Amsterdam is one of the most popular European city destinations in the world. One of Amsterdam's most famous tourist attractions is its museums where one can see modern art, art exhibitions, Dutch art and archeological collections. Travellers from the world over gather in Amsterdam to enjoy its museums and nowhere else in the world can offer the unique experience to be had in Amsterdam -- below we look at just a few of the many available museum attractions.
The Rijksmuseum is the largest and most popular museum in Amsterdam and hosts a wide variety of collections. Currently it is undergoing renovation until 2008 although some of the most important collections are still available for viewing in the Philips Wing where one can see many hundred masterpieces from Amsterdam's Golden Age as a world trading outpost. These include works from Vermeer, Hals and Rembrandt.
The Stedelijk Museum specializes in modern art. Having previously exhibited works from Van Gogh, this museum is over one hundred years old and attracts travelling exhibitions of contempory art from all over the world. Works by Picasso, Cezanne and Renoir can be found here. Until 2008, the Stedelijk Museum has relocated to a temporary location in the former Post Office building
The Van Gogh Museum contains the largest collection of Vincent van Gogh paintings in the world. It is a very popular museum of Amsterdam as demonstrated by the hoards of tourists you will see all over the city sporting a prism shaped box containing prints they have purchased from the museum! The museum itself contains over two hundred paintings by Van Gogh, as well as collections by other 19th century artists. Van Gogh is probably Holland's most famous artist and rightly so -- nowhere else in the world can you view his self portraits and famous works such as "Sunflowers".
The Dutch Resistance Museum (also known as Verzetsmuseum) depicts life during the Second World War in Amsterdam when, under occupation by the Germans, locals rallied against their occupiers by plotting against them. A much more emotive and thought provoking museum than those listed above, the Dutch Resistance Museum consists of personal accounts and artefacts, leaving the visitor with lingering thoughts of what they would have done in wartime Amsterdam.
Amsterdam can be considered the museum capital of the world for both the number and sheer variety of collections that can be found in one city. Many can be seen in one day travelling on foot, and even the remote and specialized museums are easily accessible by tram. Nowhere else in the world can boast the museum experience that Amsterdam can.
Christopher Buckley is a regular traveller to Amsterdam and owner of Amsterdam Review where you can find information on Amsterdam museums, hotel bookings and reviews of things to do and see in Amsterdam.