Embassy of the Free Mind

Visit with your City Card

It is not necessary to reserve a time slot to visit this location with your City Card. Make sure your City Card is valid at the time of your visit.

What is there to do?

The beautiful prints and books in the collection will undoubtedly appeal to your imagination. You can also follow an audio tour, admire the treasures from the collection in the Kleine Sael, listen to a lunchtime concert in the Grote Sael or sign up for a tour of the house. You can study the collection, and the books in the reading room and lounge or find a place in the café or large garden to enjoy a cup of coffee. At home, you can also enjoy a lively program of lectures and courses that is available online.

Amsterdam and free-thinking

Free thinking is the ability to formulate one's own thoughts and ideas, autonomously, without limits, unconstrained and regardless of religion, culture or age. Why is it that people all over the world still associate Amsterdam with freedom? Freedom is in the DNA of the city. And freedom is actually what every human longs for. Humans are the only creatures that search for truth and freedom, for the why of everything.

However, freedom does not exist without wisdom. Wisdom transcends phenomena such as truth-in-authority, superstition, prejudice and fundamentalism. Wisdom connects everything and everyone and creates freedom. Amsterdam has been known since the 17th century for its freedom of religion, individual freedom and freedom of the press. Books are what the internet is today; they spread knowledge and connect people.

House with the Heads

The Embassy of the Free Mind is located in the unique 17th-century city palace, the House with the Heads. This national monument was designed in 1622 by Hendrick de Keyser. There are six heads on the facade. They represent the Roman gods of Apollo, Ceres, Mercury, Minerva, Bacchus and Diana.