Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, boasts some of the most famous art museums in the world, meaning it may be hard to narrow down which museums you’ll actually have time to visit. Many of the best museums are walking distance from each other, so taking a full day for museum-hopping or staying nearby and visiting a different one each day is a good idea. Here are a few of the absolute can’t-miss museums in Amsterdam.
Stedelijk Museum
This modern art museum is extremely well-curated, with a few large exhibits which change every so often and many staple modern works as well. Each exhibit provides ample explanation of the artists’ intentions, the cultural impact of the works, and exactly what the viewer may take away from their experience.
Rijksmuseum
If you’ve looked at all at things to do in Amsterdam, you’ve almost certainly come across the Rijksmuseum. An absolute mammoth of a museum with over a million works from throughout art history, seeing the entire thing will most likely be impossible. However, don’t let that deter you—whichever section you choose to experience will absolutely be worth it. Be sure to do a little research first so you can decide in advance exactly which artists or time period you want to see.
Rembrandt House Museum
Rembrandt’s portraits, landscapes, and religious paintings are well-known throughout the world and a staple of every art history class. He happened to live right in the center of the city, and you can now visit his house which is decorated with original paintings and history about the artist.