The 10 Most Popular Museums in the Netherlands
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The Netherlands is not one of the largest European countries, but that doesn’t make it less culturally rich. In Amsterdam alone, there are over 60 museums. In this blog we’ll first go into the 10 of the best museums in the Netherlands. We’ll end with a couple of honourable mentions, because unfortunately not all museums could make the top 10.
1. Rijksmuseum – Amsterdam
You can’t think about Dutch museums without thinking about the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The museum is located on the Museumplein and is home to one of the most incredible art collections in the world. Many paintings from the ‘Old Masters of the Dutch Golden Age’ are on display in the museum. Just to name a few, Rembrandt’s ‘Night Watch’ (Nachtwacht) and Van Gogh’s ‘Self-Portrait’ are among the top pieces of the museum.
Link: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en
2. Van Gogh Museum – Amsterdam
This museum is also on the Museumplein in Amsterdam and is home to the artwork of probably the most well-known Dutch painter: Vincent van Gogh. The museum is packed with Van Gogh’s portraits, landscapes, still lives as well as drawings. Next to the main collection, there is always a special in-depth exhibition about Van Gogh and his work.
Link: https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en
3. Anne Frank Huis – Amsterdam
The Anne Frank House is located on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam and it welcomes over a million visitors every year. It is the actual house where the war diarist Anne and her family lived during the Second World War to hide from the Nazi’s. Visiting the museum is a once in a lifetime experience as you get a true sense of what it was like to live in such a confined space behind the bookcase that served as a door. The museum also has Anne Franks’ original diary on display; a book that is now considered one of the most important books in the world. The museum truly belongs on your bucket-list.
Link: https://www.annefrank.org/en/
4. Zaanse Schans – Zaandam
If you’re into Dutch history, clogs and windmills – this museum for is you. The Zaanse Schans is located in the charming traditional village of Zaanse Schans. The museum Is dedicating to giving visitors of peek into how the Dutch lived in the past. You can explore Dutch costumes, visit workshops on carving wooden clogs and watch a craftsman hard at work in a windmill. At the heart of this museum there is a chocolate and biscuit-making heaven hosted by the Verkade Experience. All in all, there is plenty to see and do at Zaanse Schans.
Link: https://www.dezaanseschans.nl/en/
5. Stedelijk Museum – Amsterdam
To finish of the Trifecta of museums on the Museumplein in Amsterdam is the Stedelijk Museum. It is the museum for modern art, contemporary art and design in Amsterdam. It houses works of some of the greatest artists in history like Wassily Kadinsky, Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, Henri Matisse, Marlene Dumas and Jackson Pollock. If you are a modern and contemporary art lover, you cannot miss this museum.
Link: https://www.stedelijk.nl/en
6. Mauritshuis – Den Haag
The Mauritshuis is located in the heart of Den Haag, just a stone’s throw away of the seat of government in the Binnenhof. This stunning 17th century home, originally belonging to the Count of Nassau-Siegen, has a world-famous art e collection. The museum is home to over 200 masterpieces of the 17th century, including work of Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, Jan Steen and no other than Johannes Vermeer with his ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’. Just for that painting alone, this museum is worth a visit.
Link: https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/
7. Nederlands Openluchtmuseum – Arnhem
Similar to the Zaanse Schans, number four on this list, the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum is a feast for your senses if you are keen to experience what life was like in the Netherlands in the past. The museum lies in a gorgeous park on the outskirts of Arnhem. The museum is home to historic trams, windmills and houses. A trip to this museum is sure to be an activity and treats filled day with workshops and traditional bakeries spread throughout the park. A slight word of caution before you make the trip: the museum is closed during winter, so please check the website to see when they open again.
Link: https://www.openluchtmuseum.nl/?taal=en
8. (Dutch) Hermitage – Amsterdam
The Hermitage is the youngest museum on this list. It was originally opened on June 10th, 2019 as a collaboration with the Hermitage in Sint-Petersburg, Russia. At the moment though, the museum is temporarily ‘closed’ because it ended its collaboration with Russia after the attack on Ukraine. Yet surprisingly that does not mean you cannot visit the museum: as the Hermitage is now exhibiting exquisite collections of Dutch masterpieces under the name ‘The Dutch Hermitage’ in collaboration with other museums throughout the country. Next to its beautiful and well thought out exhibitions to location of this museum alone is worth a visit: this museum has a fabulous tranquil courtyard where you can quietly read and take a breath from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Link: https://hermitage.nl/en/
9. Paleis het Loo – Apeldoorn
Also known as the ‘Versaille of Amsterdam’, this stunning palace is situated around 90 kilometers off Amsterdam. This royal palace was home to the Oranje family for over 300 years, until it became a museum in 1975. But more recently it was opened completely restored to its original state with its former inhabitant in mind. For example, the striking rooms of King Stadtholder William III and Mary Stuart have been restored to their former glory. Next to the palace itself the gardens are probably the most spectacular that you can find in the Netherlands. So, for an extra special experience, I’d recommend going in Spring.
Link: https://paleishetloo.nl/en
10. Kröller-Müller Museum – Otterlo
This museum is located in the nature reserve the Hoge Veluwe National Park and its huge collection of masterpieces belongs to German art collector Helene Kröller-Müller. Next to housing masterpieces of the likes of Claude Monet and Piet Mondriaan this museum has the second largest Van Gogh collection in the world. It’s ground though, are just as spectacular as the indoor museum: the gardens are filled with sculptures and ancient trees.
Link: https://krollermuller.nl/en
Honourable Mentions:
To finish off the list of the top 10 museums in the Netherlands, I’d like to name a few honourable mentions because unfortunately with hundreds of museums in this small country, not all fantastic museums could make the list. So, below you will find five more museums that I would highly recommend you looking into:
1. Nemo Science Museum,
Link: https://www.nemosciencemuseum.nl/en/
2. FOAM (Photography Museum)
Link: https://www.foam.org/
3. EYE Filmmuseum – Amsterdam
Link: https://www.eyefilm.nl/en
4. Amsterdam Museum
Link: https://www.amsterdammuseum.nl/en
5. Huis Marseille (Photography Museum)
Link: https://huismarseille.nl/en/
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