The capital of the Netherlands is considered a city with one of the highest museum density in the world. There are more than 60 of them, each of which can rightfully claim to be the main attraction of the city. It gives a feeling of freedom and surprises, and numerous museums in Amsterdam even shock, but do not let him forget.
Van Gogh Museum
The dramatic and even somewhat depressing works of the Post-Impressionists did not find a response among art connoisseurs during the development of this trend. Unfortunately, Van Gogh's paintings were not appreciated during his lifetime, but decades later he was recognized as one of the greatest artists, and his "Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers" is worth $ 74,000,000 today. The family of Theo, the brother of the famous painter, supported him throughout the years, carefully preserved all the canvases, and in 1973 transferred the entire legacy to the museum in his honor. The building itself makes you admire them - the Japanese architect completed the project in the style of "metabolism", which features include "incompleteness" and "transparency".
The round structure is "split" into 2 halves, one of which is made entirely of glass. The halls divide the artist's work into 5 periods: the earliest is represented by the depressing life of peasants ("The Potato Eaters"), then he goes to portraits and still lifes ("Sunflowers"), and in recent years Van Gogh prefers bright landscapes ("Wheat field with crows "). More than 700 works by Vincent and his contemporaries (Monet, Picasso) can be viewed free of charge (if you are under 17), and for the rest the ticket costs 18 euros. Working hours: on weekdays - from 9:00 to 18:00, on Fridays - from 9:00 to 21:00, weekends - December 25, 31 (from 9:00 to 17:00) and January 1 (from 11: 00 to 19:00).
Van Gogh Museum ticket - 20 €
National Maritime Museum
Special attention is paid to shipping in Amsterdam, because once one of the largest ports in the world was located here. In 1656, a military warehouse was located in an inconspicuous gray building, today it has been reconstructed and only the roof is worthy of admiration - iron bars are intertwined and stretched over glass sheets in such a way that people can enjoy the blue sky through the openwork pattern. Models of old ships, sculptures of sailors, interactive paintings, atlases, compasses and other exhibits will interest even tourists who are not fond of the history of nautical affairs - the excursion takes place in semi-darkness, and only some areas are illuminated with neon blue lights and flashlights, creating the feeling that you are on board ship.
They also thought about "little visitors", a huge whale with an open mouth will demonstrate its "insides" and give cognitive information about how marine mammals are arranged - you can go into it and study everything. The sea voyage ends on a real ship, where children can feel like pirates. Opening hours - (every day) from 9:00 to 17:00, and the cost of tickets: children under 3 years old - free, up to 17 years old - 8 euros, the rest - 16 euros.
Madame Tussauds museum
The wax figures of the French sculptor Anna Maria Tussauds are known all over the world, so almost every large metropolis hastened to obtain the right to open a branch for its residents, and Amsterdam was no exception. Huge queues gather at the “doubles” of famous politicians, actors and musicians, and the price (20-24 euros), although it “hits” the wallet, is worth it. The interior of the halls and the choice of figures were not without national flavor: a pirate stands at the entrance and "introduces" the history of prosperous Holland, peasants and artisans in folk costumes continue his work, and then representatives of the artistic intelligentsia - Rembrandt and other painters - join him.
Of course, among the 50 exhibits, Madame Tussauds herself took pride of place, as well as Marilyn Monroe, Angelina Jolie, Brad Peet, Mona Lisa, Lenin, Gorbachev, Barack Obama, but the most impressive are the figures of maniacs in a separate room, which are not advised to visit impressionable tourists ... All idols can be photographed, held by the hand, hugged and created any action within reason. Opening hours - from 9:00 to 17:30.
Tickets for Madame Tussauds and the Amsterdam Dungeon - 30 €
Amsterdam city card for 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours - from 60 €
Public transport ticket - from 7.50 €
Holland Pass: Amsterdam and Holland - 40 €
Public transport and hop-off boat ticket (24 hours) - 32.50 €
Willet-Goltgeisen Museum
A wealthy heiress and an avid collector of antiques found each other in 1861 and invested in a family nest, which in its luxury was not much inferior to the royal chambers. They bequeathed their house to the state after their death in exchange for the condition to keep it in the unchanged form that it was with them. The authorities fulfilled the will of the rich, and visitors note that the mansion does not seem abandoned and deserted, it seems that the owners have been away for a while.
Four floors are occupied by furniture and other household items of the 18-19 centuries, they are very valuable and you cannot touch them, but in the kitchen you can make tea for yourself for 1 euro. It is impossible to convey in words all the splendor of the house, therefore “it is better to see once than hear a hundred times”: on weekdays - from 10:00 to 17:00, on weekends - from 11:00 to 17:00. Ticket price - 10 euros, children under 18 - free.
Diamond Museum
Such an abundance of precious stones per square meter is breathtaking, and the prices of some items encrusted with diamonds are, to put it mildly, shocking. For example, a monkey skull completely covered with diamonds costs tens of millions of dollars, there is no reason to talk about its practicality, but you can admire it. In addition to aesthetic pleasure, you will learn about the history of the appearance of this stone, the intricacies of jewelry craftsmanship, and how to distinguish a “fake” from the original. At the end of the tour, a € 500 master class will be offered on turning and grinding a diamond, which includes a piece you have prepared with a ready-made diamond. An adult ticket costs 10 euros, and up to 12 years old - free. Opening hours - from 9:00 to 17:00 daily.
Brewery Heineken Experience
No good beer lover will miss the opportunity to visit the club dedicated to the Heineken Brouwerijen. For almost 160 years, the beer corporation has been keeping its fans with the high quality of the drink and does not change the recipe. Acquaintance with the long history of beer production will pass through the screens of suspended TVs in a pleasant atmosphere; a cozy hall with dim lights and soft leather sofas is made in green and invites you to relaxed and fascinating conversation over a couple of Heineken glasses.
Drinks, several themed rides and a horse stable with a unique hardy breed for transporting the brewery's products are already included in the guided tour ticket price. Children under 18 are not allowed to visit this place, the rest are welcome here on weekdays from 10:30 to 19:30, and on weekends from 10:30 to 21:00, entrance fee is 18 euros.
Rembrandt House Museum
The difficult fate of the artist, which brought him recognition and wealth in his youth, forced him to sell most of his paintings and valuable things in his old age, and then completely remain to die in complete loneliness and poverty. But in 1911, in the Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam, the mansion that once belonged to Harmenszoon van Rijn was "brought back to life", bought and restored to the last detail thanks to the order of the Dutch queen. And if you do not feel the spirit of the painter's era, hovering through the rooms, then more than 200 canvases will clearly demonstrate the peculiarities of life in the 17th century.When Rembrandt met his first wealthy wife, he himself was at the peak of fame, this period for the writer is accompanied by bright joyful pictures about a riotous lifestyle and masquerades ("The Prodigal Son in a Tavern").
After the early departure of his wife to the "other world", the paintings "fade", tell about the sad side of the life of the poor and old people ("Portrait of an Old Woman"), as he himself gradually becomes bankrupt ("The Parable of the Rich Man"). Rembrandt was mostly a portrait painter, but in the house there are many canvases dedicated to biblical subjects ("The Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene"). To feel the emotional experiences of the common people and understand the surrounding reality of that time, you certainly need to get to Jodenbreestraat Street (4), where every day from 10:00 to 18:00 you can touch the world of Dutch painting.
Entrance ticket to the Rembrandt House - 13 €
Nemo Museum
Nemo is a giant four-story ship where children will be happy to figure out how the world works. The first floor is dedicated to the internal structure of a person, where, for clarity, a show is held, demonstrating the process of our body's work with the help of all kinds of structures. The second floor was "taken" by nature, here and about the water cycle in nature, and about scientific discoveries, and the technology of production of various materials, for example, a large crowd of children gathered at a factory of balls that can be helped to sort and pack.
On the third floor, scientific experiments are carried out, on the fourth, brain activity is analyzed, and the fifth is given over to game rooms and cafeterias. It is possible to list the entire list of outlandish things for a long time, but it is better to personally make sure that the educational and entertainment complex is unsurpassed, which is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:30, at a price of 16.50 euros (children under 4 are free).
Rijksmuseum
By 1863, the collection of Dutch art had reached such a size that it required the construction of a separate storage for them - this was the beginning of the history of the Rijksmuseum, during the construction of which Petrus Kuipers mixed two architectural styles: neo-gothic and renaissance. One day is not enough to inspect all the exhibition halls (paintings, porcelain, ship models, doll houses, books), it is worth deciding in advance on the periods of cultural development that interest you - they are presented here in chronological order, starting from 1100, and divided into 4 zones ... The cost of an adult ticket is 17.50 euros, children under 18 years old - free of charge; working hours - daily from 9:00 to 17:00.
Rijksmuseum: skip-the-line ticket - € 18.50
Museum of bags and wallets
Men are unlikely to be interested in how the fashion for bags and other accessories changed from the Middle Ages to the present day, and they can be left to receive only the theoretical part of the excursion over a cup of coffee by watching a movie from the TV screen in a cafe on the ground floor of this building. For the rest, the amazing and colorful world of Hendrike Ivo's bag collection, numbering more than 3000 pieces, will open.
In addition to the works of world-famous designers, there are also rare male and female models of wallets. Exhibition exhibits will not be available for purchase, but products from modern masters can be bought. You can get aesthetic pleasure every day from 10:00 to 17:00.
Anne Frank House
During the Second World War, it was especially hard for the Jewish communities, which went to various tricks to stay alive. Anne Frank's story is known for the tragic fate of her family - they managed to hide from the Nazi forces in Germany for almost 2 years thanks to the inventive construction of their architect friend - a secret closet. Until dark they hid in him, and by the end of the day they were freed from his "shackles". In 1944, the family was detained, and Anna, at the age of 30, died a year later.
Now in their house is kept the original of the girl's personal diary with her photographs and personal experiences, as well as other materials about the victims of the Holocaust. It works every day from 9:00 to 19:00, and the ticket costs 10 euros for adults, 5 euros for children from 10 to 17 years old, the rest is free.
Hashish Museum
No matter how doubtful the value of such an institution is, yet most travelers put it in a row with other important sights of Amsterdam. Since marijuana, cannabis and hashish were struck off the list of prohibited drugs, Ben Dronkers has decided to gain fame by displaying his personal collection of drugs, and, it should be noted, he did it. Today, more than 6,000 exhibits can be viewed personally, and then learn about the consequences of their use.
That is, such material for the exhibition does not compromise its owner in any way, but, on the contrary, provides useful information about the history of the creation of the first smoking herbs and pipes, about the safe use of drugs in medicine, cosmetology and cooking, and also warns against their use. It is also surprising that some cannabis seeds and equipment for its cultivation can be purchased here, but only further than the Netherlands with this "souvenir" will not work. The gallery of psychostimulants is worth visiting at least once, given its low price per ticket - 8.50 euros (every day from 10:00 to 22:00).
Museum of photography FOAM
Photography has occupied an honorable niche in the world of contemporary art not so long ago, to have time to become boring and miss its fans. Moreover, young photographers, for the sake of good pictures, are ready for insane productions that cause both admiration and bewilderment. Once every three months, the exhibition is replaced by works by other authors, whose topics can be tracked on the official website.
If you are not ready to dig into the truth of the surreal pictures of newfangled photographers (like Ren Hang, who also exhibited here), then it is better to plan your trip according to the schedule of the exhibition of a genre that is more suitable for you. Opening hours - from 10:00 to 21:00 (on Thursdays and Fridays) and from 10:00 to 18:00 (on other days).
Van Loon Museum
Another luxurious three-story mansion in Amsterdam, owned by the wealthy family of Hendrik Van Lohn, is worth a visit. Every detail in this house bears witness to the life of the 18th century: clothes, furniture, porcelain, silverware, fabrics, paintings and portraits of the family of Van Lone himself. The dining room, hall and other rooms can be rented for business meetings, and the inner garden with open-air stables in the French style has been a venue for opera singers for 10 years, where high society flocks for small talk and cultural recreation. For 18 euros you can join the event, and 9 euros (5 euros for a child's ticket) costs the tour of the house itself. Opening hours: from 10:00 to 17:00 every day, except holidays.
Tropical museum
The name can be misleading, because you won't see tropical plants and exotic insects here. The exhibition is dedicated to anthropology, namely the peoples (South Asian, African, Indian, etc.), which once subjugated the Dutch and placed colonies on their territory. The number of exhibits is so great that their storage required a breakdown into as many as 9 halls, and to get around them, it will take at least 5 hours.
Rare masks, stuffed animals, figurines, costumes, musical instrument hall, shadow theater, slot machines and interactive exhibits for children, “everything for rituals and voodoo” shop, Moroccan and Mexican roadside cafes, Latin American bar, Indian quarter with a cinema, Arabian bazaar with spices, and a host of other fascinating things literally overwhelm the building and leave almost no free space where the eye has nothing to catch on. From Tuesday to Sunday (10:00 - 17:00) the ethnology of the tropical countries will reveal its secrets to travelers for 15 euros for adults, and 8 euros for children.
Stedelejk
The Museum of Modern Art is busy with paintings by artists, which are worth taking a look at, if only for general erudition.A whole room has been allocated to the ambiguous works of Kazemir Malevich - about 28 pieces cannot leave anyone indifferent, some are annoying, while others understand the true deep intention of the avant-garde artist and philosopher. Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Paul Cezanne were fond of no less amazing directions (cubism, surrealism) in fine painting.
In the halls for temporary exhibitions you can find the "abstractionism" of Russian artists (Wassily Kandinsky), the "minimalism" of the American (Donald Judd), the "neoplasticism" of the Dutch (Theo van Doosburg), the "impressionism" of the French (Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir), and many other innovative directions of foreign painters. After the impressions received, and they will definitely be, you can relax in the cafe on the ground floor and discuss what you have seen. The price of an adult ticket is € 17.50, for a child ticket - € 9, working hours on Fridays - from 10:00 to 22:00, on other days - from 10:00 to 18:00.
Museum of microbes
On the territory of the Artis Zoo there is a historic building of the 19th century, which has sheltered a huge world of microorganisms, without which our life would be impossible. Most of them can only be seen under a microscope and are looked after by a whole team of specialists. They feed them and monitor the optimal conditions for a comfortable existence. The staff of the scientific laboratory will clearly tell about the types of bacteria, the conditions for their reproduction and the effect on the human body. But this will not be a boring lecture, by no means, the "kissmeter" will calculate how many "guests" have migrated to a new place of residence during this intimate process, and fingerprint analysis will show how fast bacteria and fungi multiply even after washing hands with soap!
In the semi-dark hall, flasks with food in their original form are placed on the tables, and in a day, two or even a year; household items (toothbrushes, combs, toys); an ant farm, which shows how insects work with a fungus - all this is teeming with microbes that can be both dangerous and useful. Micropia is open from Thursday to Saturday from 9:00 to 20:00, on other days from 9:00 to 18:00, the ticket price is 14 euros (for adults) and 12 euros (for children).
ARTIS Zoo: Skip-the-line entrance - 23 €
Amsterdam Micropia skip-the-line ticket - 15 €
Jewish History Museum
If a trip to Israel is not foreseen in the near future, but you have long been interested in the history of the Jewish people, this is the place for you. Most of the exhibits tell about the persecution of Jews during the Second World War, but there are also unique cultural objects dating back to the 18th century (sacred manuscript scrolls, arks, paintings). On weekends, themed educational evenings are held for children, they teach how to write in Hebrew, prepare traditional dishes, and show documentary films. You can spend time usefully every day from 11:00 to 17:00 for 15 euros, but there are a number of other offers with different price tags and programs.
Allard Pearson Archaeological Museum
A passionate admirer of ancient culture, Allard Pearson gave half his life to participate in archaeological expeditions to search for valuable artifacts confirming the existence of ancient civilizations, so that today we have an idea of the history of Ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire and the Middle East. The collection includes old tomes, tools, pottery, amulets, mummies and sarcophagi, bronze items, some of which were invented around 4000 BC. Diving into ancient world eras will cost 10 euros (adults) and 5 euros (children) from 13:00 to 17:00 on weekends, and from 10:00 to 17:00 on weekdays (except Mondays).
Torture museum
Unfortunately, the centuries-old history of mankind withstood more than one test and did not come to the ideas of humanism immediately, but until then, criminals and heretics were dealt with with chilling torture, especially during the Middle Ages. Amsterdam is one of the few cities that decided to illuminate this dark side of life, and frankly, this is not a sight for the faint of heart, given that all the instruments of torture are real, and once were "arbiters" of destinies.
The Holy Inquisition fought unbelievers in different ways, the most terrible of them are: "Witch's chair" for interrogations with sharp spikes on the seat and armrests, the "Iron Maiden" cabinet, repeating the silhouette of a man, with long nails inside, "Horizontal hole" tearing the victim with a rotating lever, Brainhead helmet, water torture. Descriptions with explanations in different languages are attached to all exhibits. The "attraction" of horrors is open every day from 10:00 to 23:00, the ticket price for adults is 7.50 euros, for children - 4 euros.
Human Body Museum
This type of rest is not for those who are particularly impressionable, since real embalmed bodies of people who, before their death, decided to make such a kind of contribution to science, "tell" about the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of a person. Some of the figures "froze" right during the movement, for example, they perform a high jump or even indulge in love pleasures. Nothing out of the ordinary, other than the fact that they are skinned. Infants 25 weeks old inside the womb; female and male reproductive organs; the lungs of an inveterate smoker in the context; kidneys affected by a cancerous tumor; congealed circulatory system; human and animal skeletons - this is not the whole list of shocking exhibits.
The organs are designed in the form of rooms, which you can enter and find yourself inside the stomach, mouth, etc., and additional 5D effects add naturalness to these sensations. For school-age children, information obtained in this way will be deposited faster than dry material from a textbook. For them, the ticket will cost 15.75 euros, for adults - 18.25 euros, and you can get here from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 19:30.
Our beloved Lord's church in the attic
Due to the oppression of Catholics in the 17th century, people were forced to equip secret places of worship, the more wealthy of them could afford to build an entire church in the attic of the house, and one of these successful entrepreneurs was Jan Hartmann. Outwardly, the Dutch-style mansion does not give itself out in any way, but already inside it has all the necessary items for worship: a hall for services for 200 people, an altar, a church organ, numerous icons and statues of saints, a chapel, a room for a priest who lived with his family the owner of this house, and other church utensils.
Three floors were given over to a secret temple, and the rest were inhabited by Hartmon and his large family. At the end of his life, a successful merchant during his lifetime was forced to sell the house and drag out a miserable existence in a more modest dwelling, but furniture, dishes and other interior details have survived to this day, since the new owners did not change anything in it. A visit to the "Lord in the Attic" can be made on weekdays - from 10:00 to 18:00, and on weekends - from 13:00 to 18:00, a ticket costs 11 euros for adults and 5.50 for children.
Hermitage on the Amstel
Amsterdam has saved a piece of Russia in case you have time to miss Russian culture and art. The Netherlands, beloved by Peter I, today help in financing the St. Petersburg Hermitage and, in the absence of their own collection dedicated to Russian history, rent exhibits for their museum. The temporary exhibitions change the theme twice a year, the most interesting among them were about Peter the Great, Nicholas II and other emperors of Russia.
These eras were represented by ball gowns and ceremonial costumes, jewelry, portraits, household items and documents. The building occupies almost 4000 sq. m., there are shops, a restaurant and children's clubs inside, and special events can be held in the church hall of Amstelhof. The entrance fee is 25 € and the opening hours are daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
Tulip Museum
In the 17th century, a tulip bulb could save any family from starvation, and the Dutch could give a fortune for rare species.Chris Schipper has long been fond of floriculture, especially tulips, and when his collection reached such a size that it was necessary to look for a separate room for it, in 2004 the official information center appeared at the national symbol of Holland. In addition to living tulips of all sorts, the holiday atmosphere is created by paintings and photographs with their images, documentaries about the history of their origin, lectures on the rules of caring for them and a gift shop with tulip symbols. A fragrant one-hour tour will cost 5 euros, and it is held from 10:00 to 18:00 every day.
Cobra Museum of Contemporary Art
In 1940, avant-garde artists from Denmark, Belgium and Holland decided to end post-war depressive art, but their paintings were understandable only to a narrow circle of connoisseurs of fine art. For animals and other objects of inspiration, whose figures were not immediately guessed, bright warm colors with sweeping curved black lines were chosen.
"Children's scribbles", - the gallery visitors exclaimed in bewilderment, nevertheless, success came to some of the painters. For example, Karel Appel's painting "Children Questioning" adorns the wall of the cafeteria of a city government in Amsterdam. The museum is always open from Tuesday to Sunday (11:00 - 17:00), an adult ticket costs 12 euros, a child ticket - 7.50.
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