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Museums

  

Amsterdam Museums:

Opera, Concerts and Ballet

The Muziektheater (Music Theatre) is the most important theatre in Amsterdam: no wonder the Het Nationale Ballet (National Ballet) and the Nederlands Opera (Dutch Opera) perform here on a regular basis. Other relevant scenarios are the Stadsschouwburg and the Koninklijk Thater Carré, while at the Concertgebouw you will be able to enjoy the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Museums

As regards museums, Amsterdam is a really interesting city to visit, with a rich past to know everything about. Along its around fifty museums, there are displays on art form the Golden Age and contemporary years, delftware and other crafts: the leading artist is without any doubt Rembrandt, whose famous "Night Watch" is shown at the Rijksmuseum. The maritime history of the country is also presented, as well as modern technology and ancient cultures. All in all, there are options to please every like as far as art and history are concerned.

Allard Pierson Museum
This museum, recreating the ancient cultures, belongs to the University of Amsterdam. Some of its amazing exhibits are "Egypt, gift of the Nile", the Roman Empire and Early Greece. There are guided tours available, usually lasting an hour, but it is advisable to book in advance. At the end of your visit, you may take a souvenir or just go around the museum shop.
Tram 4, 9, 16, 24 and 25. Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5pm.
Address: Oude Turfmarkt 127
Phone: +31 (0) 20 525 2556

Amsterdam Historic Museum
If you want to know the history of Amsterdam in an entertained, lively experience, visit this museum only 15 minutes from the Centraal Station. Different objects that belong to the past of the city are on display, as live witnesses from other times. In this way, seven centuries go by along the various rooms and courtyards of the museum: archaeological finds, models, silver and gold exhibits, glass, earthenware and porcelain are some of this elements going back to the 13th century. The building is also interesting in itself as it used to house the Civic Orphanage, where children used to live.
Trams 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 14, 16, 24, 25. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm; Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. Closed on 1 January, 30 April and 25 December.
Address: Kalverstraat 92
Phone: +31 (0)20 5231822

Anne Frank House
One of the most popular figures of the Second World War, and the history of anti-Semitism is the young Anne Frank, the Jewish victim that wrote "The Diary of Anne Frank" while her family hid from the German occupation forces between 1942 and 1944. This house has been turned into a museum, where various exhibitions show the life of Anne and her family while they were hiding, just as the diary retells it. You can also see the original diary and the front rooms to the house recreated just as they looked like in the war years.
Trams 13, 14 and 17. Opening Hours: daily from 9 am to 7pm. (From March 15 to September 15, from 9am to 9pm). On May 4th: 9am to 7pm. On January 1st, from noon to 7pm, and December 25th from noon to 7pm. Closed on Yom Kippur.
Address: Prinsengracht 267
Phone: +31 (0)20 5567105

Biblical Museum
The Bible can be known from head to toe and with a graphical, interesting representation at this museum established in 1851. Here you will find archaeological finds, religious objects from the Jewish and Christian traditions and artefacts that show the evolution of the Bible as well as its influence on the Dutch. Among its exhibitions, there is a 19th century model of the Tabernacle and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem that are really worth seeing.
Trams 1, 2, and 5. Opening Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm; Sundays and public holidays from 11am to 5pm. Closed on January 1st and April 30.
Address: Herengracht 366-368.
Phone: +31 (0)20 6242436

City Archive
For a formal study of the history of the city, a certain neighbourhood or a family name or information, the Archive provides its studies, thesis and publications either at the Library, the Topography or the Genealogy areas. There are also regular special exhibitions on the past of Amsterdam.
Trams 3 and 4. Opening Hours: The study rooms: Monday to Saturday, from 10 to 17pm. Refreshment room: daily from 10am to 4pm.
Address: Amsteldijk 67.
Phone: +31 (0)20 5720202

Filmmuseum
The history of cinematography is comprised at this museum, where films from the very first silent productions to actual digital ones are on display. In addition to this, festivals, retrospectives and contests are permanently organised by this centre of culture in Amsterdam. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 10.15pm.
Address: Vondelpark 3
Phone: +31 (0)20 5891400
Information centre: Vondelstraat 69-71
Phone: +31 (0)20 5891435

Van Gogh Museum
The largest collection of pieces by Vincent Van Gogh are present at this museum, although you will also find works by Gauguin, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec and other artists that belonged to Van Gogh's circle. Drawings, sketches and letters from the artist compliment his paintings, as well as his exclusive collection of Japanese prints. In spite of this concern for past works, there is also an interest in modern art: that is why regular exhibitions are organised, also focusing on artists from the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century.
Trams 2, 3, 5 and 12. Opening Hours: daily from 10am to 6pm; on Fridays it closes at 10 pm.
Address: Paulus Potterstraat 7
Phone: +31 (0)20 5705200

Jewish Historic Museum
The relevant role of the Jewish in Amsterdam is visible at this museum based on the four synagogues that used to stand there in the 17th and 18th century. They have all been turned into a complex after the Second World War and the reasonable fall of Jewish living in the city. Some of the aspects explored here are the Jewish religion, zionism, their persecution and survival during the Nazi occupation.
Trams 9 and 14. Opening Hours: daily from 11am to 5pm.
Address: Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1
Phone: +31 (0)20 5310310

Madame Tussaud's Amsterdam
Art on wax has enabled specialists to create one of the most famous chain of museums in the world, Madame Tussaud`s. In its Amsterdam site, celebrities and legends such as Tina Turner and Vincent Van Gogh stand right beside the members of the Royal family, Marilyn Monroe and Brad Pitt. There are also some really interesting experiences, all related to the stars recreated on the set.
Trams 1, 2, 5, 13, 17 and 20 (stop at Magna Plaza/Dam) and 4, 9, 16, 20, 24, 25 (stop at the Bijenkorf/Dam). Opening Hours: Daily from 10am to 5.30pm. Closing time may be extended for groups that have booked in advance.
Address: Dam Square
Phone (for reservations): +31(0)20-523-0623

NEMO (former name: NewMetropolis)
This is a really original museum of science and technology, placed in a building that resembles a ship. Halfway between formal and informal learning, the objective of the ex New Metropolis is to make its visitors be interested in science and industry in a playful way. Among the realities that can be explored, don`t miss the Water World, the human mind and the DNA code.
Address: Oosterdok 2
Phone: +31 ( 0)900 9191100
Website: NEMO (former name: NewMetropolis)

The Rembrandt House Museum
One of the most popular museums in Amsterdam, even considered a sightseeing must, is this house where Rembrandt lived between 1639 and 1660. Built originally in 1606, it houses the major works of this worldwide known artist, as well as the atmosphere in which he got inspired. Almost the complete collection of Rembrandt`s graphical work, around 250 etchings, sleep here, awaiting visitors curious about his lifestyle and that of his apprentices.
Trams 9, 14 and 20. Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm; on Friday, it is open till 9pm. Closed on January 1st.
Address: Jodenbreestraat 4
Phone: +31 (0)20 5200400

Rijksmuseum
This museum is known as Holland`s Treasure Trove, as it houses the largest collection of art in the Netherlands, from the delights from the Golden Age to Rembrandt`s most famous painting, "Night Watch". Works by Vermeer, Frans Hals and Jan Steen can also be found here, along with delftware, delicate doll`s houses and an admirable collection of silverware. The Phillips Wing is perhaps the section you cannot miss, and for a dose of history go to the Dutch History section and the Asiatic Art area. The building is also an attraction in itself, designed by P.H. Cuypers till its opening in 1885.
Trams 2 and 5 (stop at Hobbemastraat) or 6,7 and 10 (stop at Spiegelstraat). Opening Hours: Daily from 9am to 6pm; on Friday it stays open till 10pm. Closed on January 1st.
Address: Jan Luijkenstraat 1
Phone: +31 (0)20 6747000

Stedelijk Museum
Contemporary art has its own treasures in this museum near the Central Station. Paintings, sculptures, graphics and drawings, as well as applied art, industrial design, posters and photos make up this really large collection, in which most of the works were created after 1945. Some of the relevant artists present through their pieces are Malevich, Picasso, Mondriaan, De Kooning and Rietveld. There are also guided tours available, a coffee shop and a gift section.
Trams 25 and 26 from Central Station (Stop at PTA/Muziekgebouw). Opening Hours: Daily from 10am to 6pm. Closed on January 1st.
Address: Oosterdokskade 5.
Phone: +31 (0)20 5732911

Amsterdam Institute of Fine Art (SBK Amsterdam)
This was the first art library in the Netherlands, founded in 1955, and now it has expanded into a professional organisation providing art loans and organising sales, consultancy and mediation sessions, with offices in practically every neighbourhood in the city.
One of these is located on KNSM-laan 307-309.
Phone: +31 (0)20 6201321
Trams 3, 7, 9, 10 and 14. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday, from 11am to 5pm.

Netherlands Maritime Museum
The Dutch maritime history is present at every item on display at this museum on Kattenburgerplein. The delights of its collection include authentic ships' models, charts, navigation instruments, weapons, flags and paintings. There are also exhibitions on the process of building ships and the explorations of conquerors.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Between mid-June and mid-September it is also open on Mondays. Closed on December 25th, January 1st and Queen's day (30 April).
Address: Kattenburgerplein 1
Phone: +31 (0)20 5232222

Netherlands Theatre Institute
The whole history of Dutch theatre performances can be seen at this interesting institute placed in a canalside house dating from 1638, which also works as a support centre and library for the performing arts in the country. There are expositions on theatre costumes, set models, prints, drawings, posters, photos and puppets, and the interior of the building is partly decorated in Louis XIV style.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5pm. Closed on December 25th, January 1st and Queen's day (30 April).
Address: Herengracht 168
Phone: +31 (0)20 5513300

Tropics Museum (Tropenmuseum)
This anthropology museum shows the life and work of people living in the subtropics. The amazing non-western culture is represented through permanent exhibitions on "Southeast Asia", "Oceania", "Western Asia and North Africa", "Africa" and "Latin America". There are also displays on music and theatre from this cultures and a separate children's museum.
Opening Hours: Daily from 10am to 5pm. Closed on January 1st, 30 April, 5 May and 25 December.
Address: Linnaeusstraat 2
Phone: +31(0)20 5688200

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