Amsterdam History Museums

Very few small nations have succeeded to create such a distinct civilization, as the Dutch. The Netherlands was for centuries a proud republic and the nation of daring explorers, brave sailors and ambitious merchants, one of the foremost sea powers of 17th century. Since two centuries, the country is full of pride kingdom ruled by an elected parliament. The Netherlands entered the modern world with deep respect to its history and its traditions. Two main historical museums: Maritime Museum and the city’s historical exhibit The Amsterdam Museum, have been largely modernized and prepared to appeal to young visitors. Jewish Historical Museum and Anne Frank House document the history of 500 years of Jewish presence in the Netherlands and their suffering during the Holocaust. A number of smaller, interesting museums complete the historical picture.

Scheepvaart Museum – The National Maritime Museum
Reopened after successful modernization, this lively and colorful museum impresses the visitor not only with its collection, but also with the way it was presented. Het Scheepvaart Museum uses in its show elements of an attraction park and modern multimedia. Housed in a beautifully renovated 17th C. building, the museum’s exhibit incorporates big replica of the historical sailing ship standing outside on the waters of the Ij Bay. Big fun, not only for kids.

Amsterdam Museum
History of Amsterdam shown through fine paintings including one Rembrandt, various extraordinary 17th C. group portraits of foremost citizens and other admirable artifacts. Additionally, the museum usually presents interesting temporary exhibits.
Location: Amsterdam Museum, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 357

Anne Frank House
Anne Frank House in the center of Amsterdam is the hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her famous diary during World War II. The original of the diary is on display as part of the Anne Frank House's permanent exhibition. Location: Prinsengracht 267, Jordaan quarter near Westerkerk.

Jewish Historical Museum
The museum consists of four synagogues, the oldest dating back to 17th century and houses a rich collection. It shows the history, religion and culture of Jews in the Netherlands.
Location: Jonas Daniel Meijerplein 2-4

Allard Pierson Museum
Allard Pierson Museum is Amsterdam's the only specialist archeological collection, now owned by the University. The museum contains Egyptian, Greek, Cypriot, Roman, Etruscan and Coptic artefacts.
Location: Oude Turfmarkt 127.

Rembrandt House Museum
The house where Rembrandt lived from 1639 until 1659 is now the home of a large collections of his etchings and the very place where most of them where made. It also has a large collection of paintings of people who inspired him, like Pieter Lastman.
Location: Jodenbreestraat 4

Het Grachtenhuis - Canal House Museum
A new small museum in the heart of the Old City, located in an old and magnificent canal house. The Canal House Museum (Dutch: Het Grachtenhuis) shows in a modern multimedia tour, the history of Amsterdam Canal Ring Area, planned and constructed in the 17th C. - since 2010 placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Location: Herengracht 386

Bijbelsmuseum - Biblical museum
This museum shows visitors the world of the bible: religious objects, and even the smells from the bible stories. Clay tablets, and archaeological findings tell the tale of the origins of the Bible and it’s influence on Dutch society.
Location: Herengracht 366- 368
www.bijbelsmuseum.nl

Bilderdijk Museum
Willem Bilderdijk has been an important Dutch poet, writer and thinker of the 19th century. At the age of six, he had an accident as a result of which, he had to stay at home for many years, until his adulthood. Love of books and studies he developed as a boy, marked his whole life. Today, Bilderdijk remains important as one of the thinkers who argued in his writings for the creation of the constitutional monarchy in the Netherlands, reinstating the Dynasty of Orange on the Dutch throne and against social revolution and liberalism. A small museum bestowed to him, preserves the memory of Bilderdijk - the person and that of his writings.

Museum Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis
In 1687, for the occasion of his marriage to the much younger Sara Hinlopen, the wealthy and influential merchant Albert Geelvinck built a canal mansion. Today the period rooms and the rich garden between the main house and its former carriage house on Keizersgracht is open for the public on Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 - 17:00. A guided tour will give you an impression of the life inside. Address: Keizersgracht 633

Multatuli Museum
The most important Dutch writer of the 19th century took his penname Multatuli (much experienced) from Roman poet Ovid. Born in Amsterdam in 1820 as Eduard Douwes Dekker, a son of ship captain, Multatuli achieved through his writings prominence lasting until our days. A small museum in the house of his birth, reminds his life and his writings.

Museum Our Lord in the Attic
On the edge of the Red Light District, museum houses in the restored 17th-century canal house with two smaller houses to the rear. The lower floors of the building became a museum in 1888 and today contain refurbished rooms, as well as a collection of church silver, religious artefacts and paintings.
Location: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40.

Stadsarchief Amsterdam - Municipal Archives of Amsterdam
In the archives and their collections you can find out everything about the history of your relatives from Amsterdam, your house or the neighborhood you live in. The total length of the archives is about 35 km. The Standsarchief organizes exhibitions and screens documentary films about Amsterdam.
Location: Vijzelstraat 32

Theo Thijssen Museum
An old small house, typical for the Jordaan area of Amsterdam accommodates on its ground floor a museum of the popular Dutch writer, author of popular in the Netherlands books for children - Theo Thijssen. The sympathetic, very small museum with a strong local character. Location: Eerste Leliedwarsstraat 16 (in the Jordaan).

Museum van Loon
An impressive patrician canal house at the very center of Amsterdam. Here is your unique possibility of entering such a house, still owned by the aristocratic Van Loon family, which decided to open it to the public. An interesting private museum documenting the life of the upper class in the city of Amsterdam.
Location: Keizersgracht 672

Vakbondsmuseum - Trade Unions Museum
Situated in one of the finest trade union buildings, called de Burcht (Stronghold) by a Dutch claassic architect Hendrik Berlage, build in 1900 for the Dutch diamond workers, the museum is documenting trade unions history in the Netherlands.
Location: Henri Polaklaan 9

Verzetsmuseum - Resistance Museum – WWII
The main exhibition of this museum shows the work of the Dutch resistance during WWII, but it also makes the visitor think about the things we take for granted nowadays, like freedom.
Location: Plantage Kerklaan 61
www.verzetsmuseum.org

Museum Willet-Holthuysen
An impressive collection of furniture, silverware and paintings housed in a beautiful preserved 17th-century canalside mansion. How did a wealthy family live in an Amsterdam canal house? Find out in this 17-th century mansion.
Location: Herengracht 605, South-East of the city center, near the river Amstel.

- Admission fully included in the Museum Card.
- Admission fully included in the I Amsterdam Card tourist card.