The 10 Best Specialty Museums in The Netherlands, The Netherlands

April 18, 2022 Russell Mellin

– in Europe  (green & dark grey) – in the European Union  (green)
Restaurants in The Netherlands

1. Anne Frank House

Prinsengracht 263 - 267 museum entrance Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 20 556 7105 [email protected] http://www.annefrank.org
Excellent
68%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 62,301 reviews

Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House (Dutch: Anne Frank Huis) is a museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. The building is located on a canal called the Prinsengracht, close to the Westerkerk, in central Amsterdam in the Netherlands. As a visitor, you experience this story through a audio tour, quotes, photos, videos, and original items. The Anne Frank House can only be visited with an online ticket for a specific date and time.

Reviewed By Skiforever1223 - Salt Lake City, United States

This is a very special museum for many reasons but I was pleasantly surprised by how beautifully the museum created the narrative and the spaces they created. My two teenage daughters and I will never forget this experience. I loved the amazing artwork at the end portraying scenes recreated from the hiding place and also recommend taking time to watch the touching tributes video at the end where you hear visitors’ experiences and guest book comments from Nelson Mandela, Steven Spielberg and more. Read or re-read Anne Frank’s diary prior to visiting to really feel the spirit of this young reminder of so many tragically lost. You do have to reserve tickets online. Per the website: 80% of tickets are released exactly two months in advance at 12:00* hours noon, 20% on the day itself. Every day at 9:00* hours, the tickets for the day are made available on this site. (*Amsterdam time). The museum recommends this for children 10 and older. I would recommend 11 yrs. for a well-prepared child. It is a quiet, sober tour and there is one brief concentration camp scene that is graphic. Bag check and audio guides included with your ticket and there is a cafe and shop for after your tour. No photography. You line up outside at your assigned time slot until it’s time for your group to go in and it’s best to take a picture of your ticket rather than try to pull it up in your email because connectivity is spotty. The actual house/store is encased and preserved by the museum surround on Prinsengracht street. We booked an evening visit which also added to the poignancy as you leave the museum and see the canals lit by street lights. Highly recommend.

2. Madurodam

George Maduroplein 1, 2584 RZ, The Hague The Netherlands +31 70 416 2400 [email protected] http://www.madurodam.nl
Excellent
49%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,793 reviews

Madurodam

Discover Holland's highlights and heritage in this world famous miniature and Holland theme park. You will discover Holland’s most iconic landmarks and history through a story of magnificent miniatures and indoor attractions. The stunning park filled with flowers is a beauty for the eye and shows 338 miniatures. From little Amsterdam to Dutch national architecture built on a scale of 1:25 with miniature trains, boats and cars moving around. Madurodam will make you discover Holland's rich history with remarkable stories like the Dutch ability to transform water into land. And did you know New York was Dutch in former days? Come find out in our attraction Nieuw-Amsterdam! Madurodam is very family friendly with two large playgrounds and plenty of fun interactive installations. You will get the full Holland experience in one place and many Instagram worthy picture possibilities. Visit us! We are open 365 days a year and offer information in 11 languages. See you soon in Madurodam.

Reviewed By pearce71592

I thought this was an interesting way to see some of the places that are in Netherlands before going to see them in person. Great for kids to visit. The displays are very high quality. some with moving parts. We bought the 3D photo miniature of us, the statue is exact. A neat souvenir to have from Netherland.

3. Zaanse Schans

Schansend 1, 1509 AW Zaandam The Netherlands +31 75 681 0000 [email protected] http://www.dezaanseschans.nl/
Excellent
60%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 8,189 reviews

Zaanse Schans

This open air museum recreates a Dutch village with wooden houses and windmills dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Reviewed By irashafran - Winter Park, United States

Best day trip and real taste of Dutch life and a most beautiful and charming small town with windmills, small shops and great old hotel.... Setting gorgeous surrounded by picturesque waterways and homes with backdrop of a massive dam .... Ingrid lives there and showed us her beautiful home

4. Molenmuseum de Valk

Tweede Binnenvestgracht 1, 2312 BZ, Leiden The Netherlands +31 71 516 5353 http://www.molenmuseumdevalk.nl
Excellent
52%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 490 reviews

Molenmuseum de Valk

Visitors to the Valk Windmill learn about the history, life, skills and techniques of the 18th-century Dutch miller.

Reviewed By J8791LFmiker

Great way to spend an hour, exploring the Molenmuseum de Valk. A combination of factual history and engineering prowess. Excellent value for money a just 5Euro/adult ticket. The full tour does involve climbing and ascending steep ladders and an exposed panoramic view from outside the windmill, so may not be suitable for all; but otherwise well worth taking the time for a visit when you are in Leiden

5. Royal Delft - Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles

Rotterdamseweg 196, 2628 AR Delft The Netherlands +31 15 760 0800 [email protected] http://www.royaldelft.com/index.asp?lang=2
Excellent
44%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,046 reviews

Royal Delft - Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles

Royal Delft, established in 1653, is the last remaining Delft earthenware factory from the 17th century. The world famous blue and white earthenware is still entirely handpainted according to centuries old tradition. Visit Royal Delft and see how we still authentically produce Royal Delftware!

Reviewed By gaia43 - Turners Falls, United States

I have never been a big fan of Royal Delft pottery though knowing it’s history and evolution; seeing master painters at work (up to ten years of training!); and touring its facility with a “magical” garden, large gift shop and lovely cafe have “sold” me. No, I may not purchase Delft pottery pieces though I have learned to appreciate and respect how it came to be and continues to enrich the world with its beauty.

6. National Aviation Museum (Aviodrome)

Pelikaanweg 50, 8218 PG Lelystad The Netherlands +31 320 289 842 http://www.aviodrome.nl
Excellent
45%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 491 reviews

National Aviation Museum (Aviodrome)

Reviewed By hstruik - Warns, The Netherlands

Curious about the event for children, Sint Airways, I decided to visit the museum in Lelystad again today. This time a trip of one hour because we recently moved to Friesland. Corona measures abounded. You had to reserve a time slot and wear a face mask inside the museum. But how beautiful the museum has become after the renovation. The exhibition looks cozier and clearer. I was positively surprised! I will not discuss the children's event because it was only very temporary. But the museum itself? Definitely worth a visit again.

7. Museum Volkenkunde

Steenstraat 1, 2312 BS, Leiden The Netherlands +31 71 516 8800 [email protected] http://volkenkunde.nl/nl/tentoonstelling-cool-japan
Excellent
49%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 564 reviews

Museum Volkenkunde

Museum Volkenkunde is a museum about people housed in a historic building just five minutes' walk from Leiden's central station. A huge totem pole greets visitors as they enter the museum through the garden. Museum Volkenkunde presents regularly changing exhibitions and its permanent display features objects from eight different cultural regions. Objects that all have a story to tell about humankind.

Reviewed By Cosetteiscookin - Utrecht, The Netherlands

One of my all time favorite museums in The Netherlands. Been here several times (before covid) Love the things on display and learning about different cultures.

8. Museum Speelklok

Steenweg 6, 3511 JP Utrecht The Netherlands +31 30 231 2789 [email protected] http://www.museumspeelklok.nl
Excellent
55%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 846 reviews

Museum Speelklok

Museum Speelklok, the most cheerful museum in the Netherlands! During a visit to the typical Dutch Museum Speelklok, cheerful live music will surround you from centuries-old self-playing musical instruments. The history of these instruments started back in 16th century the Netherlands with the use of church carillons. Over the centuries, the general desire of people to be surrounded by music, led to the invention of all sorts of self-playing musical instruments: musical clocks, musical boxes, orchestrions (self-playing orchestras) and the traditional Dutch street organs. All of these instruments, including the famous street organ named Arabier and the so-called 8th world wonder the Violina, can be admired and heard during the lively museum tour. Thanks to the highly skilled Restoration Workshop, the collection is kept playing and this craft can be passed on from this generation to the next.

Reviewed By Incurable_Romantic - Alexandria, United States

Who’d a thunk you could build a huge museum in a several hundred year-old church filled with centuries worth of musical clocks, automatic organs/pianos, music boxes, and even an automated violin player? Bizarre, fun, and funny! Absolutely MUST do the guided tour, to actually hear the collection play music. Totally a blast!

9. National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)

Rapenburg 28, 2311 EW, Leiden The Netherlands +31 71 516 3163 [email protected] http://www.rmo.nl/
Excellent
55%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 546 reviews

National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)

The National Museum of Antiquities is housed in an old monumental building and ‘Begijnhof’. It is the Dutch centre for archaeology. A large part of the collection consists of objects related to ancient Egypt. Unique is the two thousand year old Egyptian temple in the central hall of the museum. Besides ancient Egypt, the museum covers the Middle East, the Classical world and the early history of the Netherlands. The entire collection consists of more than 80,000 objects, including statues of Roman emperors, Etruscan tomb finds and mummies.

Reviewed By 500dank - The Hague, The Netherlands

Had a wonderful visit with my family. Loved the collection which is marvellous! Especially the artefacts covering ancient Egyptian time. To my personal opinion, only the British Museum in London can match this. The temporary exhibit (untill 15 march 2020) was on Cyprus. The museum consists of three floorws and is housed in a fantastic, historical building, in the middle of the historical town centre of Leiden (Rapenburg). It's completely accessible: we brought our 8 month old son in his buggy and had no problems in navigating the museum. Baby changing facilities are located in the disabled toilet on the ground floor. In the entrance hall of the museum you can find and visit the Temple of Taffeh (free of charge, as it is before the ticket barriers), which was gifted to the Netherlands. The audio tour is free of charge too (but behind the ticket barriers). Museum staff was very friendly and helpful. One note in regard to parking: some reviews here complain about parking, but this has absolutely nothing to do with the museum itself. People who complain about parking, have themselves to blame for not planning their journey properly: The museum is located in the middle of the historical city centre of Leiden. so it's completely logical that there isn't a large parking garage to accommodate visitors. My advice is to plan your journey ahead, be sure you know where to park in Leiden or check the museum website if you don't and/or are not familiar with the historical centre of Leiden. If you come by public transport: the museum is about a ten minute walk away from the Leiden Central station. Concluding this review: this is a must visit if you like museums with ancient artefacts!

10. Escher in Het Paleis (Escher in the Palace)

Lange Voorhout 74, 2514 EH, The Hague The Netherlands +31 70 427 7730 [email protected] http://www.escherinhetpaleis.nl
Excellent
63%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,836 reviews

Escher in Het Paleis (Escher in the Palace)

Escher at the Palace is dedicated to the work of Holland’s most famous graphic artist M.C. Escher. Nearly all his prints are exhibited, among them Belvedere, Drawing Hands, Waterfall and Ascending and Descending. Here you can see how Escher changed fishes into birds, made water flow upstream and his less known, but very attractive early Italian landscapes. On our main- and first floor you can see how his work progressed from depicting the real world to his constructed worlds. Optical illusion is a key word in his work.An optical illusion depicts something which is in fact impossible. M.C. Escher was a master in this field. An optical illusion literally means doing puzzles with your eyes. The visitor will be able to unravel some of Escher’s mysteries like the Impossible Penrose Triangle by constructing one himself. The extra presentation “In the Eye of Escher” shows various themes in which Escher was involved, like reflection, perception and perspective.

Reviewed By JodiePanudju1974 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We visited this museum to get to know more about Escher's works. It has a lot of illustration, painting, etching, and audio visual art works. The ticket was 10 euro person, and there is also a locker that you can rent for 1 euro. The museum is divided into 3 floors connected with stairs. The stairs are a bit small and steep, visitors need to be careful when using it. The museum is place in the original Dutch old building so everything looks very authentic. There's some activities that you can participate as well inside the museum such as an optical illusion photo studio, or finding details in the painting, and so on. At the basement, there's a cafe which offer coffee and light meals. Definitely recommended for you to visit this museum

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