It’s no surprise that a city steeped in as much history as Amsterdam overflows with museums. Still, the sheer amount of galleries and institutions in the Dutch capital can make it tough for visitors to work out how best to use their time. But don’t worry, we’re here to help.
There are two unmissable museums when you visit Amsterdam: the Van Gogh and Anne Frank House. These are unique and unforgettable institutions that you simply won’t be able to experience anywhere else in the world, and are a key part of the Amsterdam experience. Be warned though, make sure to book far in advance. Tickets sell out quickly, especially for the Anne Frank House.
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What museums in Amsterdam are free?
The short answer to this is: not a lot of them – especially if you’re thinking of the big names. Amsterdam’s ‘big three’ come with a hefty price, and most of the others you’ll see on this list have at least a small entry fee. You do, however, have options: tour Amsterdam’s street murals, see a sculpture exhibition at Rijksmuseum Gardens, check out some of the city’s independent art galleries – and go to the Cheese Museum, which is free to visit (even if you end up buying a load of cheese afterwards). Oh, and if you’re here on the first Sunday of the month, you might just be in luck for another one of them. More on that below.
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Callum Booth is a writer based in Amsterdam. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.
