Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is one of the biggest museums of Amsterdam and located in one of the most beautiful buildings of Amsterdam. Unfortunately it is being refurbished right now and due to some set backs, it is not scheduled to open fully again until 2013. Some parts of the collection are still available for viewing though in the Philips wing of the museum, which is still open. The masterpieces of the collection, paintings, silverware, delftware from the 17th century, are on display there, including the famous Night Watch by Rembrandt and works from Jan Steen, Frans Hals and Vermeer among others.
You can buy tickets online on the website of the Rijksmuseum, which gives you access to the fast line, so you can avoid big cues.
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum houses the biggest collection in the world of works by famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. It contains works from his all his styles, which consists of 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters and his collection of Japanese prints. And they are compared to painters of the same era, so there are also some works of Toulouse-Lautrec, Gaugin, Monet and Monticelli.
There are always big cues for this museum, so I recommend you buy the tickets online on the website of the Van Gogh Museum for quick entry into the museum.
Stedelijk Museum
Like the Rijksmuseum the Stedelijk Museum is also being refurbished and extended. Unlike the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk is completely closed until the reopening which is scheduled for December 2009. Part of its collection of contemporary art is still on display on other spots in the city. You can check on the Stedelijk in de stad website where some exhibits are on display.
Amsterdam Historisch Museum
The Amsterdam Historisch Museum (Amsterdam Historical Museum) shows the development of Amsterdam from a small settlement on the Amstel river to the city that Amsterdam is today. The collections contains many different objects. From a mediaeval child’s shoe and the map of Cornelis Antonisz from 1538, giving a bird’s-eye view of the city, to the impressive Civic Guard paintings from the Golden Age. Photos and film material show the happy times as well as the drama of the modern city’s inhabitants. You’ll witness the poverty in the Jordaan area he 19th century but also the idealism of the sixties and Ajax’s success at football.
You can find more information on the website of the Amsterdam Historisch Museum.
Joods Historisch Museum
The Joods Historisch Museum (Jewish Historical Museum) chronicles the story of the Jews in the Netherlands, covering issues such as identity, religion and social issues. Reminders of what life was like in the old Jewish quarter (which was mostly destroyed during WWII) can be seen in the museum’s permanent collection of photos, paintings and objects used at home and the synagogue. Everyone is welcome to find out about what Jewish tradition is all about. More information can be found on the website of the Joods Historisch Museum.
Verzetsmuseum
The Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum) shows the Netherlands as it was during the Second World War and shortly after. Personal accounts illustrate the dilemmas and difficult choices people faced in those days. The Verzetsmuseum shows how helping people in hiding, illegal press and the forging of documents become common practice for a minority of the Dutch population. Authentic objects, documents, photos and audiovisual presentations provide an impression of the Dutch resistance during the German occupation. Check out their website for more information.
Tropenmuseum
The Tropenmuseum (Museum of the Tropics) is one of the most interesting anthropological museum of the Netherlands and housed in another of the beautiful historic buildings of Amsterdam. The Tropenmuseum features exhibits of different cultures of the world throughout the ages. Get acquainted with different cultures and with everyday life in the tropics. This museum is also very suitable for children. For more details check their website.
NEMO Science Center
NEMO is the largest science center in the Netherlands. With five floors full of exciting things to do and discover, it is the perfect place for anyone with an inquiring mind. Everything in NEMO is connected to science and technology. Exhibitions, theater performances, films, workshops and demonstrations. You will smell, hear, feel and see how the world works. After a visit to NEMO, you will know why bridges are so strong, what you will look like in 30 years, why you look so much like your parents, how to purify water, what happens when you kiss, how lightning and satellites work and much more. The roof terrace offers a great view of the Amsterdam skyline as well. Avoid the queues and buy entry tickets on the NEMO website.
Tassenmusem
The Tassenmuseum (Museum of Bags and Purses) displays the history of the western handbag from the late Middle Ages right up to the present. The collection provides a fascinating picture of how the bag has changed over the centuries in terms of function, form, material and decoration. It is the only museum in the world that houses such an extensive and specialized collection. The collection is made up of 3500 items spanning 500 years of bag history. If you are a bag fan, the Museum of Bags and Purses is a must visit. Have a look on their website to get an impression of their collection.
Allard Pierson Museum
Allard Pierson Museum is the archaeological museum of the University of Amsterdam. The ancient civilizations of ancient Egypt, the Near East, the Greek World, Etruria and the Roman Empire are revived in this museum. Art-objects and utensils, dating from 4000 B.C. till 500 A.D. give a good impression of everyday-life, mythology and religion in Antiquity. There are also scale models of ancient temples and buildings. And the ancient Egypt department contains a room dedicated to the Egyptian death rites. The name of the Allard Pierson Museum derives from the first professor Classical Archaeology at the University of Amsterdam, Allard Pierson. This former clergyman, was invited in 1877 to occupy the chair of Aesthetics, Art History and Modern Languages at the newly founded university. His passion for antiquity, fuelled by his travels to the Mediterranean area, led to his collecting plaster casts. See their website for more information.
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