Museums in Amsterdam that are not to be missed

With its abundance of interesting museums, it is not surprising that Amsterdam has a square dedicated to three of the largest and most well-known museums in the city: the Museumplein (Museum Square). Here, these museums are located a short distance from one another in the Museumkwartier (Museum Quarter). If you are visiting Amsterdam for the very first time, you simply have to visit the largest and most well-known of the city’s museums. If you have already visited these large cultural institutions, then there is still a wealth of smaller cultural enclaves to explore. Whichever type of museum you would like to visit, we have made a list of our favourite museums, big and small, to help you choose.

FOAM photography museum

A must for photography aficionados! FOAM: museum of photography, Amsterdam FOAM is all about photography. The museum has changing exhibitions and is currently showcasing an exhibition of the works by famous French photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue. Works by famous photographer Helmut Newton will be on exhibition in June. FOAM also organizes debates and educational projects, while also trying to find rising new talent.
FOAM | Keizersgracht 609

Museum of Bags and Purses: Tassenmuseum Hendrikje

The largest museum dedicated to bags and purses in the world can be found right here in Amsterdam. Here, you can admire 5,000 bags, purses, suitcases, wallets, and accessories dating back to pre-1500 until the present. The museum also showcases pieces from renowned fashion houses such as Hermès, Yves Saint Laurent, and Chanel.
Tassenmuseum Hendrikje | Herengracht 573

Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is undoubtedly one of the most well-known and largest museums in the Netherlands. Be prepared to spend an entire day in this museum if you want to experience everything it has to offer. The Night Watch is proudly displayed at this museum which is further adorned with somewhat 8,000 other works that tell the story of 800 years of art history in the Netherlands from the Middle Ages all the way to Mondrian.
Rijksmuseum | Museumstraat 1

Micropia

At Micropia you are given an insight into an invisible world: The microworld. This museum is dedicated to microscopic organisms but does not just highlight the presence of these little microbes. As a standard, humans live with one trillion microbes and here, you can see the smallest of these, experiment with it, and learn about what actually happens when you kiss someone. It is a real educational treat!
Micropia | Plantage Kerklaan 38-40

Van Gogh Museum

The works of Vincent van Gogh, who could be called one of the Netherlands’ most famous painters, are known around the world but the largest collection of his works can be found at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. At the museum you can marvel at more than his paintings alone. The museum also showcases letters and the works of friends of Van Gogh.
Van Gogh Museum | Museumplein 6

Stedelijk Museum

If you are a modern and contemporary art enthusiast, the Stedelijk Museum is the museum for you. Here, the works of artists like Chagall, Karel Appel, Kandinsky, Malevich, Matisse, Picasso, Otto Mueller, and many others can be viewed.
Stedelijk Museum | Museumplein 10
If you are still looking for a hotel near the Museumplein for your stay in Amsterdam, Qbic is only located 15-minutes from this museum hotpot if you’re travelling by public transport. Come and stay with us! We will gladly point you in the directions of all the museums in the city that you would like to visit.

Photo by Liam McGarry on Unsplash