Museums

World-renowned bastions of art and history

First-time visitors will likely want to visit some of Amsterdam's most famous museums. The Rijksmuseum houses masterpieces of Golden Age glory. Marvel at Vincent's visible brush strokes and his uneasy life at the Van Gogh Museum. The exceptionally moving story told at the Anne Frank House is somber yet inspirational. The recently renovated Hermitage Amsterdam features the fortunes of Czarist Russia. See how the city's most famous resident lived at Rembrandthuis. And be one of the first inside the new state-of-the-art space for modern and contemporary art when the acclaimed Stedelijk Museum reopens in mid 2011.

Amsterdam's hidden treasures

Tired of pushing past people to see Golden Age paintings? Amsterdam's smaller museums are hidden cultural treasures. Have a penchant for purses? Consider the Tassenmuseum (Museum of Bags and Purses). Museum Het Schip is a stunning example of Amsterdam School architecture, while Museum Willet-Holthuysen is the only fully restored canal house that's daily open to the public.

A former clandestine church, Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder is tucked away in the attic of a canal house and within walking distance of Central Station (it is also referred to as Museum Amstelkring). Founded in the Protestant-dominated 17th century, Catholics could take mass in this secret chapel.

The Jewish Historical Museum (JHM) displays objects and artifacts related to the religion, culture and history of Jews in the Netherlands. Part of the museum is designed especially for children, where they can learn about the life of a typical Dutch Jewish family. Here it's explained why Jews should not eat certain products and why it is sometimes more acceptable to make noise than to be silent.

Photography and multimedia boom

In recent years, photography and multimedia exhibitions have risen steadily. Foam Photography Museum features a constant flow of daring and inspiring exhibitions throughout the year. A smaller museum that takes about an hour to explore, it's the perfect place just to show up and let the curators surprise you.

The same could be said of Huis Marseille, another photography museum located in a stately canal house. The courtyard gardens often feature some of the collection.

Montevideo, the Dutch Institute for Media Art, has compiled an impressive collection since its inception in 1978. This includes both video and media art, and its permanent collection features some of the first experimental works of well-known national and international talents, as well as emerging artists.