The 6 Best Museums in Amsterdam for Art, Culture & History

We’ve rounded up the best museums in Amsterdam that bring together world-class art, rich history, and unique cultural treasures—so you can skip the guesswork and dive straight into the city’s finest.

Amsterdam’s canals and bikes get a lot of attention, but its museums are where the real magic happens. The best museums in Amsterdam aren’t just for art lovers—they’re for anyone who wants to dive into the city’s rich history, creativity, and culture. From Van Gogh’s vibrant colors to the moving stories in the Anne Frank House, these places give you a deeper connection to Amsterdam.

What’s great about Amsterdam’s museums is how they bring the city’s past and present to life. You’ll find centuries-old masterpieces next to bold, modern exhibits that challenge your thinking. Plus, these spaces are stunning, with beautiful architecture that’s a work of art in itself.

If you want to get to know the real Amsterdam, the museums are a must-see.

1. Van Gogh Museum

When in Amsterdam, don’t pass Gogh. The Van Gogh Museum is the most visited museum in the Netherlands and the 23rd most visited art museum worldwide for good reasons: it guides you right through the development of Van Gogh as an artist and gives you a view of the man behind the paintings that you can get nowhere else.
The visit starts with his first pieces, then gradually takes you through his work in Paris, his relationship with his brother and famous other artists, and his time in Arles in the south of France.
The building itself is not filled to the brim, and some famous pieces like The Starry Night are not located here. Regardless, the museum houses the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh works, including well-known masterpieces such as The Potato Eaters (1885), Wheat Field with a Lark (1887), The Yellow House (1888), and Sunflowers (1889).

Although it will cost you spontaneity, buying tickets online will save waiting in a long, slow-moving queue. Rather than lining up with hordes of others, you’ll be in the fast-moving priority lane.

Open daily from 9 am–6 pm (10 pm on Fridays)

How to get there: tram lines 2, 3, 5, and 12 stop within easy walking distance of the Van Gogh Museum.

2. Anne Frank Huis

This is arguably Amsterdam’s most important and famous landmark. It is a must-see in order to understand how World War II affected not only the Jewish people but also the city of Amsterdam. The Diary of Anne Frank, published long after the young girl was killed in the concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen, made its author one of the most recognizable figures of the Holocaust.

The rooms where the Frank family hid during WWII can be reached through a door behind a hinged bookcase. They are bare of furniture yet extremely moving, with black-and-white magazine pictures & postcards posted on the walls by Anne still hanging.
It is definitely a museum that calls for introspection. I’m really grateful that places such as the Anne Frank House have been preserved so that we and generations to follow can see and learn from the past. I sincerely hope that as we progress as a civilization we will eliminate hatred and prejudices.

I can’t encourage people enough to reserve time slots online and in advance. As soon as you have your Amsterdam dates inked in the calendar, go to the Anne Frank House website and use your credit card to buy those tickets.

Opening times: April 1 – October 31 from 9:00 – 21:00, (Saturdays 9:00 – 22:00). July – August: daily 9:00 – 22:00 November 1 – March 31: daily from 9:00 – 19:00 (Saturdays 9:00 – 21:00).

How to get there: from the Central Station, you can take tram 13 or 17, get off at the ‘Westermarkt’ stop, and walk to your right to the Prinsengracht canal.

3. Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum was founded in 1800 as a national exhibition building to display the paintings of the 16th-17th century Dutch masters, but the current main building was designed by Pierre Cuypers and first opened its doors in 1885. The collection includes art by Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Rembrandt, whose masterpiece ‘Night Watch’ is displayed in a new hall specifically designed to illuminate every single detail. There is also a small but fascinating collection of Asian artworks. The building is incredible in itself and only reopened in 2013 after a ten-year renovation.

Open daily 09:00 – 17:00

How to get there: tram lines 2, 3, 5 and 12 stop within easy walking distance of the Rijksmuseum.

4. Rembrandt House Museum

Though Van Gogh is certainly Amsterdam’s favorite artist, Rembrandt isn’t far behind. In this small house museum, you can see where Rembrandt lived and worked for over 20 years. The Rembrandt House Museum contains hundreds of etchings, drawings, and copperplates by the Dutch master, as well as a generous selection of works from his contemporaries and pupils. The museum also houses a number of Rembrandt’s personal effects which survived the auction of his belongings.

Opening Times: Daily 10:00 – 18:00

How to get there: you can take tram lines 9 and 14 and get off at “Waterlooplein” stop.

5. Foam Photography Museum

If you are even vaguely interested in photography, FOAM should be on your must-visit list when you come to Amsterdam. Foam Photography Museum is internationally famous for exhibiting several photography genres and a variety of memorable artwork. As well as displaying a wide variety of incredible photographs, it’s renowned for being a creative hub where photographers can meet and participate in forums.

Open daily from 9 am–6 pm (10 pm on Thursdays and Fridays)

How to get there: take tram 16 or 24 from Central Station and get off at ‘Keizersgracht’.

6. Stedelijk Museum

The Stedelijk Museum features an incredible contemporary collection of paintings, graphics, photographs, and video artifacts — about 90,000 in all. It features works from famous artists like Van Gogh, Matisse, Pollock, and Warhol, but it’s also the go-to place if you want a preview of emerging art movements.

Open daily 10:00 – 18:00 (late opening Thursdays, until 22:00)

How to get there: tram lines 2, 3, 5 and 12 stop within easy walking distance of the Stedelijk Museum.

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