Tropenmuseum
For centuries, Amsterdam was the centre for daring expeditions to the tropics, where the Dutch had their colonies and trading stations. One of Europe’s leading ethnographic museums, the Tropenmuseum gives you a chance to explore Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and New Guinea all in one afternoon in an interactive venue.
Tropical heritage
The beautiful and historic building in which the Tropenmuseum is housed provides a space where stories are told from cultures from all over the world. The lifelike and interactive permanent and temporary exhibitions are both entertaining and educational at the same time. On display are art, objects, photographs, music and film from non-western cultures, which all function as storytellers. The permanent exhibitions are about Southeast Asia, Oceania, Western Asia and North Africa, Africa, Latin America, Man and Environment and Music, Dance and Theatre.
Hands-on displays
The Tropenmuseum collection contains over 340,000 fascinating pieces. Marvel at masks, sit on pillows in the living room of a Yemenite home, meet with a timber importer, a cardboard producer and a fish exporter in other corners of the globe–a visit to the Tropenmuseum is never boring. Enthusiastic staff also organize special interactive exhibitions and programmes for children aged 6 to 12, during which kids can play with non-western cultural artefacts from the museum collection..
A symbolic building
When the Tropenmuseum was built it caused quite a stir with a lot of public criticism. It took 11 years to complete the building, which was the largest building in Amsterdam in 1923. Designed by J.J. van Nieukerken, the building combines various styles and is richly decorated. A special Symbolism Committee worked for more than 10 years on the decorative elements! The building has many symbolic - and direct - references to science, agriculture, flora and fauna, religions, folktales and myths from tropical cultures.
Much more than a museum
The Tropenmuseum is home to the Royal Tropical Institute and is so much more than just a museum space. Lovers of world music will find a stimulating permanent exhibition here on sounds from around the globe - and the Tropenmuseum is the venue in Amsterdam for live world music performances. Also, if you’re going on to other exciting destinations, then the Tropenmuseum’s library is a fantastic source of information. Here you will find publications about travel but also about cookery, development aid and music in other cultures.
Visit the Tropenmuseum today and escape to the tropics - without ever leaving Amsterdam!
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