Rijksmuseum and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Things to Do Tips

A must - even if you don't know a lot about arts or, like me, don't like the old masters too much... Until 2008 the museum is "under construction" so for the moment they have some highights displayed in the main building, and it takes about an hour to walk around and have a look at all the exhibits - perfect in my opinion!

The exhibition is done very nicely, modern surroundings with old "contents". All descriptions in Dutch and English, brochures in all kinds of languages.

And it's not only looking at pictures - it's also a lesson in Dutch history. The ground floor gives a short background about the Dutch "Golden Age", the 17th century, wealthy people and lots of artists living and working in a republic, not today's monarchy. You see a Treasure Chamber with silverware and delftware, dolls' houses (often miniture copies of the actual houses where they were displayed), clothes, sculptures etc.

On the first floor there are some of the most famous paintings of the old masters, like Vermeer and Rembrandt, Hals and van Dijck. You see the "The Kitchenmaid" and "The Nightwatch" - which is maybe the favorite memory I took home from that museum.

Rembrandt never called his famous painting the NIGHT watch. He painted it during the day, and that's what he intended to show in his painting. However many years later the painting had become very dark and to the people it appeared to be dark in the picture, to be at night. And that's how the picture became its famous name...

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Phone: +31-20-6747047
Address: Stadhouderskade 42
Directions: tram to Hobbemastraat, Spiegelstraat or Museumplein
Website: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl

Before you visit the Anne Frank Housen you seem to know what to expect. An attic, a few rooms, where a girl called Anne, her family and some other Jews were hiding during WW2. They had helpers, but they were betrayed, arrested and killed. You heard the story, you might have read the famous diary, see a film about it, a documentary.

And still, it is s shocking, disturbing experience when you walk through the museum. Walk through the tiny rooms where they were hiding. See, what Anne described in her books.

Anne's story is displayed very very well. They have videos with interviews with the father (who survived), the helpers. They have pictures, and a voice reading from the diary. They have quoted from the diary written down on the walls, plus lots of pictures, things they used, pictures from that time. They have the diaries on display. And they have a selection of books printed in so many languages about Anne and her diary.

It's a sad visit, especially when you think that Anne is just 1 person out of so many who tried to hide with more or less success. She just became famous because she wrote her diaries, the helpers saved them, and her father decided to publish them.

A place you really have to see!

Just prepared for long queues, try to come as early in the morning as possible. Descriptions are in Dutch and English, brochures in many languages.

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Phone: +31-20-5567100
Address: Prinsengracht 267
Website: http://www.annefrank.nl