Top 100 best museums in the Netherlands

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 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 Mauritshuis is home to the Best of Dutch painting from the Golden Age. The compact, yet world-renowned collection, is situated in the heart of The Hague, right next to the government centre. Masterpieces such as Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Remb

The H'ART Museum is an art museum situated on the banks of the Amstel river in Amsterdam. This location offers a picturesque setting for the museum, enhancing the overall experience for visitors. The museum's location is easily accessible, making it a convenient destination for tourists.

Museum Panorama Mesdag is an icon of The Hague, with the Panorama of Scheveningen being the absolute highlight. Step into the largest painting of The Netherlands, be inspired by the impressive collection of works by Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Sientje Mesdag - van Houten. Visit surprising exhibitions

The Kröller-Müller Museum is a place where things of beauty come together. The unique combination of art, nature and architecture guarantees visitors a truly unforgettable experience. The museum has the finest Van Gogh collection in the world. Furthermore, you will also find masterpieces such as Cla

Kunstmuseum Den Haag (formerly known as Gemeentemuseum Den Haag) is a museum with a diverse collections of modern art, applied art, musical instruments and fashion. It owns the largest collection of works by Piet Mondrian and is the centre of the Hague School, owning works by Israel, Jongkind, Maris

History can be viewed from many angles. This versatility is reflected in the Dutch Open Air Museum. Here you will find buildings, objects, and stories that are up to two hundred years old. You reflect on the major events in our history as well as the 'small' moments of daily life. You immerse yourse

A visit to Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is a journey through the history of art. Dutch and European masterpieces provide a comprehensive survey of art from the early Middle Ages to the 21st century, from Bosch, Rembrandt and Van Gogh to Dalí and Dutch Design.

The Railway Museum is housed in the ‘Maliebaanstation’ from 1874. The museum is a museum park where the story of almost 175 years of railways in the Netherlands is told. The museum collection includes steam and diesel locomotives, electric locomotives, carriages and trams. The museum is divided into

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

Museum MORE is located in the former town hall in Gorssel. It is the largest museum for contemporary Dutch realism. Works by leading contemporary Dutch realistic artists of the past 100 years are displayed in the museum. From Jan Mankes to Pyke Koch and Carel Willink to Charley Toorop. Their body of

Sealcenter Pieterburen, located in the quaint village of Pieterburen in the Netherlands, is a rescue center dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of seals. The center was formerly known as Seal Nursery Pieterburen, reflecting its initial focus on caring for young orphaned seals. Today, the center provides care for sick and weakened seals of all ages, with the aim of releasing them back into the wild once they have recovered.

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

The Apenheul Primate Park is a zoo where visitors walk among monkeys. Among other animals, it features squirrel monkeys, apes, gorillas and orangutans.

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

Experience the magic of music machines in Museum Speelklok! Here, mechanical musical instruments from the past and present come to life. From the largest barrel organs and royal clocks to the smallest music boxes, you will discover a world full of music and technology. During the Musical Tour, you c

De Haar Castle is the largest and most luxurious castle in the Netherlands. The castle illustrates the world of luxury in which the baron family lives. The museum consists of the castle, a collection of art objects and the surrounding park and the associated property. Both the guest houses and serva

The Afsluitdijk Wadden Center is an exhibition center situated on the Afsluitdijk in Kornwerderzand, in the Dutch province of Friesland. This location offers a unique opportunity for visitors to learn about the history and future of the Afsluitdijk, the Wadden Sea, the IJsselmeer, and the Fish Migration River.

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

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. Besi

With its scientific orientation and collecting history, Wereldmuseum Leiden focuses on global cultural histories. The themes you see here include religion or indigenous worlds and their struggle for independence and restoration of historical injustice. The exhibitions encourage us to reflect on what

The Memorial centre Westerbork transit camp is dedicated to the history of 'Polizeiliches Durchgangslager Westerbork'. The museum commemorates the lives of a hundred thousand Dutch Jews. There are several objects on display and the original walls of the barracks and various films are shown. Old road

Stedelijk Molenmuseum De Valk is housed in De Valk, a mill from 1743. The museum features the only preserved mill house in the Netherlands, from 1900. In the sleeping loft and the storage loft, the history and technology of mills and wheat grinding is illustrated. In the attic the visitor can see th

Naturalis owns a large natural history collection of 37 million objects. The collection is partially exhibited in the museum and includes animals, plants, fossils and stones from around the world. All aspects of nature are covered in Naturalis. The visitor travels from the first life on Earth to the

The DAF Museum is housed in an old brewery from 1884. The museum illustrates the history of Van Doorne's Automobile Factory (DAF). The permanent exhibition consists mainly of DAF vehicles including prototypes and produced sports cars. Furthermore, the museum houses a large collection of trucks. That

The Royal Eise Eisinga Planetarium, located in Franeker, Friesland, Netherlands, is an 18th-century orrery that is currently functioning as a museum. This historical site is open to the public, allowing visitors to explore and learn about the wonders of the universe through this ancient astronomical instrument.

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

The Kijk-kubus is the fully decorated museum house of the ‘Blaakse Bos’. The Kijk-Kubus is part of the cube houses that were built and designed by architect Piet Blom in the period 1982 – 1984. The interior illustrates how people live in these cube houses. Exhibition of models, photographs and multi

The Drents Museum is housed in an old building from 1885. The museum originally opened in 1854 and is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. A large collection on the prehistory of Drenthe is on display. In addition, the museum displays bog bodies such as the ‘Yde girl’ and owns a collection

Take a journey through the world of aviation. Discover the fascinating story of Dutch civil aviation with more than 100 unique aircraft. Step aboard the Constellation, discover the story from the historical Fokker Spin, feel how it is to fly a plane in one of the simulators and explore the enormous

The Rietveld Schröder House is designed by Gerrit Rietveld in 1924. The house is completely designed according to the ideas of the De Stijl art movement and is since 2000 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visitors can see how pliable and multifunctional in particular the central "living room" is on

At Museum Batavialand, you uncover hidden stories through three unique experiences: Step aboard the reconstructed VOC ship Batavia, discover traditional crafts at the shipyard, and dive into the history of Flevoland in our exhibition spaces. All included with just one ticket! Parking is easy right

The Groninger Museum is housed in a building that is considered one of the highlights of postmodernism. The museum has four diverse collections with the following themes: history of Groningen, applied art, contemporary art and old art. The collection includes works by Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Jozef

Vermeer Centrum Delft is dedicated to the life of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675). The museum covers his work and his relationship to Delft. The permanent exhibition illustrates how Johannes Vermeer worked in his studio. In addition, the stories are told of the 37 paintings that the V

Discover the wonders of the human body: your body, at CORPUS! See, feel, and hear how your body works in a spectacular, nerve-wracking journey. Follow the acrobatics of a red blood cell in the 5D heart theater and learn all about the intestines, kidneys, and the command center of the human body: the

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

As a major port city, Rotterdam played an important role in the infrastructure of imperial and global movements of people, objects, and ideas. This identity is reflected at the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam through exhibitions and programming about the many people, histories, and cultures that shape and cr

In the Maritime Museum Rotterdam, you can discover the enormous effect that the maritime world has on our daily lives. Travel through the maritime past and present in modern exhibitions for adventurers large and small. Listen to stories and admire prize exhibits from our leading collection. The muse

The Philips museum provides a fascinating picture of the way in which Philips evolved from a small incandescent lamp manufacturer into a large and prestigious international group of companies. From the company’s origins in 1891 to the innovations of tomorrow.

Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum used to be one of the ‘buitenplaatsen’ in Cralingen. Now there are gardens with fountains, herbaceous borders, a desert greenhouse and an aviary. There are thousands of perennials and bulbs, and hundreds of trees and shrubs. The old part of the garden has an English la

Kunsthal Rotterdam is housed in a modern building designed by Rem Koolhaas. It is an exhibition site of 3300 square metres. Kunstal Rotterdam does not have its own collection. For this reason, it organizes various exhibitions on art and culture. There are often several exhibitions simultaneously, al

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 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

Ouwehands Dierenpark Rhenen is a zoo with various attractions. It includes the Gorilla Adventure which is separated by an eleven meter gap. In an eighty meters tunnel, visitors get acquainted with the sounds of the jungle. It also features ‘RavotAapia’, Europe's largest indoor play jungle and a sea

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.

Museum de Fundatie, Paleis aan de Blijmark is a museum of visual arts. The collection consists of old, modern and contemporary art, applied art and ethnographic objects. Part of the collection consists of modern and contemporary art that was made in the province of Overijssel. Important in the museu

The Dordrecht Museum is housed in the former insane asylum. The museum, founded in 1842, is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. It owns a diverse collection of old, modern and contemporary art. It covers more than four hundred years of Dutch painting: works from the 16th century to contemp

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

Rijksmuseum de Gevangenpoort is a medieval prison in the city of The Hague. It consists of a courthouse, a cell block and a house for the jailer. The museum illustrates the story of crime and punishment throug the ages. It shows how prisoners were brought to trial, punished and imprisoned. The colle

Museum Prinsenhof Delft is one of the Top 100 UNESCO monuments in the Netherlands. The museum illustrates the story of William of Orange and his role in the formation of the Dutch Republic. It is situated at the place where he was killed. The museum exhibits paintings, historical artefacts, prints a

Museum De Lakenhal is the municipality museum of Leiden, that is housed in Leiden’s old cloth hall from 1640. It is the museum of arts, crafts and history of Leiden. The museum covers the history of Leiden from Leiden’s relief in 1574. Important in the museum are works by old masters such as Rembran

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 Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven is one of the first public museums for contemporary art to be established in Europe. The museum’s collection of over 3.600 works of art includes key works and archives by Joseph Beuys, Marc Chagall, René Daniëls, Marlene Dumas, Sheela Gowda, patricia kaersenhout, Güls

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

Warmuseum Arnhem is dedicated to the Second World War. It illustrates the events of the Second World War in the area of Arnhem. The museum features authentic objects from the period 1940 to 1945. The collection of the museum includes various vehicles, weapons, uniforms, ammunition, fake IDs and rati

Museum Beelden aan Zee focuses exclusively on contemporary sculpture.The first sculpture in the collection was purchased by the founders Theo and Lida Scholten, in 1966. The museum was founded in 1994 and now holds nearly one thousand sculptures and several hundreds of medals. This is the only Dutch

Vesting Bourtange is a historic fortified village that takes visitors back to the year 1742. Besides the fortified village itself, there are also various activities.From lively markets to realistically re-enacted battles.

The Jheronimus Bosch Art Center is dedicated to the southern Dutch painter Jheronimus Bosch, who lived and worked in Den Bosch between 1450 and 1516. The museum shows mostly replicas of his artworks.

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

The 18th-century city palace of Maria Louise van Hessen-Kassel, Princess of Orange Nassau, ancestor to King Willem-Alexander, is located at the heart of Leeuwarden’s historic city centre. This building houses the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics. In 1898 Maurits Cornelis Escher, affectionate

The Louwman Museum features the world's oldest private collection of automobiles, including historic cars, motorcycles and carriages. The internationally oriented collection is collected by two generations of the Louwman family and includes approximately 250 classic automobiles. Each car tells its o

The Watersnood Museum is housed in four caissons used for closing the last gap in the dike. The museum illustrates the flood of February 1, 1953, and what happened afterwards. More than 1,800 people drowned during the flood. The concrete boats are sixty feet long, twenty feet wide and twenty feet hi

The Miffy Museum is the perfect museum for toddlers and preschoolers. A visit to the museum is an unforgettable journey of active discovery: sight, smell, exploration, discovery, activities and playing together. Toddlers and pre-schoolers can discover their world with Miffy and her friends. As soon

The Herzogenbusch concentration camp was the only SS concentration camp outside Germany and the German annexed territories. Between early 1943 and late 1944, more than 31,000 people were detained here. The museum consists of an indoor and an outdoor area. Outside, an architectural model illustrates

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

In Burgers' Zoo, visitors travel around the world. The animals live in 'eco-displays’ that simulate the natural habitat of the animals. Burgers' Zoo has the world's largest indoor rainforest in which thousands of mammals, reptiles, birds and fish life. It also features ‘Burgers’ Desert’ with camels,

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

The Loo Palace was a royal palace for three centuries. The museum shows how the successive royal families lived in the palace. The collection consists of some 160,000 objects, including paintings, sculptures, applied art, furniture, costumes, carriages and books. In a multimedia presentation, the st

The National Military Museum is located on the site of the former air base Soesterberg. The museum presents a broad thematic story on Dutch defense. It shows the meaning of the Dutch armed forces in the past, present and future. The National Military Museum especially focusses on the Dutch army and

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

Escher in The Palace is housed in ‘Paleis Lange Voorhout’, the former winter palace of Queen Emma. The museum is dedicated to the 20th century art of MC Escher. The museum features some 130 works by the Dutch graphic artist. Imporant in the museum is Metamorphosis III, a seven meter long woodcut. Th

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

Mondo Verde in Landgraaf is a 25-acre, theme and amusement park. The emphasis in the park is on international gardens with their associated culture, but it also features animals. Exhibits include Chinese gardens, vegetation from Morocco or northern Russia and a desert. In the park, visitors discover

Zoo Parc Overloon is home to several well-known and rare animal species. Among them are cheetahs, Alaotrabamboemakis, African wild dogs, Vietnamese sika deer, white-wang gibbons, bear martens, meerkats, raccoons and Bennett wallabies. There is also a botanical garden, a butterfly valley and the Pand

The Jenever Museum is housed in a former wine and malt distillery. The museum covers everything about Jenever. The collection includes packaging, glassware and advertising. It illustrates the story of the history and background of Jenever. There is also a tasting room in the museum and a historic di

Dierenrijk is a zoo especially aimed at children.Children experience what it is like to climb like a ibex, to sit on a stick like a chicken or to walk like a stork. Dierenrijk also organizes regular themed events and live performances and daily feeding presentations take place.

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

Steenkolenmijn Valkenburg illustrates the world of mining. In an underground, in mining style decorated film room, a promotional film is shown of the State Mines (DSM) from the sixties. The film gives an overview of the mining industry. Ex-miners show the world of coal mining, while visitors walk al

DOMunder uncovers the rich history of one of Utrecht's most significant locations: the Dom Square. Guided by an expert and equipped with your own smart flashlight, you will explore the place where the city of Utrecht was born. Go underground and discover archaeological remains and exciting stories.

Heeswijk Castle is a former water fortress from the 11th century. The museum illustrates the housing condition in the middle of the 19th century. The visitor is guided through the castle by a guide that tells the story of the extraordinary life in the castle. Among others, the tour goes through the

Hoensbroek Castle is one of the largest castles in the Netherlands. The oldest part of the castle dates back to 1250. There are more than forty authentically furnished rooms in the museum. The rooms are decorated in the style of different periods, from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. The collec

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 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.

At Avifauna Bird Park, visitors are introduced to hundreds of different birds, including the American bald eagle, the giant toucan, the blue-yellow macaw and the white-necked sapphire, the smallest species of bird seen in European zoos. Flamingos live in the Cuban brackish water swamp, and in the Ph

Space Expo is located on the site of the European Space Research and Technology Centre. It is the official visitor centre of the ESTEC. There is a permanent space exhibition on to the history and applications of the technology related to space travel. In weekends and during holidays, the visitor can

Hortus Botanicus Leiden, of the Leiden University is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands, from 1590. The first plants were planted in 1594. Four centuries of collecting has resulted in a garden with a variety of exotic unknown plants. The Hortus features an Orangery from 1744, tropical gr

The Botanische Tuinen Utrecht are built on and around Fort Hoofddijk from the 19th century and covers an area of seven hectares. There are six different gardens. The rock garden features various herb plants. The theme garden features plants to smell and feel. The animal garden is made for small anim

Airborne Museum Hartenstein is housed in the former headquarters of the British forces that was used during the Battle of Arnhem in 1944. The museum is dedicated to this battle. The collection includes weapons, equipment, videos and pictures that illustrate the battle. In addition to the regular col

The Hunebedcentrum is dedicated to dolmens and Funnel beakers, the builders of the dolmens. The tombs were built some five thousand years ago. 52 of the 54 dolmens in the Netherlands are found in the province of Drenthe. The museum shows how Funnel beakers lived five milleniums ago. Visitors can als

The Municipal Cave was created in the past when the Romans needed the marl from the soil as a building material. Fossils and shell layers show the natural conditions of the past. The Municipal Cave also provides an overview of various artistic expressions and living conditions of different generatio

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