My top 5 Amsterdam museums

A couple of weeks ago some friends and I spent a long weekend in Amsterdam (if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you will have seen the preview photos!)

Top 5 Amsterdam Museums on What's Katie Doing? Blog

I am Amsterdam sign swarming with tourists outside the Rijksmusem

Now I was with two very different groups of friends – those that wanted to party and those that wanted to see some culture. I’m split between the the two and wanted to try both sides – but as ‘what happens partying in Amsterdam stays in Amsterdam’, you guys get to read about the culture!

In order to get the best deal to visit plenty of museums Tiva and I got the museum card for a year’s (!) access to around 30 museums and discounts for others, all for €60, find out more here: Museum Kaart

When we had our cards our first stop was near where we were staying, and in the red light district!

1 Museum Amstelkring – Our Lord in the Attic

Church in the attic

This museum is dedicated to the Catholic Church in its attic – three houses were knocked together to create a two story hidden church, when the ostentatiousness of Catholic worship was frowned apron in the city under Protestant rule.

The ticket includes a audio guide to take around and learn more about the houses, the church and it’s construction.

One of the downstairs parlours of the house – the room where a merchant would welcome people for business and therefore it shows his wealth.

A close up of the main altar in all its glory

Detailing from the ceiling of the church

A very impressive organ! How they managed to have ‘secret’ services with that going I’m not sure!

Altar panels

How people used to sleep – in cupboards! It kept the draft out at least!

Map of the different churches and other religious houses in Amsterdam

View from the top floor over the canal

2 Oude Kirk

Oude Kirk – outside

Surrounded by bars, coffee shops and red lit windows of women, the Old Church or Oude Kirk seems a little out of place now.

Tiva was amused to hear that all of my old Amsterdam knowledge stemmed from reading a novel! (The Miniaturist) and the Oude Kirk takes a turn in this book, where they discuss the austere interior and the flooring made from tombstones – it used to smell of dead people!!

Lots of dead people….the whole floor is tombstones

This guy was a prominent citizen and had a prime place with plenty of decoration

The large open Nave – all of the decoration was stripped back when the church became Calvinist

A particularly Dutch feature is the wooden roof. Apparently this was for two reasons – the first that the weight of stone to make a ‘traditional’ cathedral/church vaulted roof would have lead to subsidence – Amsterdam was created from waterlogged ground. The second was that there was nowhere with stone nearby – it cost a lot to get it to Amsterdam!

Stained glass windows

Amsterdam’s maritime history is never far away – with representations of boats in the church:

The ticket includes a great hand drawn map with lots of little details shown on it – this one would be great for older kids to run around and find!

3 Amsterdam Museum

I really liked the Amsterdam DNA exhibition – we had about 45 minutes before the museum closed – perfect to check this exhibit out, although time to have a coffee & cake in their courtyard cafe would have been good too!

The exhibition was a combination of interactive exhibits – such as videos and voice overs in different languages and it takes you through the history of Amsterdam up to modern day. I would recommend this one for kids & big kids!

Yes you too can dress up & get your picture taken!

Lots of art eclectically shown around the museum

Architecture styles

Some of the interactive bits – you can cycle modern day or back in the 1900’s!

4 Museum Van Loon

View from the garden at the back.

This museum is on one of the main canals and is the preserved house of one of the cities oldest families (they are still resident today). Tiva wanted to visit to see how the merchants houses would have looked all done up in their finery.

The more intimate of the ground floor rooms – this was used for family suppers instead of the formal dining room and is light and airy, opening out into the garden.

View from the steps – Tiva in the middle and the cat getting attention… (there was a sign saying don’t let the cat in!)

Seeing the formal gardens was a revelation – from the streets/canals you can’t see the gardens that all the big houses have behind them. This one looks over to the coach house at the back – the Van Loons were known for their stables & coach.

Family fun coach for trips around town and a sled for winter! As you can see the coach house is now a cafe.

Messing around for infinite Katies and Tivas!

5 Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is one of the most famous in Amsterdam and had only fairly recently been reopened after being renovated. One of the advantages of having the museum card is being able to by pass any ticket queues and walk right in!

Inside the actual space is astounding – perfectly offsetting the grandeur of the art itself.

One of the famous artists – Vincent Van Gogh

Apparently Vincent did a lot of self portraits to avoid having to pay for a model, so there are a selection scattered around various museums – which is good as we never made it to the Van Gogh Musuem (also included in the card)

A Van Gogh still life

Some of the more typically Dutch items – this looks like a Chinese inspired porcelain object, but is actually specifically made to hold tulips!

Here is one in action in the Rijksmuseum cafe!

The trend of dolls houses was big among the upper class ladies. This is the dolls house of Petronella Oortman, which inspired the book The Miniaturist.

These miniature houses were fitted out with all the sumptuousness of the real life houses and so are like a mini time capsule.

Typically Dutch – lots of boats!

One of the main reason crowds of people head to the Rijksmuseum – Vermeer’s the Nights Watch painting. As you can see it was mobbed!

Found these guys having a drink in a quieter part of the gallery.

Think to do the Rijksmuseum justice you need a whole afternoon or morning here – with the Musuem card you can come back in whenever during your stay or later during the year.

Other popular museums included on the card are Anne Frank’s House, the Van Gogh museum and the Nemo science centre. We had visited Anne Frank’s before and didn’t have time to queue for the Van Gogh museum or visit Nemo, but if we go back within a year we’ll be able to visit those for free too!

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Comments

Clare says
August 17, 2016 at 8:38 pm

Really enjoyed reading this post. I thought I had seen most things in Amsterdam but haven’t seen any of the places you visited!! Must get back there and see them, they look great 🙂

- Katie Hughes says
  August 18, 2016 at 9:31 am
  
  Hehe glad to have some unusual places included then Clare – although I agree there is tonnes to see in Amsterdam, so lots of reasons to go back!
  
Laura Nalin says
August 17, 2016 at 10:51 pm

I can’t pick which one is my favorite. My favorite photo is definitely the one of you dressed up as a knight! I love exploring museums when I visit new cities, too. I would have snuggled with that cat all day! Love how they’re aware of its presence and urge others not to allow it inside. Too funny!

- Katie Hughes says
  August 18, 2016 at 9:32 am
  
  I think the cat belongs to the family or something Laura! Glad you liked my posing, I think that was actually meant for kids not adults lol!
  
Gina says
August 18, 2016 at 1:32 am

I can see why these museums are your favorite! I really liked the church turned museum. The person who owned it definitely was wealthy! I’m glad there’s more religious freedom nowadays. The Amsterdam Museum was also my favorite because dress up is awesome and the gardens are incredible! Seriously, great photos!

- Katie Hughes says
  August 18, 2016 at 9:33 am
  
  Thanks so much Gina 🙂 we managed to pack a lot into our 3 or so days
  
Emily says
August 18, 2016 at 2:27 am

Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities and rijks is incredible. I’m planning another Amsterdam trip and will have to check those out!

- Katie Hughes says
  August 18, 2016 at 9:34 am
  
  Definitely do Emily! There is so much to see there 🙂
  
Rosemary says
August 18, 2016 at 3:26 am

I’ve been to Anne Frank ‘s House and Van Gogh museum, but not to the Rijks museum. Looks really interesting. The Chinese inspired porcelain tulip holders are crazy and cool. What a fun post to read. Thanks for sharing these museums and the discount card. Cheers!

- Katie Hughes says
  August 18, 2016 at 9:34 am
  
  Glad you found it useful Rosemary 🙂
  
Susanna Kelly says
August 18, 2016 at 7:03 am

Woah, that museum with a floor made of grave stones is crazy! I’ve been to Amsterdam and only ever went to one museum. I had no idea they had so many cool options to check out. Thanks for the mini tour.

- Katie Hughes says
  August 18, 2016 at 9:35 am
  
  There is tonnes to see Susanna, glad you enjoyed it!
  
Johna says
August 18, 2016 at 7:13 am

So many things to see in Amsterdam! My friend is there atm, will definitely tell her to check this places out. 😀

- Katie Hughes says
  August 18, 2016 at 9:35 am
  
  Perfect, thanks Johna 🙂
  
Anne Klien ( MeAnne) says
August 18, 2016 at 8:27 am

Out of the list ive only been to rijks museum. There’s an excuse for me to go for another visit.

- Katie Hughes says
  August 18, 2016 at 9:36 am
  
  Definitely Anne – I’ve still got plenty to go back and see too!
  
Karla at GlobalETA says
August 18, 2016 at 11:34 pm

These museums look so unique and interesting. I think I would especially enjoy The Rijksmuseum and Oude Kirk. I love the architecture and history! Thanks for sharing this info.

- Katie Hughes says
  August 19, 2016 at 9:02 am
  
  Glad it was useful Karla, there is so much to do in the Rijksmuseum, it’ll keep you occupied for hours.
  
Arzo Travels says
August 19, 2016 at 6:57 am

I have been to Amsterdam several times but only for day trips. Lovely pictures (should probably stay a bit longer next time so I can see more)

- Katie Hughes says
  August 19, 2016 at 9:01 am
  
  There’s always more to see!

My top 5 Amsterdam museums