When invading a city for the weekend, time is incredibly precious. We are all guilty of trying to cram in as much as humanly possible over a short space of time! And in the attempt to find the right balance between sightseeing, exploring and dining, whilst also being cost-efficient, we tend to spend an unforgivable amount of time deciding on the best activities and schedules.
A fascinating city with a long and eventful history, Amsterdam is the ‘city of museums’. With over 50 world-famous, jaw-dropping museums, here is our day guide to the best museums in Amsterdam.
Body Worlds | Damrak
Not the most conventional museum in Amsterdam, but it is by far one of the best museums in Amsterdam. It’s fair to say that happiness is a state that we all desire, and it has been proven time and time again that happiness means different things to different people. And what makes us happy is likely to change as we grow and evolve. This may all sound like common sense, but happiness is not so straightforward; it is much more complex.
The anatomy museum Body Worlds: The Happiness Project in the heart of Amsterdam takes visitors on a thrilling voyage of discovery through the human body in search of what makes us happy and the impact of happiness on our health.
More than 200 anatomical specimens of real human bodies show the complexity, resilience and vulnerability of the body. You can test your own blood pressure, take a ‘happiness ride’ on a bike and discover the wonders of the human body.
Anne Frank House | Westerkerk
With 1.2 million visitors per year, the Anne Frank House is the third most visited museum in the Netherlands. A busy and well sought after attraction, we strongly recommend visiting early to avoid the crowds.
The museum is dedicated to the Jewish-Amsterdam girl Anne Frank. During World War II, Anne hid from Nazi persecution with her father Otto, mother Edith, sister Margot and four other people at the rear of 263 Prinsengracht, the business address of Otto Frank. This hiding place became known as the Secret Annex. The Anne Frank House serves as an educational tour through history and allows you to freely explore the Secret Annex.
The Museum of Prostitution | Nieuwmarkt
The Red Lights Secrets museum allows you to enter into the intriguing world of prostitution and discover the secrets of Amsterdam’s most notorious neighbourhood. Offering behind the scene access to the world’s oldest profession (it is actually said that prostitution is as old as human-kind) and experience for yourself how it feels to be seated behind one of the famous ‘windows’.
Inside the Red Light Secrets is one of the few spots in the Red Light District where photography is allowed. A short introductory film introduces you to the other side of the Red Light District. Do not shy away from this intriguing and very educational experience! Red Light Secrets takes you inside a world that most have never visited. A brothel in its original state in one of the oldest monuments of Amsterdam. You will visit the rooms, read the personal stories of prostitutes and learn all about the profession.
Micropia | Artis
Micropia is the only museum in the world of microbes, and it is a unique and wholly fascinating museum. Making visible the invisible micro-world, Micropia invites visitors to explore the natural world and the role of microorganisms and how such organisms could be used t solve global problems, from water purification to developing new ways to cure infectious diseases.
