Best art and culture near Amsterdam

Teylers Museum, Haarlem

Dating back to 1784, the Teylers Museum (free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card) is the Netherlands' oldest museum, which feels like leafing through an antique encyclopedia. Enjoy its extensive collection of paintings, drawings, fossils, minerals, instruments and books. Make sure to visit the museum’s monumental Oval Room, which is more than two centuries old and an attraction in itself. Plus, the museum hosts regular exhibitions dedicated to everything from history to science.

Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem

A must-see for anyone interested in the Dutch Masters, the Frans Hals Museum celebrates Haarlem’s most famous native. It is Haarlem’s fine art museum, home to the world’s most extensive collection of Frans Hals paintings, alongside works by famous Haarlem artists. The jewel in the crown is Hals’ group portraits of the civic guards. Thanks to his loose brush technique and their vivacious composition, these works are indeed a feast for the eye. Discover the Frans Hals Museum at two historical locations in Haarlem’s old city centre: Groot Heiligland and HAL, which are just a seven-minute walk away and present modern and contemporary art exhibitions. Across both locations, you’ll find a stimulating mixture of Haarlem’s 16th and 17th-century, modern and contemporary art.

PHIL, Haarlem

Located at the heart of old Haarlem, PHIL Haarlem is the city’s finest concert hall and home to the perfectly preserved late Romantic Cavaillé-Coll organ. This striking 19th-century building features numerous galleries with high ceilings, which provide outstanding acoustics. The language-no-problem programme includes dance performances, pop concerts, classical music, and plays in English or without speech. For a truly authentic experience, why not try to catch a performance by the Dutch Philharmonic Orchestra or the Dutch Chamber Orchestra, both of which regularly give concerts here?

Singer Laren Museum, Laren

Art fans should not miss the Singer Laren Museum, which houses impressive collections of work from 1880 to 1950, assembled by Anna and William Singer in the early 20th century. The outstanding permanent display and various changing exhibitions are well worth a visit. On the grounds, the stunning sculpture garden - designed by renowned landscape architect Piet Oudolf - features work by contemporary Dutch artists, including Guido Geelen, Maria Roosen and Famke van Wijk. Based on a theme of connection, the works meld culture and nature and are nestled between beautiful seasonal fauna.

Museum Cobra, Amstelveen

Museum Cobra is a must-see for modern art lovers. Its changing exhibitions feature the great names of the mid-20th-century CoBrA movement, such as Karel Appel, Constant, Corneille, and Jan Sierhuis. There are also major temporary exhibitions of work by individual artists and their contemporaries from related movements, and temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art

Museum JAN, Amstelveen

Situated in Amstelveen's ‘Old Village’, Museum JAN specialises in glass art and Dutch design. Over the years, it has assembled a rich collection of modern work by the masters in this field, as well as other sculptures and paintings. Discover mesmerising glass art collected by founder Jan van der Togt alongside contemporary art exhibitions such as Lisa Konno: The Porcelain Body (14 February to 16 June 2024). The exhibit reflects on beauty ideals in Japan and the Netherlands through a combination of Japanese porcelain and textiles.

MonetAtelier, Zaandam

‘Zaandam is quite remarkable,’ wrote Claude Monet, ‘and there is enough to paint for a lifetime.’ Indeed, the region seems to have inspired him, and during his short stay in 1871, he created 25 paintings. Replicas of Monet’s 25 Zaandam paintings can be seen in the MonetAtelier along the River Zaan in the centre of Zaandam. The Atelier is located in the rebuilt ‘Luchthuis aan de Zaan’, a house from one of Monet’s paintings. The Zaans Museum also owns a real Monet and is definitely worth a visit.

Zaanse Schans, Zaandam

Located just north of Amsterdam, the Zaanse Schans open-air museum offers a perfectly preserved glimpse into the Netherlands' industrial past with its traditional houses, windmills, warehouses and workshops. In its 18th and 19th century heyday, the Zaan region was an important industrial area dotted by hundreds of windmills producing linseed oil, paint, snuff, mustard, paper and other products. Many of the Zaanse Schans' characteristic village houses are now museums, gift shops or workshops, while others are still used as private residences. Some of the Zaanse Schans' remaining windmills are also open to the public.

Zaans Museum and Verkade Experience, Zaandam

The Zaans Museum tells the story of daily life in the Zaan region over the centuries. The Zaan is one of the oldest industrial areas in Europe, and wind and water played an essential role in its success. In 1871, the world-famous French painter Claude Monet visited the Zaan region and became so inspired that he made no fewer than 25 paintings here. In the Zaans Museum, you can see De Vooraan and the Westerhem and an interactive presentation with all his Zaanse works. At the heart of the Zaans Museum, you will find also the Verkade Experience. A treat for young and old alike, the Verkade Experience transports you back to the chocolate-and-biscuit factory of the early 20th century, where the original machines are still churning away.

Volendams Museum, Volendam

The Volendams Museum, located in the town of Volendam, is definitely one of the Netherlands' most unconventional museums. Here, you can glimpse some of the more unique elements of early Dutch life in the region, with an exciting assortment of art, life-size dioramas and fascinating artefacts. Its collection includes works by celebrated painters like Henricus Rol and Edwin Austrin Abbey and more unusual items like 19th-century fishing vessels and antique uniforms. One of the museum's cornerstones is a series of large mosaics which comprises over 11 million cigar bands.

Hembrugterrein, Zaandam

Once a hub for the production of ammunition and weaponry, Zaandam's Hembrugterrein has now transformed into a cultural centre housing restaurants such as Lab-44, art and design ateliers, museums and creative venues. Here, you’ll find the light-drenched Museum of Humanity, featuring dozens of thought-provoking portraits of people from all over the world to pose questions about what it means to be human. Also check out Bind, a cultural clubhouse and cafe, where the (largely Dutch) programme for storytelling, community dinners and barbecues is also open for coffee and vegetarian snacks.

Juttersmu-ZEE-um, Zandvoort

Beachcombing was once part of everyday life for the people of Zandvoort as they sought to earn additional income. While beachcombing is now more a hobby than a sideline, it can reveal some fascinating finds. The Juttersmu-ZEE-um displays some surprising artefacts and curiosities collected from the local beach, including a series of messages sent in bottles from all over the world! For anyone looking to get involved, join in a beach clean-up with Stichting Juttersgeluk - a fantastic volunteering initiative with regular meet-ups!

Zandvoorts Museum & Street Art Zandvoort, Zandvoort

From chickens on a staircase to a shipwreck in the sky, the coastal town of Zandvoort is teeming with impressive street art. Seven artists created special works during the outdoor exhibition Street Art Zandvoort, a collaboration between Moco Museum and the village of Zandvoort. Explore the latest creations of Street Art Frankey, the paintings of TelmoMiel, the graffiti art of Hugo Kaagman, and many more. Download this app, where you can start an audio tour departing from Zandvoorts Museum. Afterwards, head back to the museum to find even more street art-related artworks, including by the 'father of stencil graffiti' Xavier Prou, also known as 'Blek le Rat', and billboards with a twist by Rob Scholte and much more.

Bunker Museum, IJmuiden

Until the end of October, IJmuiden’s fascinating Bunker Museum tucked away in the dunes, is open for visitors every first and third Sunday from 11:00 to 16:00. This WWII fortress was used to defend the IJmuiden harbour mouth and access to the port of Amsterdam. The museum consists of six underground bunkers filled with enormous military collections, ranging from a German canteen to a two-person submarine. Don’t miss tickets for the Outdoor Tour, where an expert guide will lead you through the dunes towards the anti-aircraft battery. 

Land art, Flevoland

Flevoland is home to some epic examples of land art. These works by internationally renowned artists were influenced by the landscape's newness. Nine pieces of incredible land art are scattered across the polder: travel to Lelystad to see world-famous artist Antony Gormley’s Exposure, a 26-metre-tall structure of metal beams in the shape of a crouching man. Or, just outside Almere, check out Marinus Boezem’s The Green Cathedral - a formation of 178 poplar trees, modelled on the Gothic cathedral in Reims - and Daniel Libeskind’s Polderland Garden of Love and Fire. You can tour all the works in a day if you’re travelling by car, and guided tours take place all summer with special events during Land Art Weekend in June.

Urban architecture, Almere

New Land's modern skylines elegantly fuse modern design with elements of nature. In Almere, you will find work by many world-famous architects, including the undulating designs of Rem Koolhaas and his firm OMA, who conceptualised the pedestrian-friendly planning for the city centre. Don't miss The Wave by René van Zuuk - a seven-storey building which starts as a rectangular block at one end, but the front heaves outwards at the other end in the shape of a wave, as if the building itself is moving. Discover all of Almere’s architecture and street art - such as the iconic ‘Ally Stairs’ by Kamp Seedorf - with a guided tour or a walking tour flyer from VVV Almere. Alternatively, join the Discover Almere Photography Tour for an interactive audio guide led by photographer Richard Terborg. Or check out this map of all of Lelystad's new street art murals.

Batavialand Museum, Leylstad

Presenting a broad outline of the history of Flevoland, from the prehistoric Swifterbant people to the largest reclamation project ever: the Zuiderzee Project. The collection within the Batavialand Museum includes 6,000-year-old archaeological finds from when Flevoland was still an extensive marshland, as well as archives with thousands of photographs, documents and much more. There’s plenty for children to do, including presentations that let them step into the shoes of a dyke builder, archaeologist or lock keeper. Fun experiments and games teach them about one of the Netherlands’ key challenges: water management.

Museum De Zwarte Tulp, Lisse

Located in the centre of Lisse, the Museum De Zwarte Tulp (Black Tulip Museum) examines the history of the flower region, the origins and evolution of bulb culture and the science behind developing new varieties of tulips. Through interactive exhibitions using pictures, photography and videos, the museum paints a picture of the remarkable bulb-to-flower-to-bulb cycle. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum hosts several special shows throughout the year. This year, the museum celebrates 75 years of the Keukenhof with a special exhibition dubbed A Field of Posters (until 30 November 2024), displaying some of the most iconic and kaleidoscopic posters used to advertise the flower strip. A slice of history in a pretty showcase of vintage advertising; this one is for the nostalgia seekers.

Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen, Vijfhuizen

Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen is a former military fort located just south of Haarlem. It was once part of Amsterdam's Defence Line, a 135 km-long ring of defensive structures that once served to protect the city. The fort was restored in the early 2000s and is now used as a centre for contemporary art, complete with a restaurant. It also hosts film screenings, business functions and is an excellent departure point for local cycling and walking routes. 

Flower Art Museum, Aalsmeer

The Flower Art Museum is the world’s first museum dedicated to floral-inspired contemporary art. Located in the former water cellar of Aalsmeer (opposite the water tower), this 1,000-m2 museum organises exhibitions with renowned artists and challenging themes in which flowers and plants play the leading role. If you love flowers, don’t miss the Aalsmeer Flower Festival in June, where colourful blooms are showcased in beautiful arrangements, surprising works of art and unique locations. See designers at work, enjoy exhibitions and live music, then roll up your sleeves for a mini workshop. Locations include the horticultural museum, a rose nursery, a floral design school and a spectacular waterfront venue. Visitors can travel around by bus and boat, and there is also a bike tour available.