s oldest profession. Explore the red-lit rooms, experience the feeling of being watched from the street, and uncover the secrets and stories of those working in prostitution. Learn about the motivations behind this profession, the types of clients, and the behind-the-scenes realities. A visit to Amsterdam’s Prostitution Museum leaves no secrets unturned.
Bike ride Hotel Casa - Red Light Secrets 🚲 12 minutes
8. Museum van de Geest
Roughly translated as the ‘Museum of the Mind,’ this museum has two locations, one in Haarlem and another along the Amstel river in Amsterdam. The Museum van de Geest showcases unrefined art created by individuals with unique backgrounds. They collectively refer to these works as ‘Outsider Art,’ a form of art where the creators approach their craft with untamed, even ‘obsessive’ intensity. It’s a realm of art that’s unexpected, raw, defiant, and unconventional, inviting visitors to view the collection through a different lens.
Bike ride Hotel Casa - Museum van de Geest 🚲 9 minutes
9. Artis Micropia
Explore the unseen realm at this science museum located in the heart of Amsterdam. Right beside the entrance to the renowned Amsterdam Zoo, you’ll discover Artis Micropia, a museum dedicated to bacteria, molds, and the myriad of invisible organisms that surround us. Engage with the museum’s laboratory experts, and reshape your perspective on these microscopic entities. After all, they aren’t just ‘unclean’; they also play a crucial role in the development of medicines and food, serving as life-enhancing, minuscule organisms.
Bike ride Hotel Casa - Artis Micropia 🚲 9 minutes
10. STRAAT Museum
STRAAT, a museum dedicated to street art and graffiti, boasts an impressive collection of over 180 works by 170+ artists. Housed in an 8,000 square meter former shipyard warehouse on the NDSM wharf, it offers a unique perspective on street art’s impact on culture, fashion, and design. Educational opportunities and guided tours allow you to explore the stories behind these works, revealing hidden narratives often unseen on the streets. A visit to our Amsterdam museum promises a fresh perspective on art and culture.
Bike ride Hotel Casa - STRAAT Museum 🚲 29 minutes
11. FOAM
Foam (Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam) on Keizersgracht in Amsterdam is a dynamic photography museum featuring rotating exhibitions encompassing various photographic genres. It spotlights celebrated photographers, emerging talents, and also houses a bookstore, café, library, and its own English-language publication, Foam Magazine, released three times a year. Within its unique architectural space, three interconnected buildings create a captivating environment for photography enthusiasts.
Bike ride Hotel Casa - FOAM 🚲 10 minutes
12. NEMO Science Museum
NEMO is a five-story museum tailored to science and technology enthusiasts. is a five-story museum tailored to science and technology enthusiasts. This museum has become an integral part of the Amsterdam landscape. You quite literally drive through this towering green structure when entering or leaving the city. While the NEMO Science Museum may initially appear geared towards children, nothing could be further from the truth. After all, who wouldn’t want to delve into the science of sound or explore what the world of tomorrow truly holds? It promises a day filled with active, playful, and educational experiences for all.
Foto: DigiDaan
Bike ride Hotel Casa - NEMO Science Museum 🚲 14 minutes
Next time you find yourself wandering the charming streets of our Dutch capital, don’t forget to step inside these cultural treasures found in our list with best museums in Amsterdam. Discover the stories, marvel at the masterpieces, and immerse yourself in the fascinating history that Amsterdam has to offer.
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