Amsterdam is known for its waterways with its 165 canals. Besides the stunning Dutch buildings and a beautiful tradition, Amsterdam is also known for its art and culture, displayed at many famous museums. Ask The Dutch Guy lists some of these museums

Rijksmuseum

This museum has a world-famous collection, presenting 8,000 pieces in 80 galleries for art lovers.  The museum displays many works of art from Vermeer, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Van Ruisdael and the famous Rembrandt. It also focuses on the Dutch paintings of the 16th and 17th centuries. There are also lots of rooms with medieval arts decorative pieces from the 19th century. The museum also has 17th-century miniature house models to go along with famous Dutch painters.

Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh is one of the most famous artists in the world. He was one of the world’s greatest artists, with paintings such as ‘Sunflowers’ and ‘Starry Night.’ This museum displays some of his other famous works, including ‘The Potato Eaters’, ‘The Bedroom’, ‘Almond Blossom’, ‘Sunflowers’, and many more.

Rembrandt House Museum

Visit famous painter Rembrandt’s home and studio from 1639 to 1656. The home is now a museum and a public shrine to the artist. Rembrandt van Rijn’s former residence allows the public to discover his paintings and sketches, along with his personal possessions. This includes the Rembrandt collection of seashells and weaponry.

Anne Frank Huis

Anne Frank is famous for keeping a diary while trying to escape from Nazi prosecution. Anne Frank Huis is one of the famous tourist spots in Amsterdam. The house has now been converted into a museum that displays the persecution and discrimination of the Jews during World War II. The experience can be quite chilling once you experience the house and have read the details in her diary.

Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder

Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder is another gem you need to add to your Dutch museum bucket list. The name roughly translates to ‘Our Lord in the Attic’. Visit this museum to experience the Golden Age. Get a chance to see how the Dutch ate, slept and lived. The well-preserved house and church has since become a Dutch National icon. 

Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum

The Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum is also known as the ‘National Maritime Museum’. This museum is dedicated to Dutch maritime history. The museum has a collection of artifacts from Dutch shipping and sailing history. It also contains a surviving copy of the first edition of Maximilianus Transylvanus’ work, which is the De Moluccis Insulis that describes Ferdinand Magellan’s maiden voyage around the world. Outside the museum sits a replica of Amsterdam, an 18th-century ship that sailed between the Netherlands and the East Indies.

Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum

One of the oldest museum in the world devoted to cannabis exclusively. The museum is renowned for having around 9,000 cannabis artifacts.  The museum displays the Golden Age of Medicinal Cannabis and also it has been historically used in many religious ceremonies in different cultures all over the world. It also became a symbol for the counterculture movement in the 1960s. Growing  industrial hemp is also one of the oldest agriculture crops on the planet and has been used to make many different products.

Sexmuseum Amsterdam

The name says it all–it’s a museum of sex but most of these museums are now called museum of erotic arts. Sex is taboo for many people worldwide, so if you’re open-minded, you can give this museum a try. Visitors should be over 16 years old.  The museum traces the history of sex , houses erotic arts, features life-sized mannequins performing sex, genitalia-themed furniture and photos of prostitutes.

Ask The Dutch Guy is your go-to guide for The Netherlands. The goal is to showcase the beauty of The Netherlands and to inspire others to explore the country. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

PS: Right now, all the museums have virtual tours. Do share with us which one you liked and any suggestions on more things to see are welcome.