Amsterdam’s Top Art Attractions You Must Visit

Amsterdam is well known worldwide for its world-class art galleries and museums, making it a well deserved popular place of visit. In this article, I, Max Lang-Orsini, will break down to you the top art attractions you must visit when travelling to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam’s Art Movements

Amsterdam’s art exhibits are a great experience to visit, especially if you’re visiting for a short period. Amsterdam’s largest square is home to four museums showcasing many dutch masters, more than you can imagine, but is also a huge variety from modern art and contemporary art.

Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Museum

This article cannot exist without a mention from the iconic exhibition space that is the Van Gogh Museum. The name is as iconic as the museum with art being seen by millions of people and have been around since the golden age of Amsterdam. Home to 200 paintings, you will feel privileged to see Van Gogh’s greatest creations as you immerse yourself in his time.

Since this is a successful museum, tickets sell fast, so make sure you book your tickets in advance.

Joods Historisch MuseumJoods Historisch Museum

The recent museum, Joods Historisch Museum, has been around since 1987 is full of old Jewish based religious artefacts, photographs, music and paintings giving an in-depth impression of Amsterdam’s history. This Jewish based museum focuses on displaying Dutch Jewish culture with an interactive exhibit experience.

Stedelijk Museum

Stedelijk Museum

Another icon of Amsterdam’s art culture that has to appear on this list. The Stedelijk Museum is the most iconic modern and contemporary art museum throughout the whole of the Netherlands. It includes incredible art collections from the works of Piet Mondrain, Yves Klein, Roy Lichtenstein and more. Showcasing more than art, the Stedelijk Museum also includes design objects side by side.

FOAM

FOAM

FOAM is an excellent photography based museum that has been created in a 17th-century canal house. FOAM holds regular exhibitions for your photography worms and rotates their showcase every few months to show upcoming talent in the scene. Based around a great and friendly community, FOAM has the end goal of promoting the talented photographers that deserve it.

This Museum does not accept cash, book your tickets in advance or paying by card would be accepted. 

Nieuwe Kerk

Nieuwe Kerk

At the heart of Amsterdam on the Dam Square is where the Nieuwe Kerk church belongs. Next to the Royal Palace this ‘New Church’ belongs where the Dutch Kings and Queens have settled since 1814. Full of history, the New Church brings an old antique feel whilst showcasing it’s cultural style and events throughout this exhibition.

Rembrandthuis

Rembrandthuis

Rembrandt bought this house for a massive sum of money. With the pressure of mortgage payments piling up, he was forced to move in 1656 when he was declared bankrupt.

After this situation unfolded, the clerks made a list of the house. It was these records that provided renovators with an idea of how the house looked. The Rembrandt house museum has recently gained the popularity of its interesting story.

CoBrA Museum

CoBrA Museum

To the west centre of Amsterdam, the CoBrA museum is high up the foot chain of modern art. Artists such as Eugene Brands and Karel Appel used to be ‘troublemakers’ but now own the top museums in Amsterdam. With their modern style environment, the passionate group holds many temporary exhibitions outside of the CoBrA group too.

Moco Museum

Moco Museum

Whilst this private museum is much smaller than the Stedelijk, it’s outside view is extraordinary with it being surrounded by many stunning contemporary sculptures. Moco is a modern art based museum, and the name stands for ‘modern contemporary’. Home in an early 20th-century mansion, this museum holds the most influential artists like Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons.

Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is a popular tourist destination people love to visit in Amsterdam. Designed by Pierre Cuypers and opened many years ago in 1885, the Rijksmuseum holds Amsterdam’s biggest collection of artefacts and art. The 80 galleries that are home to this museum showcases over 800 years of Dutch artistic culture from the golden age of Amsterdam.

This is an extremely popular museum to visit, book your tickets now.

Hermitage Amsterdam

Hermitage Amsterdam

The Hermitage Amsterdam has been opened for the longest time on this list, since 1683. It first opened as a home for the women in their elderlies built next to the Amstel River. Twice a year they host an exhibition based on the main hermitage collection. This 17th-Century golden age museum showcases the best portraits together in one place.

I hope from reading this article you understand more about Amsterdam’s art scene and would visit yourself one time, I would highly recommend it.

Written By: Max Lang-Orsini

Top 5 Places To Visit In Amsterdam

In this article, Max Lang-Orsini, a resident in Amsterdam, will show you the top 5 best places to go and see when you visit Amsterdam!

Places To Visit In Amsterdam

Amsterdam has made its mark not just in the Netherlands, or even Europe, rather worldwide. Its stunning 17th-century architecture has become one of the most notorious tourist locations and rightfully so. With one of the largest collections and variations of history, Anne-Frank to Van Gough, day trips to Amsterdam become very worth your money.

Van Gogh Museum

With huge demands from all over the world, Van Gogh’s artwork has all been placed in a museum dedicated to him and his artwork. The famous artwork Almond Blossom are hung here alongside other famous pieces such as; The Bedroom. You can visit this museum on Museumplein 6, 1071, DJ Amsterdam, Netherlands, right next to the Stedelijk Museum & Moco Museum. Once you’re done visiting Van Gogh’s Museum, there are others right next door such as the Stedelijk Museum.

Outside view of Van Gogh Museum

Anne Frank House

One of the most famous and talked about World War II victims has an entire history based on their running and hiding from the Nazis. She and her family hid in hiding spots they built from behind bookshelves to walls everywhere in their home. 

She lived in Amsterdam where they were trapped by the Nazi Germans all the way back in 1942. Her family was caught and since they were arrested and transferred, Anne wrote diaries often documenting her experience and what was going on around her for the following months until she was later captured.

You can visit her journey and how she was extremely clever in hiding at the historic Anne Frank House. You can see photos, videos, iconic items, hear audio tapes and quotes from her in this dreadful time. Prinsengracht 263 – 267, Westermarkt 20, 1016, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Have a look at Anne Frank’s timeline and see what you can learn.

Outside of The Anne Frank House

Rijksmuseum

For those who are into artwork, the Rijksmuseum is for you. If the Van Gogh museum wasn’t good enough, The Rijksmuseum is full of artwork from various famous past artists. With over 200 paintings This museum presents itself with many famous titles, such as; Johann Vermeer, Jan Willem Pieneman, Vincent Van Gogh and Jan Asselihn, these are just a few to name. Rijksmuseum is located in Oud-Zuid; Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Outside of the Rijksmuseum

A’dam lookout

A’dam Lookout is an observation deck platform that gives you a birds-eye view of everything in Amsterdam. Its unrealistic beauty does make it unique with its eye-popping views of the historic city centre, the famous canals and canal cruises, the stand-out royal palace alongside the incredible landscape. Everything stands out here at A’dam Lookout, giving you all the more reasoning to book on one of the highest swing decks in Europe.

A panoramic view from the A'dam Lookout

IJ-Hallen Market

Located behind the Dam Square (Town Centre) you will come across one of Europe’s largest flea markets! 5 minutes away from Dam Square, you can get many bargains from hundreds of stalls. They sell a huge variety of items and products, from souvenirs to vintage clothing, this place you can get big value for your money, there’s no reason not to go!

People at the Amsterdam Flea Market