Free or discounted entrance to museums, plus many other benefits
Here’s the Top 5 of Amsterdam’s Most Popular Museums
See our Amsterdam Museums homepage for general information, including how to obtain discounts on entrance fees.
Need some inspiration or advice? Browse these articles:
The top 5 museums in the Netherlands, as measured by visitor numbers, are all located in Amsterdam.
Mind you, we quote pre-pandemic, pre-lockdown statistics.
But there’s no reason to assume this list we change any time soon.
Founded in 1838, ARTIS is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, and one of the oldest zoos of mainland Europe.
Guidebooks rightly refer to it one of the most pleasant city zoos around. The whole place breathes a 19th-century garden atmosphere with winding paths, majestic trees, fascinating sculptures and monumental historical buildings.
As much as possible the over 500 species of animals live in landscaping that resembles their natural habitat.
Quick: What is the official name of Rembrandt’s most famous painting, The Night Watch? And what does the painting depict?
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam sees 2.2 million visitors a day — and most of them want to see The Night Watch.
Created in 1642, the painting is currently being restored. However, it remains on view — encased in a glass enclosure. Rijksmuseum visitors will be able to follow the entire study- and restoration in person as well as online via a livestream.
NOTE: The Rijksmuseum reopened on June 1, 2021 after having been closed during the height of the coronavirus crisis.
The Van Gogh Museum is open. It adheres to current COVID-19 guidelines, and can safely be visited. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Current special exhibition: A decade of Van Gogh Museum Acquisitions and their stories.
Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum contains the largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh in the world.
It is the second most-visited museum not just in Amsterdam — but in the entire country of the Netherlands.
Our extensive Van Gogh Museum guide includes details about the collection, along with information about the current temporary exhibition
NOTE: No ticket sales at the door. You can only visit the museum after buying timed-entry tickets online. We show you how and where.
The Anne Frank House is the third most popular museum in Amsterdam — after the van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.
Tickets are sold online only, for a specific date and time slot.
This is a must-see museum for anyone visiting Amsterdam. We provide you with practical information to help you plan your visit.
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is the premier art museum in the Netherlands. It is the most visited museum in the country.
The Rijksmuseum is devoted to several national collections — and consists of Dutch art from the earliest moments to the 19th century. One of its most popular paintings is The Night Watch, by Rembrandt.
Unfortunately, on April 30, 2020 this museum announced that it has permanently closed.
What you missed: The world’s largest collection of bags and purses is located in the Amsterdam Museum of Bags and Purses. (Want to test your skills at Dutch? Here goes: Tassenmuseum.) Bonus: the museum is situated in a gorgeous 17th century canalside house — a former mayor’s residence.