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
