10 museums for every art lover

Eye Filmmuseum

Best for: Cinephiles

A landmark on the IJ river, the Eye Filmmuseum is an architectural wonder designed to play with light, space, and movement in much the same way as film. Inside the slick, multifaceted white structure is an impressive collection of movie posters, equipment, and 40,000 films and other objects that reflect Dutch film culture. The four on-site atmospheric cinemas screen blockbusters and hard-to-find arthouse films. Catch a special exhibition on American female filmmakers from the 1970s or the permanent exhibition on cinema history.

How to get there by public transport: Take the F3 ferry from Central Station to Buikerslotweg. It's a 2-minute walk from there.

H'ART Museum

Best for: Big thinkers

Formerly known as the Hermitage, H’ART Museum has built itself a more modern reputation pairing future-forward curation with expert art history. The last year has seen the likes of Kadinsky take centre stage but the upcoming programme looks West to the States, with a statement exhibition on American Identities - from Barbie to baseball – and one on Radical Histories of Black and Mexican citizens of the country. 

How to get there by public transport: Take Tram 14 from Central Station (stop Waterlooplein). Or opt for Metro 51, 53 and 54: stop Waterlooplein (exit Hortusplantsoen).

Huis Willet-Holthuysen

Best for: Historians

Interested in what life was like in Amsterdam's affluent quarter in the 19th century? At Huis Willet-Holthuysen, you'll get a taste of the atmosphere of that era. That's thanks to Mrs Willet-Holthuysen, who in 1805 bequeathed this 17th-century canal house to the city of Amsterdam, including all its furnishings and art collection. The house can still be viewed in its original state today, complete with a ballroom, a dining room, and a blue room. A trip here is to imagine yourself as a wealthy resident of the city, at least just for a moment.

How to get there by public transport: Take Tram 4 (stop Rembrandtplein) and 14 (stop Waterlooplein). Or Metro 51, 53 and 54 (stop Waterlooplein, exit Nieuwe Herengracht).

Jewish Museum

Best for: Cultural anthropologists

A beautiful and prominent museum located across four monumental synagogues, the Jewish Museum gives a multifaceted picture of Dutch Jewish life – including the interactive Children’s Museum. With a range of exhibitions on covering both identity and art, catch the current Judy Chicago dubbed Revelations which showcases her work on gender, power, and social justice, as well as forgotten histories closely linked to her Jewish background.

How to get there by public transport: Take Tram 14 from Central Station (stop Waterlooplein). Or opt for Metro 51, 53 and 54: stop Waterlooplein (exit Hortusplantsoen).

Museum Het Schip

Best for: Architecture enthusiasts

Dive into the wacky architectural style of the Amsterdam School movement at Museum Het Schip. This expressionist building (nicknamed "the ship" for its nautical shape) hosts fascinating permanent exhibitions on this early 20th-century design movement, often compared to Art Deco. Right now, you'll catch a special exhibition on the women of the Amsterdamse School, forgotten by history but celebrated today.

How to get there by public transport: Take Bus 22 or 48 from Central Station (Spaarndammerstraat stop).

Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder

Best for: Spiritual souls

Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic) invites you inside a seemingly ordinary canal house that conceals a secret 17th-century church in its attic, where practising Catholicism publicly was prosecuted. Undertake an illuminating journey from the basement to the rafters through this gorgeous historical monument - one for those with their eyes towards the sky or soul.

How to get there by public transport: From Central Station, it's a 6-minute walk.

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

Best for: Classicists

The Netherlands’ most well-known and largest museum, the Rijksmuseum, is a must-visit for classical art lovers with a collection spanning 1200-2000, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Jan Steen, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. The building itself is a triumph of Dutch architecture, an exquisite blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles – and it’s the only museum in the world that you can cycle through. Catch Metamorphoses, a tale of Ovid's legendary writings as told through classical art, in the museum's latest exhibition.

How to get there by public transport: Take Metro 52 (Vijzelgracht stop) and walk 6 minutes. Or take Tram 17/2/12 (stop Prinsengracht) or Tram 14 (stop Vijzelgracht), and it's a 10-minute walk.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Best for: Modernists

A stone’s throw from the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum displays 90,000 works from the early 20th and 21st centuries. Expect pieces by Kazimir Malevich, Piet Mondrian, Gerrit Rietveld, Nola Hatterman, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, Karel Appel, Andy Warhol and more. The 2012 renovation added a wing dubbed 'the bathtub' by locals because it looks like a giant, shiny-white bathtub dropped smack in Museumplein. Catch the eclectic sculptures of Dahn Vo on show right now.

How to get there by public transport: Take Metro 52 (Vijzelgracht stop) and walk 12 minutes. Or take Tram 2/12 (stop Museumplein).

STRAAT Museum

Best for: Urbanists

This massive industrial complex in NDSM answers the question of what happens when urban art is removed from the streets and placed in a gallery context. STRAAT Museum in NDSM is entirely devoted to graffiti and street art, featuring a wide range of works by international artists, including large-scale murals.

How to get there by public transport: Take the F4 ferry from Central Station to NDSM and it's a 4-minute walk.

FOAM

Best for: Photography lovers

An internationally renowned museum, Foam exhibits all genres of photography in a beautiful canal-side setting. As well as being a hub for emerging and legendary pictures, it acts as a creative hub where photographers can meet and participate in forums and symposiums. Drop by for special tours, lectures and discussions, films and other activities. Foam also publishes its own international photography magazine (Foam Magazine), which is available in book and magazine stores worldwide.

How to get there by public transport: Take Metro 52 (Vijzelgracht stop) from Central Station and walk 6 minutes. Or take Tram 14 (Keizergracht stop) and walk 6 minutes.