Not a traditional "museum" by any stretch, but with Amsterdam being the city boasting the world's…read moremost museums, I can see how the claim is made with places like this. It's a really nice spot, and the guy who runs it is extremely open and friendly with a wealth of information. He truly lives for this! If you arrive before it opens, you'll see people gathered around the door entrance, and you're there wondering what kind of place this really is. Doesn't look big from the outside at all, and looks like a shop more than a museum. Once you get inside the small space, you're greeted with black lighting above which illuminates all of the fluorescent artwork. There are paintings and sculptures with bright colors across the spectrum. Then you walk down these steps into the dark basement and see his special rock collection with the makeup of the rocks highlighted under the black lighting. Reminded me of geology class. Cool place, quick 30 minute experience.

If you are interested in learning about florescent minerals, history, and art then this place is…read moreenjoyable. Nick is a nice artist who invites you to learn more about the interesting glowing minerals. I really enjoyed this place and can't wait to put up my piece of art I bought from here!

CLOSED. Sign's gone. Sad to have missed it. Anywhere else…read morehave decent pinball in Amsterdam?

It is a small arcade with a decent selection of games and machines. Even boardgames. Best of all -…read morethey have 5-6 pinballmachines. Even they latest - Wrestlemania. You change money for tokens - €1 for 1 token or €5 for 6. So the pins are 1 per credit. It gets crazy at times when herds of drunk people floods in. But on a Saturday night around midnight it was still pretty calm for being an arcade. They serve food and drinks (soda and great selection of bottled beer). Don't mind the neighborhood, you are perfectly safe to go here.

I am so bummed!! After being there for 5 hours, I still failed to make it to the 1700-1800 and the…read more2000s zones!! This place is HUGE! I now understand why tourists would plan an entire day there. Unfortunately, I had 2 other stops that day that I couldn't miss, so I had no choice but left at 2pm. I am soo glad I made it to the main hall first to see Rembrandt's Night Watch (granted it was through a piece of glass due to the restoration process). I would've been devastated if I couldn't. Love the info cards for almost all of the major art pieces to explain in detail on how it was created. Some tips: Buy your ticket ahead of time. Get there 15 minutes before your entrance time to get in line and for bag check. No water inside the exhibits. The coat check is your only option if you don't show up right at when they open. The lockers filled up within minutes. Don't be fooled by the opened ones because that means the lock is broken. Definitely worth a stop at the gift shop. (Like I said above) Plan to spend the whole day there.

Beautiful museum... Incredible Rembrandt and other masters…read more Love the architecture... And the café

I guess the "Disney" experience wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but a fun way to pass the time…read morenone the less. First and foremost, I have to give credit to all the cast members working in each of the different "rooms" who really give it their all, even if it's a bit cringey, and even if the crowd response is awkward. I used to work the Halloween events at Eastern State Penitentiary, so I know what it's like to interact with the public with varying levels of response or enthusiasm. Having said that, it is a little bit corny and not my general cup of tea. If you like the amusement park sort of vibe (that's horror themed) then this will be a short, fun excursion. A couple jump scares, sometimes they will ask you to participate in small roles. No wheelchair access, and disabled may have a bit of trouble in some sections. Several stairs, dark and cramped passageways, etc. The cast is there to guide you for the most part, but you may definitely get "stuck" in a couple places.

Think haunted house decor and dark humor. It's like a low budget Tim Burton film…read more Costumed actors move you from room to room and involve the audience in the presentation. It was not a fright-fest, nor was it gruesome... it was humorous, though some might say in poor taste, or even tasteless. The stories centers around old Amsterdam loosely. The costuming and makeup aren't half-bad. No real history lessons to speak of. You pose for several pictures that they want to sell ya at, I believe, 15 a pop. It is DEFINITELY a tourist trap, but one that may come in handy to break up the day with a bit of comic relief, especially if in a group, since there is the likelihood of at least one of you being called to the stage. I was burned at the stake as a witch & another in our group of 4 had the pleasure of being castrated. No cameras allowed, all electronic devices off.

I was informed by several travel blogs that this is a tourist trap, but honestly, SO WHAT IF IT…read moreIS?? In my opinion, t's absolutely worth the time and money for a 90-minute Heineken experience! Not to mention, my husband and I each got 2 beers for free!! We had to wait a little bit to get in, even though it was a weekday. The lockers were almost full, but I heard that there was a coat check area. The tour guide was very interactive with the audience and we also had moments to sit down and watch a 360 degree video in an elevator. I didn't pay for the roof top extra access, because I wanted to spend more on souvenirs and customized beer bottles. Next time if I ever go back to Amsterdam, I would absolutely go back again just for the gift shop and the beer.

Touring the original Heineken brewery and learning how their beer is made was a delight. There is a…read moresmall walk-through history exhibit in the old grain silo area that describes Heineken's origins and how the business grew. I appreciated the honest look at the company's humble beginnings. Every great business venture has to start somewhere. The most critical lesson: success is rarely an overnight feat. It takes years of dedication, effort, and learning. Learning not just from your mistakes, but from other people who've gone before you. My experience featured a "Brew You" immersive attraction that puts you in the brew chamber and production line. The bottling line is (not really) transformed into a roller coaster, ending in a taste of the Heineken signature beer. There's a brewery-style bar where you can hang out and enjoy your beer. I opted to go up to the rooftop. You get a few more options for your drink and you get to enjoy views of the Amsterdam skyline. I liked their rooftop and will happily go up there again. I can see it from my hotel.

Paradiso had a very cool atmosphere as it was built inside the church. Get tickets before for a…read morelower fee. We paid €20 on a Friday night and it wasn't crazy fun of a crowd. It was latin night where the salsa was fun but there weren't that many people.

This place is right along the river behind the Hard Rock Cafe. It's hard to miss this enormous…read morechurch looking building. My one gripe, which I expected because I've been to Amsterdam before, is the 4 euro membership charge for concerts. I'm sure it's well known among locals but beware that your ticket price will not be the only charge. The inside of this venue is beautiful. We were there to see Kevin Devine. He was playing in the smaller room upstairs. They had a full bar and a very intimate feel. Sound and lighting was great. Always an awesome time when I get to see KD.

I've been chomping at the bit to write a review on this puppy. You know the saying "When in…read moreRome...", well, this stop falls into the category of "When in Amsterdam..." I don't typically find myself at sex museums, but this time, I figured what the hell. Located in the Red Light District, this charmer of a museum aims to strike visitors from the get go with a Dutch female mannequin perched upon a bicycle with a dildo pumping in out and out as she merrily pedals along. Oh what? You don't regularly see Dutch gals on bikes getting it as they roll along? I have to say it was a sour start to the visit. I had hoped the museum would take a moderate stance that didn't objectify women throughout every inch of the four-story building. However, my friend and I entered with an open mind (he seemed to be especially excited) and curious approach. The museum is organized into four small rooms that continue to wind upward floor after floor. One would expect even an Erotic Museum to have nameplates to describe the clay sculptures of Chinese women double-teaming a man sporting a golden, leg-like rod and papyrus covered with naked fairies you find yourself gazing upon. Unfortunately, their were no such nameplates - rather, they were described with simple plates like "China 1945" or "Madonna 1989". In addition to a lack of nameplates, there seems to be no particular organization or pattern from room to room (other than the dedicated S+M floor complete with a mannequin draped upon a chained chair perfect for perverted picture opps). I prefer my sex museums orderly and with rhythm. Maybe I'm a snobby museum-goer, but I'm not going to deny that I like to know what the hell I'm looking at and a building full of sex-related nicknacks isn't going to cut it. One last note, be sure to peek your head in the cartoony side room complete with ceramic mushrooms to sit upon and the.weirdest.fucking.film. you've ever seen. I believe this cartoon porn was created in America based on the English dialect. Imagine (yes, I said imagine - so play along): a cartoon female with only her breasts exposed and cats and other talking animals "putting it to her" or battling raging boners. Weird. Really weird. Like kinda sorta made my skin crawl watching it. But, I'm going to tell you to check it out, but only because it was THAT weird and I want to hear what you think of it.

This place is not particularly 'Erotic', and would not per se fall in the traditional category of…read more'Museum'. It is however exactly what you would imagine that dirty old man from across the streets basement looks like. The collection of artifacts and..things.. is eclectic, outrageous and humorous. Do not come here if you are of the conservative kind, expecting to see G rated paintings and statues. It's pretty much dicks and dildos galore, and most of the depicted scenes are pretty demented. The room full of black and white antiquated porn is interesting, but not nearly as great as the room filled with mushrooms. Take a seat on one of these huge mushrooms, maybe pop a magic one you bought earlier in the day and enjoy the most fucked up movie you will ever watch. It's a cartoon involving beastiality with cutesie characters if that says enough. I came here as a total joke and to kill some time one day, and actually had a pretty alright time here, considering. If you are visiting Amsterdam for say, three days, this is not the place you'd want to waste your time. However, if you are done 'windowshopping' around the neighborhood, or end up needing shelter for one of the Netherlands' famous downpours - go ahead and push your boundaries for a few minutes. Please try not to fall down the steps tho, with your touristy feet that aren't used to STEEP stairs. I don't know how Dutchies are the tallest folk on Earth and can stand the tiny-ness of everything in their country. Good thing I am fun-sized. Anyways, like I said; this place is not for the faint of heart - but if you have a cooky sense of humor you will be sure to share a few laughs with your buds. PS. Going here you might finally understand why us Dutchies are so keen on biking everywhere. I'm totally kidding of course.. Maybe.

Fun history of Bols and the distilling of different flavors of alcoholic liqueurs…read more Self-guided tour with audio. After you pay for your ticket at the front desk, you put your jackets and loose items in a locker (free) and pickup an audio tour device and program it for your preferred language (easy). You get a yummy cocktail to savor at the end! And there's a fun gift shop to peruse, where we bought tulip glasses for the purpose of drinking Genever . We enjoyed the Espresso martini and Red Light Negroni at the bar at the end. Both were made skillfully and tasted delicious! The highlight of the experience, honestly, was meeting Lars (aka "Larson") and Julia at the front desk. They were hilarious with each other and delightful with us. They helped us package the 6 tulip glasses in paper within styrofoam boxes for sturdy protection during travel. They are the true stars of this operation.

Wow just wow. What a great experience with my husband and friends. Great drinks and a must try.read more

This was a great, life-affirming experience. The people whose bodies are featured all donated them,…read morewhich was good to know. (It's not the case for some other exhibits.) The exhibit features plastinated human bodies and organs and is organized by system. It really puts things in perspective--it is absolutely WILD to see how many blood vessels are in your feet, for example. Alongside the bodies and organs themselves are clear descriptions that include information about them--for instance, we can see a comparison of a healthy brain next to one that is affected by dementia. We can see what a joint replacement looks like inside the body. You can see the difference between a smoker's lungs and a non-smoker's lungs, the difference between a healthy liver and one with cirrhosis, and what the insides of arteries look like. It's really wild, and woven throughout are reminders of how our bodies and our choices can contribute to our happiness,

To call this "distasteful" would be an understatement. Controversy surrounds this freak show,…read moreparticularly with regard to questionable sourcing of human bodies, which are disrespectfully dusplayed often in odd positions and circumstances, with a few items placed to support claims that this has been done in the name of education. I highly doubt family members of "explosion man" or "drawer man" would appreciate the bodies of their loved ones being hacked up and displayed for the world to marvel at.

A must do if visiting Amsterdam…read more ***If you plan to go, you must order tickets ahead of time. Based on where you live, you will have to make sure you purchase tickets immediately as the "window" opens for the day/time that you want to go. I had to wake up at 1am west coast time to make sure I got my tickets before they sell out. Tickets are available EXACTLY 6 weeks at 10am Amsterdam time for the day/time you want. Plan ahead! There are two tickets, one for the general tour and one that adds a presentation before the self guided tour. If you can get it, I recommend getting tickets for the presentation. It's a good intro before doing the self guided tour. But if you can't get these tickets, the general self guided tour is fine and well done. For the self guided tour you get a translator (many languages available) to guide you through the tour. You point the translator at the small round numbered placard in the wall to trigger the translator for the room/exhibit. There is a lot of walking, stairs, and standing around so be prepared. Plan for about 1.5-2 hours to do the while tour. There also a gift shop and cafe at the end of the tour. The exhibit/museum itself is very well done. It's an informative and moving experience. Be respectful as it is a memorial. Highly recommend visiting. Be prepared and plan ahead when ordering tickets online 6 weeks ahead.

A must see if you're in Amsterdam, especially if you like history! Seeing and reading everything…read moreabout the experiences that Anne and her family (along with the others hiding with her) was moving in many ways. Standing in the same room where she wrote so much of her diary brought tears to my eyes. There were also other areas that had testimonies from various people and it really brought things to life for me. IMPORTANT: You need to reserve/buy tickets online well before you go. I don't think you can just walk up and buy. We woke up at in the middle of the night (our time in the U.S.) to buy tickets when it opened online in Amsterdam. You don't have to HAVE to see the presentation to explore the house/museum because everyone gets an audio device (which was well done), but I found it interesting and the presentation and presenter helped to answer some questions I had. You're not allowed to take photos inside the actual house because it's a memorial, but that was okay with me since the focus was more concentrated on taking everything in. Online it says no backpacks or large bags because there are no lockers/storage, so we left our backpacks at our hotel. But they actually did have an area for people to check backpacks/bags. So if you can't avoid having a backpack when you go, you can get it checked and stored. I'm so glad we went and now have a true visual for things when reading her diary.