First of all, if you appreciate museums at all, this is a must-see place in Amsterdam!!…read more Yesterday morning we lined up at about 8:50 before museum opening at 9. We had purchased tickets online ahead of time and figured the earlier the better. We spent 3.5 hours here and made sure to see every aspect, spending more or less time in exhibits depending on our interest. The gift shop is extensive and worth a look around as well. There's a restaurant and cafe as well which look great. Getting a map as you enter is helpful. The museum is subdivided by floor (0 through 3), and time period, with 1900-2000 on the top floor. There's a coat check if you wish on the 0 floor, alongside the bathrooms. May I mention that I love that most public bathrooms here are stalls with floor-to-ceiling doors?! The privacy is much nicer, and the doorknob indicates vacant/occupied so you don't have people looking at your feet to decide if it's empty. lol. We experienced the galleries basically in chronological order. The special collections are cool in that they are historical artifacts, lovingly preserved, such as old swords/guns, locks/keys, tea services, clothing and glassware, to name a few. My favorite artifact was a chessboard which had animal images subtly etched into the metal of each space. (See photo). We spent a good chunk of time in the 1300s galleries, where the sculptures, paintings, and artwork often depicted scenes from Jesus' life, Biblical stories, or morality themes. One sculpture was of the two thieves on Jesus' either side during the crucifixion, showing one of them with an angel above his shoulders because he was headed to heaven. The Great Hall in between the main wings of the museum is a gorgeous expansive space with high vaulted ceilings, and floor to ceiling stained glass windows along one wall, paying tribute to the great painters, philosophers, architects, and musicians of Europe. There's an entire room full of elaborate 5- foot tall dollhouses that women of high class households (in the 1650s) would spend time curating, collecting, and creating , as a pastime and perhaps to save their husbands' the expense of renovating their actual homes. They had area rugs, wallpaper, the works! The Rijksmuseum opened in 1885, and is a historical monument worthy of patronage. Highly recommend!!!

I'm lucky enough to live right by the Rijksmuseum, so I see it every day, and let me tell you--it…read morenever loses its magic. Whether you're here for the Dutch Masters or just the stunning architecture, it's a world-class experience. The Museumkaart is a must: If you're planning on visiting more than 3-4 museums in the NL, get the Museum Card. The cost savings are huge. Even with the card, you have to reserve your time slot online in advance. Don't show up hoping to wing it; the popular slots vanish fast. When you're exiting or walking through the tunnel that goes under the building, watch out for the bike path! It's a major, high-speed commuter route for locals. It's easy to get distracted by the beautiful arches, but those cyclists don't play. Look both ways before you step out! It's the crown jewel of the Museumplein for a reason. Don't miss it.

Absolutely a must-see experience in Amsterdam if you get the chance…read more It was very meaningful and enlightening in terms of filling out the whole narrative of what the Frank family's experience was like. Going through Otto Frank's offices and then into the secret annex helped me visualize and empathize in a way that wasn't possible before. They had interviews with Otto Frank after his wife and daughters had been killed and they are heartbreaking. Also fearing more about the Dutch friends who helped the Franks from the outside was deeply moving. The audio tour is well put together and perfectly paced, you go through the whole thing in about an hour. The biggest challenge is purchasing tickets. They are released by the Anne Frank House website on every Tuesday at 10 a.m. Amsterdam time online for the NEXT SIX WEEKS. Due to popularity you have to select a date and time to enter and arrive within 15 minutes of the time. NO WALK-ins. Always sold out. They also will have you check in your bag if it's larger than a certain size. NO PHOTOGRSPHY ALLOWED INSIDE. I'm super grateful to have been able to experience this, and hope for many others to do the same. Highly recommend!

I went into the Anne Frank House expecting something deeply moving, and while the history behind it…read moreis undeniably powerful, the experience itself felt more lackluster than I anticipated. The biggest issue for me was how crowded it was. The space is very small, which makes sense given the history, but paired with the constant flow of people, it created a "cattle line" feel that really took away from the experience. You're shuffled through room to room without much time to pause, reflect, or fully take in where you are. It felt more rushed than reverent. The museum itself is very minimal, which I understand is intentional, but combined with the crowding, it made it harder to connect emotionally. I was hoping for something more immersive or at least a bit more space to absorb the significance of it all. That said, the historical importance is undeniable. Standing in the actual place where Anne Frank and her family hid still carries weight, and the final section with excerpts from her diary was the most impactful part. Overall, I'm glad I went because of its significance, but the overcrowding and rushed flow made it difficult to fully appreciate the experience. I'd still recommend visiting, just be prepared for a tight, busy environment and manage expectations going in. Also pre-book in advance (far in advance)

Great place to stop for a quick bite while exploring Amsterdam. The museum…read more.... Loved the cafe in the Eye Filmmuseum. Such a beautiful cafe with tiered seating overlooking the water. The carrot ginger soup with a slice of bread and butter was so delicious. Our friend enjoyed his avocado toast with a poached egg. Lunch for four with drinks was 44 euros which I think is a bargain for a nice lunch at a museum cafe. The museum itself is a bit odd. Entry to the special exhibits is up a flight of stairs. The exhibit we viewed was completely in the dark and a bit risqué. Definitely not appropriate for kids. The permanent collections are down the stairs with a separate entry that requires your ticket to be scanned again. Would not make a special trip here, but perfect for a lunch stop if you are doing This is Holland and the A'DAM Lookout Tower and Swing. Included on the I Amsterdam Card. Just have your card scanned. No need for a reservation.

It has one of the most gorgeous views in_the_world!…read more Some of my happiest moments have been at the highest point of the stairs in the restaurant facing the IJ, the body of water between Centraal Station and Noord. This iconic building houses the national film archives and three annual exhibitions in addition to a permanent one. It has four movie theaters, a stunning restaurant and bar and finally, a gift shop. Forget Starbucks. Hop on a free ferry in front of the train station. Bring your laptop and work remotely in a tiered, cinematic space with dozens of others who vie for favorite view points in the restaurant. The food at the Eye Bar restaurant is fine, but the real joy is the people watching and the view. Currently on view is a retrospective of Werner Herzog's work.

This museum contains a carefully curated chronicle of Vincent van Gogh's journey as a person and as…read morean artist. I echo other reviewers who recommend buying your tickets well in advance. The audio tour is well worth the money and enriches your museum experience. The entrances for the special exhibition and the permanent exhibition are separate. I chose to walk through the special exhibition first and then view the permanent collection. The special exhibition the day of my visit is on the color yellow. I visited the site in Arles, France, that inspired Van Gogh's "The Yellow House." It was a beautiful thing to see the painting after visiting the place where Van Gogh painted it. I was moved by Van Gogh's desire to connect with the "common folk" of his period. One may know his painting, "The Potato Eaters." It stands in a collection of other paintings depicting rural life in Van Gogh's day. I grew up immersed in agriculture and wisdom from farmers. They say you won't truly appreciate the food on your table until you meet those who work the soil to grow your food. It was a deeply moving experience. If you're a fan of Van Gogh, this museum is worth a visit. Also consider visiting Arles if your travels take you to the Rhone region of France.

We were super lucky to be able to buy two tickets for the Van Gogh Museum through Trip…read moreAdvisor/Viator. The only ones available were inclusive of the audio tour. We had waited to purchase the week before. Recommend buying tickets at least 6 weeks in advance if you want to be able to have your choice of tickets. Anyway, the line is quick to get in and then to go pick up your audio sets for your language of choice. They are basically phone-sized touchscreens and have different recorded narratives for certain rooms of the gallery as well as certain works of art. You can chose the 45-minute, 60-minute, or extended tour. There was also a temporary exhibit called Yellow about the way yellow is used in the world of art, including Van Gogh's Sunflowers. The Van Gogh Museum was founded by his nephew Vincent, son of his beloved brother Theo and his wife Jo. Throughout Vincent Van Gogh's adult life as he evolved as an artist, he kept in close communication with Theo via letters. The audio tour has 3 letters read aloud to you if you choose to listen, from Vincent to Theo, from Theo to Vincent, and from Jo to Vincent. It's touching to hear them because it shows that he was much loved. I enjoyed learning about Van Gogh's journey as a painter, his exploration of color and light, his use of painting to express emotion, his desire to empathize with the farmers and rural workers in his world. The museum does a lovely job of interspersing paintings and sculptures by other artists who either influenced or was influenced by Vincent. A painting I learned about for the first time was called Almond Blossom (1890) when Vincent heard the news he had a nephew, also named Vincent. It's beautiful and full of hope. Though I have had the honor of seeing some of Van Gogh's famous works at other museums all over, I felt especially happy to see them all together here yesterday, with a narrative that filled out the bigger story.

If you want to do something in red light district and not party, I recommend coming to this museum…read more It is self guided and very educational on the history of the world's oldest profession. It is very detailed and informative on what the workers go through by showing POV visuals and hearing their stories. The museum took about 1-2 hours

I really enjoyed this museum and learning about the red light district and its prostitutes. Far…read moremore interesting than I thought it would be. I learned way more than I thought I would, especially because the tour has audio included. My favorite section was the confessions. I really loved all the interesting facts you learn as you walk through. The only thing I didn't like is the terribly annoying voice of the woman who narrated all the audio for the tour.

Cheese museum, you say? Well, I say heck yeah! Free admission? Even better. Free samples? Give them…read moreall to me. Educational and historical information on cheese? Yes! Interesting and awesome. We learned about Gouda, the tools used to make cheese now and in the days of olde. Tons of fun photo ops and props. And once again, the tastings. I swear we tried at least 15 different cheeses. Had the cheesiest time! A+.

I'll cut to the cheese and get straight to the gouda part, where the smells in this store are…read moredelicious (and slightly funky, as cheese can be) and there are plentiful cheese samples to try. Groow-yere cheese knowledge at the mini cheese museum downstairs or really just a small room decked out with cheese-making equipment and some plaques describing the production process. Edam if I go back to Amsterdam, I might make emmental note to drop by and try some cheese and grab a small block or two to go(at). They pack in prep for shipping in airport luggage too. Aye-siago before I hava-arti-me living these puns down :)

One of the top things on my wife's "must do" list while visiting Amsterdam was to visit the iconic…read moreTorture Museum. This mid size museum is tucked away right in the mix of things took us roughly 30 minutes to walk through (we didn't read every single thing, but still). From the moment you walk in you are thrown into a world of medieval ways to make people talk, remove their heads, or simply punish them for a crime they committed. Not only do you get to learn how such things were made, but most of them are right in front of you for you to actually see the bolts and wood used to actually....you know, do the thing. I was pretty mesmerized by all of the things I saw at the torture museum and my biggest complaint is the lack of magnets they had, TOURISTS NEED THAT MEMORY! Okay, I'm don't complaining. Overall, The Torture Museum was such a fun, yet disturbing time. I learned a lot, saw a lot of incredible pieces of history, and learned more about the human race that I am sadly apart of. In Amsterdam? Check this place out, a cool way to kill a half hour.

We were walking downtown when we passed by the torture museum on 10/4/24. It was a pretty cheap…read moreprice so we figured why not take a peek inside. I wish it was more interactive as the museum itself is very small. You walk through and read framed pictures explaining different devices and then there are replicas of the devices. It probably took 20 minutes to get through. It was okay.

Overall rating: 4.6 Visiting from NYC…read more Wow, such a cool place! I was killing some time waiting to check-in to my hotel. Two floors, very digestible. They have an activity paired with each exhibit which is cool. I didn't understand it, but it was cool to watch others. Everyone was very friendly and informative. I learned a lot, but can't say I retained any knowledge. I highly recommend. Great solo, friends, on a date, any occasion.

My major in university was Microbiology and Immunology, so when I found out that there was a museum…read moreall about microorganisms in Amsterdam, of course I just had to go! A MUSEUM ABOUT MICROBIOLOGY, HOW COOL IS THAT?! The exhibits I particularly enjoyed were the Petri plates displaying colorful cultures and the glass sculptures of various microorganisms. We were in there for a couple of hours, but I could have easily stayed for another hour. Adult tickets were €17.50, although I got the student price of €10 since I still had a valid student ID. It was annoying how you had to select the date and time you wanted to go, although when we wanted to change the date due to a change in plans, it was no problem. Micropia is one of the more unique museums I have been to, and I loved it! Highly recommended! [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Museums and Art Galleries]

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.

Fluorescence is LIFE…read more Me and my wife did this tour in March 2018. This museum opened my eyes to another world of Fluorescence. Fluorescence is pretty much a living organism. It takes energy, consumes it, produces the brightest colors you would ever see. The vibes in this place are exceptional. The location is very close to the Ann Frank Museum. Its just 5 Euros & they let you use a really trippy bathroom for free. The couple who are the owner are in their 70s but their energy and will to give back to the world, still keeps them coming back to the museum everyday. They do this without the help of a young person or receptionist to handle your reservations. Remember that before, giving a bad review and saying they cancelled your reservation. We did not have reservation but they let us in, because they could. I would advise to call them in advance, they are doing their best in their capacity to handle the online reservations. They not only let us in, but allowed us to stay for as long as we want, despite of the small space and huge crowd. Nik explained in detail, about the physics behind this & inspired me for the rest of the life to explore this amazing world. I have bought a black light even. The pigment he uses, makes his paint way more brighter than you would find anywhere else. Some of the artifacts on the first floor are for sale as well, and can spin your head around. We bought what we could. I forgot my wallet and the lady was kind enough to keep it open extra time, so i could pick it. Although the museum closes at 7 but if you are interested Nik can talk to you the whole day about it.