Amsterdam Things to Do Tips by yooperprof

Amsterdam Historical Museum Amsterdam Museum Review

Interesting for local history! I'm a history buff (and a historian) so of course it was natural for me to pay a visit to this excellent regional museum. Amsterdam is a city with a great and important past, and the local museum portrays its diverse and rich past in an interactive and convincing manner. I especially liked the profusion of maps and dioramas that portrayed the relationship of the city to its environment, both physical and human, over the centuries. It really becomes clear how "clever" the Dutch have been (and Amsterdammers in particular) at making the best of their situation!

Coming the museum here also helped me to understand the peculiar relationship of Amsterdam to the rest of the Netherlands. Amsterdam is the largest and most important city, but it's not the government center - and it's also far from being a Royal city in the manner of a London or a Copenhagen. Amsterdammers have always been proud and bourgeous - rich through trade and commerce - and always have something of a difficult relationship with the rest of the country. And something of a difficult relationship with the Dutch monarchy, too!

One of my favorite exhibits though focused upon the development of the monarchy in the 19th and 20th centuries. The monarchy probably would not have survived had it not been for the resourcefulness and ingenuity of its long period of Queens: Wilhelmina, Juliana and now Beatrix. So interesting to see how Queens Day is celebrated here - even (or especially) in the gay clubs of the Rokin!

Address: Kalverstraat 92

Phone: +31-20-5231822

Website: http://www.ahm.nl

Tulip Museum DAYTRIP: Tulips Review

This was the smallest of the museums I visited in Amsterdam - and the weakest, I think. It's nice that they have plenty of old flower pots, but there aren't many other old artifacts or objects in their collection.

On the other hand, the Amsterdam Tulip Museum was founded only in 2004, so it is likely to improve over the years as its collection grows. If you don't know anything about tulips, and you wish to learn something about a very famous flower, this might be a good place to spend half an hour as you are walking through the neighborhood.

Address: 112 Prinsengracht

Website: http://www.amsterdamtulipmuseum.com/

Houseboat Museum (the "Hendrika Maria") Houseboats Museums Review

Not just a museum about Amsterdam's houseboats - a museum ON an Amsterdam houseboat. Which is its main charm.

I also liked the short video of houseboat life in the big city. There's something romantic about a houseboat - uncomfortable, too, no doubt! But I'm only 5'6", so its not that uncomfortable for me. There's something odd about see really tall Dutch people straining to remember to duck on these boats!

By the way, the name in Dutch is "Woonbootmuseum".

Address: Prinsengracht, near 296

Directions: not far from the Anne Frank House

Website: http://www.houseboatmuseum.nl

FOAM - Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam Foam Museum Review

New photography museum with both a European and an International focus. Located in a renovated canal house. Interesting permanent collection with many "masters" - and exhibit space for temporary/travelling shows. When I was here I saw an excellent show about the "noir" era photographer Wegee!

Address: Keizersgracht 609

Website: http://hypp://www.foam.nl

Museum von Loon Van Loon Museum Review

18th century house museum located on one of the grandest canals in the Golden belt. Several grand state rooms, and bedrooms that reflect the prosperity of the upper bourgeoisie. Lots of gilt!

Interesting to see how nice the back of the house is - in many ways, more grand than the front. Spectacular garden - that was my favorite feature. I love a good parterre!

Address: Keisersgracht 672

Website: http://www.museumvanloon.nl

Museum Willet-Holthuysen Willet-Holthuysen Museum Review

Interesting canal-side house museum that allows visitors to see the lifestyle enjoyed by the high bourgeoisie of Amsterdam from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

The house was constructed between 1685 and 1690; it is the only canal house museum in Amsterdam that dates from that era. (The last private owners of the house, the Willet-Holthuysen family, donated the property to the Amsterdam Historical Society in the late 19th century.)

Plenty of objet's arts: silver, china, paintings: a haven for those interested in historic interior design. Not palatial but certainly well beyond comfortable!

We really liked the clothing exhibit on the top floor of the house. They had a few original pieces, and quite a few large panels that were "blown up" from early 19th century fashion books.

Address: Herengracht 605

Directions: close to the Amstel River, half a block from Utrechtestraat

Phone: (020) 523-1822

Website: http://www.willetholthuysen.nl

Portuguese Synagogue Portuguese Synagogue Review

A sign of Amsterdam's unusual and early spirit of tolerance in its Golden Age, the Portuguese Synagogue survived the Nazi occupation and remains today a link to a vital period of Jewish and Dutch history.

When this temple was opened in 1675, it was said to be the largest synagogue in western Europe. Both inside and out, classical, refined architectural details suggest a melding of faith and reason: this building is a product both of the continuity of Judaism and the flourishing of a rational spirit in the 17th century. Definitely a must-see for all those interested in Judaica and/or architectural history.

(Note that this is a still a functioning religious center, so it is closed on Saturdays and holy days.)

Address: Mr Visserplein 3

More than Anne Frank! Jewish Historical Museum Review

The Jewish Historical Museum, located in the old Jewish quarter, incorporates several older buildings - and the interior of an old synagogue. It offers an interesting perspective upon eight centuries of Jewish life in Amsterdam, from times of persecution and refuge in the medieval era, to times of persecution and refuge in the modern era. There are both permanent exhibits and space for temporary or travelling shows, so the displays here are constantly being revised and updated. Very interesting to see the challenges and triumphs and tragedies of the Jewish community here - it should be seen by everyone who visits the Anne Frank house!

Address: Jonas Daniel Meijerplein 2-4

Phone: +31-20-6269945

Website: http://www.jhm.nl

Rembrandt House Rembrandt House Museum - Rembrandthuis Review

It's nice to be able to see where the Great Master lived when things were going well for him! But there's a story behind the bourgeois facade of prosperity.

Interesting that Rembrandt did well in the great Dutch city of Amsterdam - and for a while he was "painter of the day" - in demand for big civic commissions (i.e. working on the new Town Hall) and society portraits of the rich and famous. But Rembrandt never forgot that he was Rembrandt, and by many accounts he was somewhat difficult to get along with. He also spent money freely on his house and his furniture and his servants, and eventually his finances got out of control. The big commissions began to dry up, some of his wealthy patrons began to turn against, and in general, Amsterdammers began to turn their attention (and their pocketbooks) to the new and younger generation of painters. Fashions turn.

Eventually Rembrandt and family faced the public humiliation of bankruptcy. The tut-tutting must have been impossible to avoid. This large and confortable house had to be given up. And Rembrandt's furniture and possessions were sold at public auction. As is well known, Rembrandt died impoverished, and was buried at public expense in an unmarked grave. C'est la vie.

It's good preparation for a trip to Amsterdam to read a good biography of Rembrandt - and his times. I can recommend the work of Simon Schama, particularly "Rembrandt's Eyes." (There's also some interesting bits about Rembrandt in Zadie Smith's recent novel "On Beauty" - but that's more of a London novel than an Amsterdam novel!)

Address: Jodenbreestraat 4

Phone: +31-205200400

Website: http://www.rembrandthuis.nl

Rijksmuseum Rijksmuseum Review

One of the great museums of the world.

When I visited Amsterdam in March 2008, much of the Rijksmuseum was closed for renovation. (My bad luck in the timing: the nearby Stedelijk Museum was also being restored at the same time, its permanent collection in storage.) At the Rijksmuseum, the highlights of the collection were being shown in a few large galleries. "The Masterpieces" - meaning that nearly every single object on display was worthy of intense concentration and study. Ah yes, the "masterpieces of the Rijksmuseum" are worthy indeed!

This is a Dutch museum, of course, but I think there's something for everyone here. While I was obsessing over the Vermeers and the Rembrandts, my friend Nikke was drooling over the large dollhouses and the collection of gold and silver plate. I can't wait to return for my second go-through - and perhaps at that time the whole museum will be open!

N.B., the building which houses the Rijksmuseum is in the Dutch neo-gothic style and designed by the same architect, P.J. Cuypers (1827-1921).

Address: Stadhouderskade 42

Directions: Museumplein

Phone: +31-20-6747047

Website: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl