Rainy Day Amsterdam
Indoor places for a wet day
Amsterdam has a museum for most interests, from the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk on Museumplein to small house museums on the canals. Opening hours and prices come from each museum's own page, so check the place page before you go.
82 places
All year When
The places
Museum · Museumkwartier Rijksmuseum The national museum of the Netherlands, on Museumplein. It shows more than 8,000 works of Dutch art and history, including pieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Van Gogh.
Museum · Museumkwartier Van Gogh Museum A museum on Museumplein about the life and work of Vincent van Gogh, with paintings such as Sunflowers, Almond Blossom and The Bedroom.
Museum · Museumkwartier Stedelijk Museum The city's museum of modern and contemporary art and design, on Museumplein, open 365 days a year.
Museum · Canal Ring Anne Frank House The canal house on Prinsengracht that is now a museum about Anne Frank. It has a cafe and a museum shop that keeps the museum's hours.
Museum · Oude Zijde Rembrandt House Museum The house on Jodenbreestraat where Rembrandt lived and worked, now a museum.
Museum · Nieuwe Zijde Amsterdam Museum A network museum on Kalverstraat that works with the city through exhibitions, public programmes, events and city-wide collaborations.
Museum · Westerpark and Haarlemmerbuurt Museum Het Schip A museum in the Het Schip housing block on Oostzaanstraat, in the Spaarndammerbuurt.
Museum · Plantage Hermitage Amsterdam A museum on the Amstel that shows changing exhibitions, with a cafe.
Museum · Plantage Jewish Museum The Jewish Museum in the Jewish Cultural Quarter, a group of sites around Nieuwe Amstelstraat and Plantage Middenlaan.
Museum · Plantage Dutch Resistance Museum A museum on Plantage Kerklaan that tells the true stories of people in the Second World War and the choices they faced.
Museum · Plantage Hollandsche Schouwburg A former theatre that was used as a deportation centre in the Second World War and is now a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.
Museum · Eastern Docklands NEMO Science Museum The largest science centre in the Netherlands, on Oosterdok, with interactive exhibitions, experiments and workshops for all ages.
Museum · Eastern Docklands Het Scheepvaartmuseum The National Maritime Museum, which shows 500 years of Dutch maritime history in one of the world's best-known maritime collections.
Museum · Noord EYE Filmmuseum A white museum building on the north bank of the IJ, opposite Amsterdam Central Station, with film exhibitions and a cinema.
Museum · Canal Ring Museum Van Loon The canal house of the Van Loon regent family on Keizersgracht, with a garden, period rooms and a collection.
Museum · Oude Zijde Our Lord in the Attic A museum on Oudezijds Voorburgwal with a church hidden in the attic of a canal house.
Museum · Jordaan Houseboat Museum A museum on a houseboat on Prinsengracht that shows what living on the canals is like.
Museum · Jordaan Electric Ladyland A small museum in the Jordaan with a fluorescent, participatory environment.
Museum · Canal Ring Museum of the Canals A 17th-century canal house on Herengracht with period rooms and a multimedia tour about the history of Amsterdam and its canals.
Museum · Oost Wereldmuseum Amsterdam The museum, previously called the Tropenmuseum, about world cultures, in one of the city's most striking museum buildings.
Museum · Plantage Micropia An interactive science museum where the invisible world of microbes becomes visible. It belongs to the Artis zoo.
Museum · Oude Zijde Allard Pierson The museum and heritage collections of the University of Amsterdam, with a cafe and shop.
Museum · De Pijp Heineken Experience A visit to the original Heineken brewery on Stadhouderskade, with a tour and tastings.
Museum · Canal Ring Huis Marseille Amsterdam's first museum for photography, in two historic canal houses on Keizersgracht, showing modern and contemporary art photography.
Museum · Canal Ring Kattenkabinet A museum of cat art in a canal house on Herengracht.
Museum · Jordaan Amsterdam Tulip Museum A museum on Prinsengracht about the tulip, from the Semper Augustus to Tulip Mania and the black tulip.
Museum · Noord STRAAT Museum A museum for street art and graffiti in a former NDSM shipyard hall of 8,000 square metres.
Museum · Nieuwe Zijde Madame Tussauds Amsterdam A wax museum on Dam Square.
Museum · Amstelveen Cobra Museum The museum of modern art in Amstelveen, focused on the art and ideas of the Cobra movement.
Church · Nieuwe Zijde De Nieuwe Kerk A church on Dam Square next to the Royal Palace, used for exhibitions and events.
Church · Oude Zijde Oude Kerk A church on Oudekerksplein in the Oude Zijde.
Landmark · Nieuwe Zijde Royal Palace Amsterdam The official reception palace of King Willem-Alexander, on Dam Square.
Landmark · Canal Ring Tuschinski Theatre A cinema on Reguliersbreestraat run by Pathé.
Landmark · Nieuwe Zijde Beurs van Berlage A building on Damrak used as a venue for events and conferences.
Landmark · Museumkwartier Concertgebouw A concert hall on Concertgebouwplein with world-famous acoustics and about 700 concerts a year.
Landmark · Canal Ring Stadsschouwburg The municipal theatre on Leidseplein.
Market · Oud-West Foodhallen A food hall in the Hallen building on Bellamyplein, with stands for street food.
Landmark · Nieuwe Zijde Magna Plaza A shopping centre in the old post office building on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.
Shopping · Nieuwe Zijde The American Book Center An independent, family-owned bookshop on Spui, with stores in Amsterdam, The Hague and Leidschendam.
Shopping · Canal Ring Boekie Woekie An artists' bookstore on Berenstraat.
Shopping · Canal Ring The Frozen Fountain A design shop on Prinsengracht.
Day trip · Haarlem Frans Hals Museum A museum in Haarlem that shows pre-modern, modern and contemporary art.
Day trip · Haarlem Teylers Museum A museum on the Spaarne in Haarlem.
Day trip · Haarlem Corrie ten Boom House The house in Haarlem where the Ten Boom family lived, now a museum about the family and its commitment to the Jewish people.
Day trip · Utrecht Centraal Museum Utrecht The oldest municipal museum in the Netherlands, with fine art, fashion, design, history and the work of Dick Bruna.
Day trip · Utrecht Spoorwegmuseum The Railway Museum in Utrecht, with a real station, a theatre and attractions.
Day trip · Utrecht Rietveld Schröderhuis The house Gerrit Rietveld designed in the De Stijl style, in Utrecht.
Day trip · Utrecht Museum Speelklok A music museum in Utrecht with musical machines from barrel organs to music boxes.
Day trip · Utrecht Museum Catharijneconvent A museum in Utrecht.
Day trip · Utrecht Nijntje Museum A museum for toddlers and young children, in Utrecht. Booking online is required.
Day trip · Zaanse Schans Zaans Museum A museum at Schansend 7 on the Zaanse Schans.
Day trip · Delft Royal Delft A Delftware maker in Delft, producing handmade pottery since 1653.
Day trip · Delft Nieuwe Kerk Delft One of the churches that shape the skyline of Delft. It is open for services on Sundays and for visits on other days.
Day trip · Delft Vermeer Centrum Delft A centre about the 17th-century painter Johannes Vermeer, at Voldersgracht 21 in Delft.
Day trip · Leiden Naturalis The Naturalis Biodiversity Center, a natural history museum in Leiden.
Day trip · Leiden Museum De Lakenhal The museum of art and history of Leiden.
Day trip · The Hague Escher in The Palace A museum on Lange Voorhout in The Hague with more than 120 prints by M.C. Escher and a changing selection.
Day trip · The Hague Panorama Mesdag A museum in The Hague on Zeestraat.
Day trip · The Hague Kunstmuseum Den Haag A museum of art in The Hague, in a building with daylit galleries.
Day trip · The Hague Mesdag Collectie A museum in The Hague with the 19th-century art collected by the artists Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Sientje Mesdag-van Houten.
Day trip · The Hague Gevangenpoort A museum in The Hague.
Day trip · Alkmaar Dutch Cheese Museum Alkmaar A museum about Dutch cheese on Waagplein in Alkmaar.
Day trip · Rotterdam Markthal Rotterdam An indoor market hall in Rotterdam with food stalls and restaurants.
Day trip · Rotterdam Kunsthal Rotterdam An exhibition hall in Rotterdam's Museumpark with contrasting and much-discussed exhibitions.
Day trip · Rotterdam Maritiem Museum Rotterdam A maritime museum on Leuvehaven in Rotterdam.
Day trip · Rotterdam Het Nieuwe Instituut An institute in Rotterdam that shows the work of designers.
Day trip · Muiden Muiderslot A medieval castle in Muiden with a museum and castle gardens.
Day trip · Edam Edams Museum A museum in Edam on Damplein.
Day trip · Gouda Museum Gouda A museum in Gouda at Oosthaven 9.
Church · Oude Zijde Zuiderkerk Dutch Renaissance church built between 1603 and 1611 on Zuiderkerkhof, near Nieuwmarkt. It is now used mainly as an event venue.
Church · Jordaan Noorderkerk Protestant church on the Noordermarkt in the Jordaan, part of the Protestantse Kerk Amsterdam. It holds services on Sundays at 10:00 and 18:30.
Church · Oude Zijde Portuguese Synagogue Home of the Portuguese Israelite congregation, the oldest Jewish congregation in the Netherlands, founded in 1639 by Jews who fled Spain and Portugal. It stands on Mr. Visserplein near Waterlooplein.
Church · Canal Ring Krijtberg Roman Catholic church (Sint-Franciscus Xaveriuskerk) on the Singel, entrusted to the Jesuits since 1620. It belongs to the parish of St. Nicholas.
Church · Oude Zijde Mozes en Aäronkerk Monumental church on Waterlooplein and home base of the Sant'Egidio community. Visitors can come in to rest or light a candle.
Church · Westerpark and Haarlemmerbuurt Posthoornkerk Neo-Gothic church completed in 1860 on Haarlemmerstraat, the first Amsterdam building by architect Pierre Cuypers. Stadsherstel Amsterdam restored it and rents it out as an event venue.
Church · Oude Zijde Waalse Kerk Church on Walenpleintje that has been in use since 1586. It holds French-language services and concerts, and is known for its organ.
Church · Plantage Oosterkerk 17th-century church monument managed by Stadsherstel, used as a venue for concerts, theatre and neighbourhood events.
Church · Nieuwe Zijde English Reformed Church International church in the Begijnhof courtyard that holds its Sunday service in English at 10:30.
Church · Oude Zijde Basilica of Saint Nicholas Catholic basilica opposite Central Station on Prins Hendrikkade, the main church of the St. Nicholas parish.
Shopping · Oude Zijde Het Fort van Sjakoo Bookshop on Jodenbreestraat specialised in libertarian and radical ideas, with titles on anarchism, feminism, migration and social history. It also hosts book presentations.
Shopping · Oude Zijde droog Design space on Staalstraat that describes itself as an art gallery, restaurant, theatre and event space, with a shop and a design archive.
Landmark · Westerpark and Haarlemmerbuurt Westergas Cultural park at Polonceaukade 9 with venues such as the Gashouder, Het Ketelhuis and the Villa, hosting theatre, music, film and exhibitions.