Amsterdam’s museums cover Dutch painting, maritime history and modern art. The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are starting points for a day around Museumplein. For the city’s seafaring history, look to the National Maritime Museum.
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Choose a museum around what you want to see. Read our Rijksmuseum guide for Dutch art and history, or explore ship models and navigation instruments at the National Maritime Museum. Check the museum’s own website for current exhibitions before you book.
Museums and art in Amsterdam
Choose a museum for Dutch painting, maritime history or modern art.
Things to do in Amsterdam: sights and neighbourhoods
Choosing things to do in Amsterdam? Start with the canals, Museumplein and the Jordaan, then leave time to explore Amsterdam Noord. This…
National Maritime Museum Amsterdam: ships and collections
The National Maritime Museum Amsterdam, or Het Scheepvaartmuseum, occupies a former naval storehouse at Oosterdok. Its collections explore Dutch maritime history, while…
Moco Museum Amsterdam: art, building and visitor guide
Moco Museum Amsterdam presents contemporary and digital art in a townhouse near Museumplein. Its setting is quite different from the neighbouring Rijksmuseum…
NEMO Science Museum Amsterdam: experiments and family visits
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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam: modern art, design and visits
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam focuses on modern and contemporary art and design. At Museumplein, its historic building sits beside the white extension nicknamed…
Anne Frank House Amsterdam: the Secret Annex and visit guide
The Anne Frank House Amsterdam preserves the Secret Annex where Anne, her family and four others hid during the Second World War.…
More places to explore
Places to explore beyond the main sights
BEGIJNHOF
AMSTERDAMSE BOS
NDSM WHARF
OOSTERPARK
National Maritime Museum: ships and seafaring history
The National Maritime Museum, also known as Het Scheepvaartmuseum, explores the Netherlands’ relationship with the sea. Its former naval storehouse dates from 1656, so the building is part of the story too.
Inside, you’ll find ship models, navigation instruments and maritime paintings. The replica of the East Indiaman Amsterdam offers another way to explore the subject: aboard a ship rather than in a gallery.
Take time to look at the glass-covered courtyard as well as the collections. The museum connects objects and ships to the people who sailed, traded and worked at sea.
Visiting with children? Check which family exhibitions and activities are available on your chosen date. You can then decide how to divide your time between the galleries and the ship.
More ways to explore Amsterdam
History & Heritage
Explore the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam’s canals and other historic landmarks. Our guides explain how these places connect to the city’s past.
Shopping & Markets
Browse the Kalverstraat for familiar brands, the Nine Streets for boutiques or the Albert Cuyp Market for stalls and street food. Find the shopping area that suits you.
Unique Experiences
See the city from A’DAM Lookout, take a canal cruise, visit the Heineken Experience or explore NDSM Wharf. Read the guides to choose an activity for your trip.
Food & Drinks
Find somewhere to eat or stop for a drink in Amsterdam. Explore the Foodhallen, Dutch pancake houses and traditional brown cafés.
Parks & Nature
Take a break in Vondelpark or Oosterpark, explore Amsterdamse Bos or visit the Hortus Botanicus. Compare the city’s parks and gardens before you go.
Choose museums around one part of the city
Museumplein is a useful starting point if you want to compare Dutch painting with modern art. Read the individual guides before deciding which collections deserve most of your time. Seeing several museums in one day can leave little room to look at the work, so consider choosing one main visit and keeping the rest of the day flexible. A walk through nearby Vondelpark offers a change of pace after time in the galleries.
Check the details before visiting
Collections and temporary exhibitions serve different interests. A ticket may have conditions about entry times or access to a special exhibition, so read the museum’s own booking information carefully. Opening hours, prices and visitor arrangements can change. Follow the official links in our guides for current details, and check accessibility information if your group needs step-free routes, seating or other facilities.
Leave time for the building and its surroundings
Museums are part of the city around them. At the National Maritime Museum, the former naval storehouse and waterfront help explain the setting of the collection. Near Museumplein, the buildings and public square are worth including in your walk. Decide whether you want a short introduction or a slower visit with breaks. If you are travelling with children, look for activities suited to their interests rather than trying to cover every gallery. Use our museum guides to compare the subjects, then build a route that gives you time to enjoy them.
