Top 100 best museums in North Holland

The Anne Frank House is the house where the Jewish girl Anne Frank was hiding with seven others for more than two years in World War II. The museum owns the original diaries and writings of Anne Frank. An important part of the museum is the ‘Achterhuis’, the place where Anne Frank hid and wrote her

More than 860 paintings and nearly 1,200 works on paper by Vincent van Gogh have been preserved. The Van Gogh Museum owns the largest Van Gogh collection, consisting of 201 paintings, 437 drawings and 31 prints. In addition to works by Van Gogh, the museum exhibits a collection of works by other maj

The Zaanse Schans is a neighborhood in Zaandam. Formally it is not a museum, but an outdoor attraction. It features old mills and houses. The Zaans Museum is located in the Zaanse Schans.

The Rijksmuseum is located in a unique historical building from 1885 by architect PJH Cuypers. The museum is dedicated to Dutch art and Dutch history. The collection is exhibited in over two hundred rooms and includes works by Dutch masters such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer and Frans Hals

The Rembrandt House Museum is housed in the former house of the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. This famous painter lived and worked in this house for nearly twenty years. The interior is restored to the style of the times in which Rembrandt lived. The museum displays paintings by artists who work

Artis is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands that opened its doors in 1838. The zoo features 27 historic buildings, of which most date from the 19th century. Because of this, Artis has a distinctive charm and a historical dimension that lacks in more modern zoos. The monumental aquarium contains tropi

Corrie ten Boom House - The Hiding Place is a museum dedicated to the resistance fighter Corrie ten Boom. The museum is housed in her former home. Part of the house is decorated as it was decorated in the past. Among other things, visitors can see the shelter, a small space behind a false wall in th

The Frans Hals Museum is Haarlem’s museum of fine art. Home to the world’s biggest collection of Frans Hals's paintings, alongside works by famous Haarlem artists such as Judith Leyster, Cornelis van Haarlem and Jacob van Ruisdael. And discover also the museum’s rich collection of art from the 1880s

Teylers Museum has an important collection of drawings by Italian and Dutch masters, including famous prints and drawings by Rembrandt and Michelangelo. It also has a collection of paintings with works from the Romantic and Hague School. In the monumental Oval Room, various instruments are exhibited

The Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen brings stories of the people who once lived on the shores of the Zuiderzee to life. Discover the everyday life round the Zuiderzee as it was before the Afsluitdijk (the great IJsselmeer Barrier Dam) turned the former inland sea into what we now know as the IJsselmee

The Dutch Resistance Museum illustrates the history of people in times of war. The visitor learns about the Holocaust, resistance and daily life. The exhibition consists of authentic objects, film and audio clips, documents and photos. In addition there is a permanent exhibition on the Dutch East In

The Muiderslot from 1285 is a medieval moated castle. It is a square castle with five towers, battlements, embrasures and a drawbridge. One of the inhabitants of the castle was the Dutch writer and poet Pieter Cornelis Hooft, who lived there in the seventeeth century. The visitor is taken back in ti

The Heineken Experience is housed in the former Heineken brewery in 1876. The building has served as a Heineken brewery until 1988. Visitors are introduced to more than 150 years of craftsmanship. In a show, Heineken shows that it is the most international beer in the world. In a 4D experience visit

Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder is a former clandestine church. The building looks like an ordinary canal house. It is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. The 17th century church with an altar, corridors and approximately 150 seats is situated in the attic. After the Protestant Reformatio

The National Maritime Museum holds one of the world's largest and most notable maritime collections including paintings, ship models, navigation instruments and sea charts. Discover 500 years of Dutch maritime history and its strong link to society of today and tomorrow. Fun and educational for all

Ecomare is a nature museum with seals, bird, an aquarium and a ‘duinpark’. The museum is dedicated to the North Sea and the Wadden Sea. Many different species of fish, starfish and shellfish live in the various aquariums. Each aquarium shows another habitat, illustrating the differences between life

Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is a wax museum. The collection of wax sculptures includes famous pop stars, monarchs and famous Dutch painters, but also wax sculptures of movie stars and famous people like Albert Einstein, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. In addition there are moving sculptures and vibr

Body Worlds: The Happiness Project is a permanent exhibition. The exhibition illustrates the story of the human body and the impact of happiness on health. More than 200 anatomical specimens of human bodies are exhibited that illustrate the complexity, resilience and vulnerability of the human body.

NEMO Science Museum is located on the foundations of the IJ-tunnel in a building from 1997 designed by Renzo Piano. It is the largest science museum in the Netherlands. The visitor can discover the world of science and technology, by doing experiments on scientific and technical developments related

The Steamtrain Hoorn Medemblik museum is dedicated to the steam train in the Netherlands. The museum uses the former freight and classification yard of that station of Hoorn. Steam trams drive from village to village on the railway between Hoorn and Medemblik from 1887. The collection consists of st

Wereldmuseum Amsterdam is housed in an impressive national monument. It was built in 1926 and is located on the Oosterpark. The imposing central Light Hall offers a panoramic view of what the museum has to offer: three permanent exhibitions, multiple temporary exhibitions, and Wereldmuseum Junior. T

In the Jewish Historical Children Museum, children from 6 to 12 years are introduction to Jewish life and Jewish traditions.

The Amsterdam Dungeon is a unique blend of museum, theater, and attraction, offering visitors an immersive experience into the historical events of Amsterdam. The performances take place in eleven rooms, and visitors are accompanied by approximately seven actors. This unique combination provides a captivating way to learn about the city's past.

At the Houseboat Museum, you get the chance to experience first-hand what it’s like to live in a houseboat on an Amsterdam canal. The museum is located in the “Hendrika Maria”, a former cargo ship built in 1914. The cargo hold is now a cosy living space featuring all the conveniences and a surprisin

The H'ART Museum in Amsterdam is a captivating haven for art enthusiasts and cultural connoisseurs alike. Explore collections of famous art and stories from around the world in a unique blend of exhibitions spanning from antiquity to today, and connecting the art world in a whole new way. Located

The EYE Film museum is housed in the iconic white building at the IJ. Everything is film in EYE. This national museum of film manages more than forty thousand movies and features every genre: a representative selection of movie history, with classics blockbusters and cult movies. It is a museum of f

The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is the must-see museum of modern and contemporary art and design. The collection is one of the most important collections of modern and contemporary art and design in the world. The most meaningful movements in both art and design are represented with (inter)national

Fabrique des Lumières brings art to life: the work of the greatest artists ever, combined with image and sound using new technology.

The Jewish Museum is housed in four synagogues. It is a modern museum about Judaism. Three exhibitions illustrate the culture and history of Jews in the Netherlands. The exhibitions consist of various utensils, paintings, drawings, films, photos and 3D presentations. Part of the museum is the Jewish

The Dutch Navy Museum is dedicated to the past and present of the Dutch Navy. The museum illustrates five hundred years of history of the Dutch navy. Important in the museum are the three museum ships, of which submarine ‘Tonijn’ is most striking. On board stories about the navy are told by former c

The Amsterdam Museum presents exhibitions on a wide range of urban issues. We share knowledge, show art and heritage, and tell relevant stories - past, present and future. Historical and contemporary stories that make the city what it is, in all its forms. We do this at our museum locations in the h

The Portuguese Synagogue, also called Esnoga, is a synagogue that dates to the 17th century. At the time of construction it was the largest synagogue in the world. The building is still used for worship by the Portuguese Jewish Community. The collection illustrates the four century history of the Po

The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is the palace of the royal family where visitors are received. When the palace is not used by the royal family, the building is open to the public. It was built between 1648 and 1665 as a town hall, designed by Jacob van Campen. Several works by famous artists refer to

The Westfries Museum is closed due to a long-term and extensive renovation. The renewed museum will reopen in mid-2027. You can follow the progress of the renovation at westfriesmuseum.nl. The Westfries Museum offers a special attraction at the Statenpoort at Nieuwstraat 23 in Hoorn: ‘Discover the

Museum van de Twintigste Eeuw is housed in an old prison. It is a nostalgic museum dedicated to the 20th century. The museum displays interiors and objects from the period 1900 to around 2000. The museum includes old living rooms, a classroom, kitchen equipment, toys, audio and video equipment and o

The Zaans museum is housed in a modern building on the Zaanse Schans. The museum illustrates the cultural and industrial heritage of Zaandam. It exhibits paintings, films, photographs, objects and painted furniture. The Verkade Pavilion is part of the museum, a chocolate and biscuit factory from the

The Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, founded in 1638. The garden is about 3 acres in size and is home to 6,000 plants of over 4,000 species. In addition to an outdoor garden, the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam has a number of greenhouses which accommodate p

Museum of the Canals is housed in a monumental seventeenth-century canal house. The museum illustrates the Amsterdam city expansion that was caused by the construction of canals. In addition to an interactive tour, there is a temporary exhibition in our period rooms.

Museum of the Mind has two locations; one in Haarlem and one in Amsterdam. In the museum in Haarlem you can discover more about your own mind and those of others in an interactive way. In Amsterdam you can see exhibitions with outsider art, in which artists show their imaginative inner world. In th

The Museum of Prostitution illustrates the life of prostitutes that work in the Red Light District, as well as illustrate the life of courtesans in brothels.

The Sex Museum Amsterdam is housed in a 17th century building. It is the first and oldest sex museum in the world. The museum features a maze of corridors and rooms. It covers everything that has to do with sensual love. The collection includes erotic objects, photographs, paintings, recordings, scu

Museum van Loon is located on the Keizersgracht in the house of the regent family Van Loon. Willem van Loon was the co-founder of The Dutch East India Company in 1602. One of the residents of this 17th century canal house was Dutch painter Ferdinand Bol, a pupil of Rembrandt. Portraits, silverware,

In the Amsterdam Cheese Museum visitors can relive the history of cheese making and experience the unique flavor of Dutch cheese.

Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar is dedicated to the history and cultural heritage of Alkmaar and its surroundings. It covers five centuries of history. The collection includes historical objects from the Alkmaar region, a photo collection of Alkmaar, a toy theatre including toys from the past, paintings fr

Museum Kaap Skil is housed in a modern glass building with a shell of wooden beams. The museum is dedicated to Texel and the sea. The collection includes beachcombing objects and dive finds, as well as paintings and prints. In addition, the museum has the largest maritime model in the world.

Micropia is located in the historic ‘Ledenlokalen’ from 1870. In Micropia the invisible world of microorganisms is made visible and accessible for a broad audience. Micro-organisms such as fungi and bacteria are everywhere and define how our world looks like. Visitors are informed about current issu

The Dutch Cheese Museum is housed in the weigh house of Alkmaar. The museum illustrates the past and present of the manufacturing of dairy products on the farm and in the factory. The whole process is covered, from the milking of the cow to cheesemaking itself. The museum also illustrates trade and

Maritime and Beachcomber Museum Flora is the largest beachcomber museum in the world. The museum displays old beachcomber finds and beachcombers talk about their experiences and wanderings on the beach. Various exhibits are on display and films are shown. For children there are scavenger hunts, vari

Singer Laren focuses on international art from the period 1880 to 1950. The core of the collection is the collection that the couple William and Anna Singer brought together. This collection primarily consists of works by French painters from the School of Barbizon, traditional impressionistic artis

The Willet-Holthuysen House is housed in a double mansion from 1687. In the 19th century it was the house of Abraham Willet and his wife Louisa Willet-Holthuysen. The museum consists of a dining room, a ballroom, a garden room and a corridor on the first floor that illustrate how wealthy people from

The Oude Kerk is the oldest building of Amsterdam and youngest place for contemporary art. Inside you can see site specific art exhibitions, period rooms and an impressive tombstone floor. The wife and muse of Rembrandt van Rijn, is one of the thousands of people who lies buried in the Oude Kerk

The recently reopened Media Museum is housed in the building of the Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision in Hilversum. The museum is all about you: it's about your life in media - then, now and in the future. The museum tells the story of the great influence that media has on our daily lives. Th

Museum Haarlem illustrates the history of Haarlem and surroundings. It is a city that is often praised for its beauty and has inspired many painters. Dutch painters such as Frans Hals and Jan van Scorel painted the city. The collection consists of objects of historical value from the South ‘Kennemer

The Czar Peter House in Zaandam is a subsidiary of the Zaans Museum. The Czar Peter House became famous when Russian Tsar Peter the Great stayed there for eight nights. But Napoleon, other Russian tsars and Dutch monarchs have visited this property as well. In and around the house are various object

The Cobra Museum is a museum of modern art. The permanent collection primarily consists of works by members of the Cobra movement. It includes works by Karel Appel, Constant and Corneille. The Cobra Collection of the Cobra Museum is one of the most important in the world. The main goal of the museum

Cruquius Museum is housed in the former pumping station Cruquius, that was used between 1848 and 1852 for the reclamation of the Haarlemmermeer. The museum is dedicated to the industrial history. The collection consists of steam engines, old maps, that illustrate 2000 years of fighting against water

Museummolen Schermerhorn is a mill from 1634 that was used to drain the water from the Schermerpolder. It is one of the eleven remaining mills of the former Schermerpolder mill complex. The mill can be visited from top to bottom, which lets the visitor properly see the operation of the mill. The mus

Electric Ladyland is a museum on fluorescent art. The museum consists of two parts. One part consists of a large fluorescent area. Visitors become a part of this fluorescent art area, and experience the so called ‘Participatory Art’. The other part features a permanent exhibition with fluorescent mi

The Amsterdam Pipe Museum is housed in a seventeenth-century canal house in Amsterdam. It offers the smoking culture in the world over 25 centuries, by exhibiting a collection of smoking pipes and tobacco-related paraphernalia. The collection consists of more than 30,000 objects, of which about thre

The Broekerveiling is the oldest ‘doorvaar-groentenveiling’ in the world. The auctioning started in 1887 at the same spot the museum is situated now. The museum exhibits punts (boats) and tools. Auctions are held with the punts, which illustrate how the auction worked. Important in the museum is the

Bakkerijmuseum De Oude Bakkerij is a museum dedicated to bakers and bakeries. The museum illustrates how bakers made and sold their products in the past century. The collection consists of machines, tools, forms and other objects related to bakery. The museum also exhibits objects related to the top

Museum Kranenburgh is housed in ‘Huis Kranenburgh’ from 1882. It is a museum of visual arts. The collection consists of paintings and graphic art by artists from the so-called Bergen School. The collection includes works by Else Berg, Henri Le Fauconnier, Dirk Filarski, Leo Gestel, Mommie Schwarz an

World-renowned expressionist building "Het Schip" ("the ship") is the most famous work by Amsterdam School architect Michel de Klerk, which was completed in 1921. The museum located in the building is dedicated to the Amsterdam School, an architecture style. The former post office designed by the a

Fort Kijkduin is a Napoleonic fort from 1811. It is part of the Defence Line of Den Helder. In the fort is a museum about the history of Den Helder, especially about the French and German times. There is also a unique North Sea aquarium on display, where children can feed and pet sharks and rays! Th

In the Allard Pierson you can explore the collections of the University of Amsterdam. The world renowned collections range from archaeology, book history and cartography to graphic design, Jewish cultural history and performing arts. Walk through Egyptian antiquity and the Greek and Roman worlds i

The Erotic museum illustrates the art and history of seduction. The collection of the museum includes images, films and various other objects that give an overview of eroticism through the years. The first floor features an exhibition of erotic objects. One floor up features an exhibition with eroti

The Netherlands Fortress Museum is housed in ‘Bastion Turfpoort’. The museum is dedicated to the war history of the Netherlands. The visitor learns how the soldiers of the garrison guarded Holland, and specifically Amsterdam. The museum consists of an outdoor part and an underground part. The outdoo

The Amsterdam Tulip Museum demonstrates the history of the tulip in the Netherlands. The museum gives information on the tulip mania and the economic power of the flower during the Golden Age in the seventeenth century. The museum also shows how bulbs served as food for people during wars and the or

The Beatles Museum tells all about the four band members of The Beatles: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. It displays various objects related to The Beatles.

Kasteel Radboud is a castle that dates back to 1288. It is the only remaining West Frisian ‘dwangburcht’ of Floris the Fifth. The collection consists of objects that illustrate the history of the building. The permanent exhibition shows life in the Middle Ages and the history of Medemblik. For child

The Diamond Museum Amsterdam illustrates the mining, the grinding and the processing of diamonds. The museum displays several famous diamonds, including the world's smallest diamond, which can be seen through a microscope. In addition, the visitor gets information about the diamond city Amsterdam, w

The Nieuwe Kerk is a church building from the early 15th century. It is one of the most important monuments of Amsterdam. It is the place where the Dutch head of state is inaugurated. Changing temporary exhibitions are organized in the building on, among other themes, religions, cultures and treasur

Learn more about the many uses of cannabis, visit the garden with real cannabis plants or try a vaporizer in the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum. The Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Amsterdam is the oldest and most important museum in the world dedicated to Cannabis sativa L., also known as hemp or

Do you want to discover contemporary photography? Or immerse yourself in the work of iconic photographers from the 20th century? Foam hosts up to four exhibitions at the same time that present a wide range of photography. Foam is located in a manor house along the beautiful canals, where the first

The Ruïne van Brederode is the family castle of the Lords of Brederode who played an important role in the country's history. It was one of the first square castles, built by Willem van Brederode at the request of the Count of Holland, Floris V. The Ruïne van Brederode is the first National Monument

Nationaal Biermuseum De Boom is housed in a 17th century building, in which the brewery De Boom used to be housed. The museum illustrates the history of beer brewing and drinking. The collection includes tools, various devices and machines, beer bottles and beer glasses. In addition, the museum illu

The Moco museum (Modern Contemporary) in Amsterdam wants to make a wide range of modern and contemporary art available to the general public and focuses on the so-called ‘Rock Stars of Art’. Don’t be suprised if you find works of Salvador Dali, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Damien Hir

The Electrische Museumtramlijn Amsterdam commutes with old trams from the Haarlemmermeerstation in Amsterdam to Bovenkerk Station in Amstelveen. There are trips with various trams from the period 1904 - 1954, from various European cities.

The Sea Aquarium is the only place in the Netherlands where you will find fish from all the world's oceans. Our extensive collection includes not only the cold waters of the North Sea, but also the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and all tropical seas. More than 40 aquariums, arranged by temperatu

Amsterdam’s 1st Museum for Photography. Two monumental canal houses to feel at home. Exhibiting the artistic nature of photography, fourteen exhibition spaces, bookshop, library and garden. Huis Marseille, Museum for Photography is housed in a monumental canal house from 1665. It is the first muse

The Pianola Museum is located in the Jordaan. It is one of the smaller museums of Amsterdam. The museum collection consists mainly of player pianos and different other types of pianos that can play automatically. In addition to the instruments, the Pianola museum also owns some 30,000 music rolls th

The Dutch Steam Engine Museum shows, through working examples, the exciting history of the development of the steam engine. Steam engines played a major role in the Industrial Revolution. Most of the engines have since been replaced by other forms of power but fortunately we still have some of those

Museum Tot Zover shows how people dealt with death in the past, and how they deal with it now and in the future. Central topics in the museum are the body, rituals, memento mori and mourning and remembrance. The collection includes death masks, paintings, miniature hearses and urns and caskets. Chil

The Molen van Sloten – Kuiperijmuseum includes an original ‘poldermolen’ and a museum where visitors learn how barrels are made. The Molen van Sloten is a functioning ‘poldermolen’ and is the only mill in Amsterdam that is daily open to the public. It is a ‘stellingmolen’ with a backside that was re

The Weegschaalmuseum is housed in a former weigh house, ‘het Spaanse Huis’ from the 14th century. The museum is dedicated to the history of measuring and weighing. The museum shows the applications of measuring and weighing and shows how measuring tools and weights were calibrated and adjusted in th

🦋 What is Vlindertuin Vlindorado? Vlindertuin Vlindorado is one of the largest indoor butterfly gardens in Europe, located in a spacious greenhouse in Waarland, North Holland. Thanks to the tropical temperature and high humidity, you’ll feel like you're in a colorful rainforest, surrounded by exoti

In War Museum Medemblik you can discover both the civilian side and the military side of World War II. You can visit our museum by freely looking around and reading the stories, but do you really want to experience the storyline as the museum team has set it up? Then we definitely recommend booking

The Reddingmuseum Dorus Rijkers is housed in the engine workshop of the former shipyard of the Navy. The museum is named after the famous Dutch savior Dorus Rijkers (1847-1928). The collection illustrates the story of the history of Dutch sea rescue. It exhibits real life boats, models, paintings an

The NollenProject exhibits works by Van de Wint. After exhibiting in European museums, Reindert Wepko - Ruud – van de Wint moved to the old ‘binnenduintje de Nollen’ in 1980. He focused on paintings, constructions and sculptures with themes related to the dune landscape. Van de Wint is known for his

Discover a mind-bending experience in the heart of Amsterdam at the Museum of Illusions Amsterdam! Step into a world where nothing is quite what it seems. With over 60 astonishing illusions, the Museum of Illusions Amsterdam is a playground for your senses — and your mind! Designed to be both edu

Natuurmuseum E. Heimans focuses on the nature in the area. The museum shows the nature that is present in the Zaans urban environment. The museum has a permanent exhibition ‘Nature in the City’ and a temporary exhibition hall. About three times a year the museum organizes temporary exhibitions on a

The Hollandsche Schouwburg is a war memorial for the Dutch Jews that were murdered in the Second World War. The permanent exhibition on the Holocaust in '40-'45 focusses on the deportation of the Jews. Videos, photos, models and various objects illustrate the discrimination, deportation and extermin

The Max Euwe Centrum illustrates the chess career of Max Euwe (1901-1981). The chess player was world champion in the period 1935-1937. The museum displays photos, objects and documents that illustrate the life and work of Max Euwe. In addition, the museum also covers the history of chess in general

The Huis van Hilde is an archaeology center of the province of North Holland and is named after a skeletal find known as Hilde. The House of HIlde has a permanent exhibition of soil finds from the time of the Neanderthals. Showpieces are the sarcophagi, historic canoes and statues or dolls made base