3 of the best Amsterdam museums to visit & what to see in each one

Amsterdam’s home to history, culture, and world-famous artists. (Ever heard of Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Vermeer?) That makes it tough to pick the best museums in Amsterdam, so we’ve narrowed it down to three of our favorites for you. Read on to find out which you can visit on our Amsterdam tours.

1. Rijksmuseum

Dedicated to the arts and history of Amsterdam, the collection at the Rijksmuseum has a social focus on Dutch artifacts and art spanning the years 1200–2000. The galleries are even laid out so you can see how Dutch painters evolved their techniques over time. Of the 8,000 pieces that are currently on display, paintings from the Dutch Golden Age (including the works of Vermeer and Rembrandt) represent 2,000 of them.

For travelers stopping by this Amsterdam museum during their free time on our Amsterdam, Luxembourg & Brussels tour, here’s your guide to the can’t-miss pieces.

• “The Night Watch” by Rembrandt is arguably the most famous painting in the museum. It’s heralded for its use of chiaroscuro, a technique of painting shadow and light, and for the way it showcases figures of a civic militia in action.
• For something a little different, check out “The Threatened Swan” by Jan Asselijn. The dramatic painting of a swan defending its nest has become a symbol of Dutch national pride.
• One of the must-see masterpieces by Johannes Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum is “The Milkmaid.” This painting shows a woman pouring milk into a bowl while soft light streams through the window, showcasing Vermeer’s skill in capturing the beauty of life’s every day moments.

Did you know?
The largest park in the Netherlands, Vondelpark, is just a 13-minute walk from the Rijksmuseum. If you need lunch plans following your visit to this Amsterdam museum, take a tip from our Amsterdam Travel Guide and go to the park for a picnic.

2. Van Gogh Museum

For all things Vincent van Gogh, there’s no better place than the eponymous Van Gogh Museum. The Van Gogh family passed down the atrist’s unsold works after his death in 1890, then transferred them to the state-operated Vincent van Gogh Foundation in 1962. Eleven years later, the museum opened its doors to the public. Today, the Amsterdam museum houses some 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and 700 letters by the artist.

Visitors follow Van Gogh’s evolution as they ascend the museum’s three floors. (You could be one of those visitors if you head here during your free time on our Grand Tour of Europe, or swing by during guided sightseeing on our Amsterdam, Luxembourg & Brussels tour!) You’ll start your self-guided audio tour with Van Gogh’s early, somber works, which tell the story of Dutch farmers, and continue on to the more vibrant pieces he created during his time in Paris and the South of France.

Here are a few of the must-see pieces in the Van Gogh Museum.

• One of the museum’s most famous paintings is “Sunflowers,” with its bold, sunny hues that epitomize Van Gogh’s use of color to express emotion.
• Be sure to also see “Almond Blossoms,” Van Gogh’s most personally beloved work. The painting was a gift for his brother Theo and Theo’s wife Johanna to celebrate the birth of their son. This is just one example of the close relationship the Van Gogh brothers shared.
• Another fascinating feature of the museum is its collection of letters between Vincent and Theo, which provide a poignant glimpse into the artist’s mind and his turbulent life. You can even listen to snippets from these letters using your audio guide.

Did you know?
Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime, but today his works are among the most expensive and widely recognized in the world. So, it’s no surprise that the Van Gogh Museum is considered both a top museum in Amsterdam and one of the 10 best museums to visit in Europe.

3. Anne Frank House

Step into history during a visit to the house where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II. The 17th-century canal house-turned-museum opened to the public in 1960 and underwent two renovations to accommodate the growing number of visitors. This Amsterdam museum was most recently reworked in 1999 to restore and feature the Frank family’s front offices as they appeared in 1940.

Here are some of the most enduring aspects of this historic Amsterdam museum.

• During your visit to the Anne Frank House, you’ll walk through the very rooms in the Secret Annex where Anne and her family lived in hiding for over two years. One of the must-see aspects at this museum in Amsterdam is the preserved, movable bookcase hiding the entrance to the Secret Annex. The rooms in the Secret Annex are unfurnished at the request of Otto Frank, Anne’s father and the only member of the family to survive the Holocaust. What remains on display is Anne’s personal decor, including postcards of landscapes and photographs of movie stars, which she pinned to the walls.
• You’ll have free time to visit this Amsterdam museum on our London, Paris & Amsterdam tour. If you do, be sure to spend some time in the room housing Anne’s original diaries, including the famous “Diary of a Young Girl.”

Did you know?
Actress Shelley Winters donated the Oscar she won in 1959 for her portrayal of Petronella van Daan in “The Diary of Anne Frank” to this Amsterdam museum.

Would you love to explore these three famous museum in Amsterdam? Join us on an Amsterdam tour and step into history and art during your free time!