city

Amsterdam has some fifty museums which attract many millions of visitors each year. The main ones are:

Allard Pierson museum
Rich archeological collection of the University of Amsterdam. You can see exhibits from Egypt, ancient Greece, Roman times, Western Turkey, Iran and prehistoric finds from Europe.

Amsterdam Historic Museum
Gives an overview of the history of Amsterdam from the thirtheenth century to the present using, among other things, archeological finds, models, silver and gold exhibits, glass, earthenware and porcelain. Also the only "museum street" in the world with a number of group portraits from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Anne Frank house
A museum with a story: The Diary of Anne Frank, written in the years 1942-1944. Anne and her family hid from the German occupation forces until they were betrayed and deported. A number of exhibitions give an impression of the life of Anne Frank, in which the diary takes a central role. Temporary exhibitions demand consideration of racism, anti-semitism etc.

Beurs van Berlage
The Beurs van Berlage is one of the world's most important architectural monuments. The interior is certainly worth seeing. In addition to the building itself, you'll find drawings and mock-ups of the building as well as documents about it and the stock trading that took place inside. You can also visit one of the exhibitions which are held in the Beurs.

Biblical Museum
Archaeological finds, artefacts from ancient Egypt, centuries-old models of the temple of Solomon and Herod, religious objects from the Jewish and Christian traditions, and even certain fragrances help the visitor become acquainted with the stories and people of the Bible.

City archive
The city archive is for anyone with an interest in the history of their city, neighbourhood or family and for those who need the Archive in their studies for a thesis or publication. Regular special exhibitions.

Dutch Film Museum
The many facets of film history are presented in the two charming cinemas. One of the cinemas contains the art deco interior of the Amsterdam Cinema Parisien.

Van Gogh Museum
Houses the richest collection in the world of works by Vincent van Gogh. The collection comprises over 200 paintings, 500 sketches and 700 letters from the artist, as well as his collection of Japanese prints. There are also paintings by Gauguin, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec and other artists from Van Gogh's circle. The museum organises regular exhibitions highlighting new aspects of art at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century.

Jewish Historical Museum
Based in the three synagogues of the restored High German synagogue complex from the 17th and 18th century. Subjects: Jewish religion, zionism, persecution and survival, Jewish culture in the Netherlands and the socio-economic history of Jews in the Netherlands.

Madame Tussaud's
From Tina Turner to Vincent Van Gogh, Marilyn Monroe to the Dutch Royal Family, the world's greatest celebrities and legends invite you to join them on a spectacular journey through time and space!

NEMO (former name: NewMetropolis)
National centre for science and technology. NewMetropolis wants to interest people of all ages in science, technology and industry. The building was designed by the Italian architect Renze Piano and has the contours of a ship.

Rembrandt house
This house, which dates from 1606 and in which Rembrandt lived between 1639 and 1660, exhibits 250 of the 300 etchings Rembrandt created. The museum also owns a number of sketches by Rembrandt and paintings by, among others, his teacher Pieter Lastman and some by Rembrandt's apprentices.

Rijksmuseum
Largest collection of art in the Netherlands, the basis of which was laid at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The most visited section is the collection of Dutch old masters from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries, including works by Rembrandt (22), Vermeer, Frans Hals and Jan Steen. There is also a prints room with approximately 700,000 prints and drawings; sculptures, furniture, silver, glass, porcelain; a Dutch History section and an Asiatic Art section.
The building was designed by P.H. Cuypers and opened in 1885.

Shipping museum
One of the largest maritime collections in the world: including some 500 authentic ships' models and dozens of charts, navigation instruments, weapons, flags and paintings, especially from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. At the museum quay is a replica of the VOC ship 'Amsterdam', an East Indiaman from the seventeenth century.

Stedelijk Museum
Large collection of modern art: international painting and sculptures, graphics and drawings, applied art, industrial design, posters and photos. The majority of the collection consists of works after 1945. Major works include those by Malevich, Picasso, Mondriaan, De Kooning and Rietveld.

Amsterdam Institute of Fine Art
First art library in the Netherlands (1955) and now expanded into a professional organisation for art loans, sales, consultancy and mediation.

Netherlands Theatre Institute
Expositions on Theatre. Collection geared to Dutch theatre: theatre costumes, set models, prints, drawings, posters, photos and puppets. Based in a canalside house dating from 1638 with an interior (partly) in Louis XIV style.

Tropics museum
Gives an impression of the life and work of people in the (sub)tropics. The extensive collection of exhibits is displayed in surroundings which are as natural as possible. Other themes: music and theatre from the non-Western world and religions.
Separate Children's museum.

Current cultural information

Museums & 5 star hotels

Amsterdam’s 5 star hotels are:

Amstel Inter Continental Hotel

55 rooms & 24 suites

Professor Tulpplein 1
1018 GX Amsterdam

+ 31 (0)20 6226060 / + 31 (0)20 6226060

Bilderberg Garden Hotel

Mangerie de Kersentuin

124 rooms

Dijsselhofplantsoen 7
1077 BJ Amsterdam

+ 31 (0)20 5705600 / + 31 (0)20 5705654