Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Amsterdam is essentially the result of a very simple question:
"What happens if we cram everything strange, unbelievable, fascinating, and completely crazy from all over the world into a single building?"
The answer is: this museum.
Spanning several floors, you'll encounter medieval torture devices, exotic insects, curious works of art, pieces of the Berlin Wall, giant robots, tiny carvings, and things that make you certain someone must be playing a prank. But they aren't.
The visit feels a bit like the internet decided to become a museum.
Just when you think, "Now I've seen it all," suddenly another giant robot stands before you, or you discover an exhibit that seems so absurd you have to read the label three times.
Speaking of labels: the exhibition is exceptionally well-explained. With a basic grasp of English, you can navigate it easily, and even more complex exhibits are described in an understandable way.
What's particularly nice is that you don't just walk through it. There's something to discover, try out, or marvel at everywhere. If you're interested in curiosities, you can easily spend two hours here. If you're easily distracted, probably much longer.
A personal highlight is the photo booth. There, you can get a professional souvenir photo taken for free, so you don't just wander through the museum in awe--you can also take home a little proof that you were actually there and didn't just imagine all those crazy things.
Accessibility is also exceptionally well handled. A large elevator connects all floors. The system seems a bit mysterious at first, but the friendly staff patiently explain the code that gets you everywhere.
The location couldn't be better: right in the heart of Amsterdam, near the Royal Palace, and with excellent public transportation access.
My suspicion is that Ripley's is secretly a training center for one's own capacity for wonder. After two hours there, you leave the building realizing that the world is significantly stranger, more creative, and more entertaining than you had previously assumed.
Conclusion: Crazy, curious, surprising, and incredibly entertaining. Exactly what the sign says. And for once, every word of it is true. read more