A Brief History of Amsterdam’s art ecosystem
The beautiful Amsterdam city is home to an array of artistic expressions with a rich history, including the iconic Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, the famous Anne Frank’s House, cultural sites, several beautiful canals, a UNESCO heritage site, and more.
Over the centuries, Amsterdam has evolved into a thriving hub for art enthusiasts and collectors, where the legacy of Amsterdam painting is celebrated alongside modern art innovations. The Museumplein (Museum Square) is a public space that houses popular art museums like the Van Gogh Museum, which opened in 1973 and is dedicated to Van Gogh’s works. It is a national museum with the largest collections of his paintings and drawings, and the Rijksmuseum opened in 1895, another National Museum of Amsterdam dedicated to Dutch arts and history. The Museum is mainly associated with Rembrandt and displays most of his works. It also includes the Contemporary Art Museum in Amsterdam, which is the Stedelijk Museum, which opened in 1885 and comprises modern, contemporary art and design from the early 21st century and 20th century. Some of its permanent collections have the works of Piet Mondrian, Karel Appel, and Kazimir Malevich.
Then comes the famous Rembrandt House Museum, built around 1606, where the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn had his studio and art dealership. The Museum houses a complete collection of Rembrandt’s etchings and some of his original copper plates.
The city’s contemporary art galleries have emerged as pivotal spaces for creative expression in recent decades. One of the museums that promotes modern and contemporary besides Stedelijk Museum is the Moco Museum. One of the highlights of the Moco Museum is the exhibition the Museum has exhibited in recent years, which was on November 19th, 2020 — “THE KID: The Future Is Old.” The Museum premiered the first solo exhibition in the Netherlands of the international contemporary artist THE KID, who questions social determinism and the frontier between innocence and corruption in modern societies.
The dynamic nature of the city’s art scene is also evident in its urban expressions. Amsterdam’s graffiti and street art have transformed public spaces into vibrant canvases. To view street art in Amsterdam, one must not miss out on the STRAART Museum, Amsterdam’s Museum for street art and graffiti. As the celebrated painter Willem de Kooning famously stated, “Whatever an artist’s personal feelings are, as soon as an artist fills a certain area on the canvas or circumscribes it, he becomes historical. He acts from or upon other artists.” This insight emphasises the passion that fuels Amsterdam’s art scene, where every brushstroke and mural tells a story of resilience and creativity.
Must visit museums for art lovers in Amsterdam
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Van Gogh Museum
Address: Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Admission: €24
The Van Gogh Museum houses the world's largest collection of works by the iconic Amsterdam painting master Vincent van Gogh. The permanent collection includes Van Gogh's over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and more than 750 letters, including the oil paintings "Wheat Field with a Lark" (1887), "The Yellow House" (1888), and "Almond Blossom" (1890).
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Rijksmuseum
Address: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Admission: €25
Rijksmuseum has an extensive collection of 1 million objects, including arts, crafts, and history from 1200 to 2000. Currently, 8,000 objects are on display. The Museum contains more than 2000 paintings featuring iconic works by legends like Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer, including "The Night Watch (1642)” by Rembrandt and “The Meagre Company (1633–37)” by Frans Hals and Pieter Codde.
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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Address: Museumplein 10, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Admission Fees: €22.50 for adults
The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is a museum for modern and contemporary art and design. Its collection holds almost 90,000 objects collected since 1874. Its key collections are Van Gogh's and Post-Impressionist Paul Cézanne’s artworks. It includes Van Gogh’s “La Berceuse (1889)” and “Bouteilles et pêches”.
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Rembrandt House Museum
Address: Jodenbreestraat 4, 1011 NK Amsterdam, Netherlands
Admission Fees: €21.50
The iconic 17th-century Rembrandt House Museum houses an extensive collection of artworks, including paintings, drawings, and Rembrandt van Rijn's etchings, including his "The Ruins of the Old Town Hall of Amsterdam," "Woman with a Child in her Arms," and more.
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Amsterdam Art Adventure: A 2-Day Binge for Art Lovers (and Secret Deal Hunters!)
Discover Amsterdam's artistic heartbeat with our exclusive 2-day art adventure for art lovers and secret deal hunters. Immerse yourself in contemporary art exhibitions, explore Amsterdam's modern art galleries, and experience iconic artwork at popular museums like the Van Gogh Museum and Rembrandt Museums. Embark on a journey of creative discovery.
Day 1: Immersing in Amsterdam's Artistic Heritage
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Morning
Begin your art adventure with a visit to the iconic Van Gogh Museum at Museumplein. Arriving at this world-renowned venue, you’ll be immersed in the revolutionary legacy of Amsterdam painting. Observe Van Gogh’s iconic masterpieces such as Sunflowers, The Potato Eaters, Almond Blossom, and The Bedroom. The Museum consists of two buildings: the Rietveld Building, which has the permanent collections, the Kurokawa Wing, and the new entrance hall, which connects both buildings. Explore the first floor of the building, which showcases Van Gogh’s works grouped chronologically. Then head to the second floor, which gives information about the restoration of paintings and has a space for minor temporary exhibitions.
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Afternoon
Then head to the third floor of the Rietveld building in the Van Gogh Museum, which shows paintings of Van Gogh’s contemporaries in relationship to the work of Van Gogh himself. There is also a shop and a cafe on the ground floor of the Rietveld Building, where you can take a delightful selection of light refreshments. Then, after a small refreshment break, head to the Kurokawa Wing, which is used for major temporary exhibitions, and find his paintings, drawings, and letters. Alongside viewing Van Gogh’s work, do not miss out on viewing the paintings by John Russell, Émile Bernard, Maurice Denis, and more on your way to exit.
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Mid-Afternoon
Next, make your way to the Rijksmuseum, one of Amsterdam’s popular art museums, which tells the story of 800 years of Dutch history, in addition to hosting several exhibitions every year. It consists of two squares with an atrium in each centre. On the central axis is a tunnel with entrances at the ground level and the Gallery of Honour on the first floor. The building also has a library, a fragmented building, a branded Philips wing, and a small Asian collection, which is on display in the Asian pavilion. Admire the highlights of the Museum, including “The Jewish Bride (c. 1667), “Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem (1630)” by Rembrandt, and Portrait of a Young Couple (1622) by Frans Hals, and more.
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Evening
As evening approaches, visit one of the city’s renowned contemporary art galleries, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Explore its modern and contemporary artworks and designs from the early 20th and 21st centuries. The Gallery features the works of famous artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Henri Matisse, and Jackson Pollock, as well as the Drawings by Kazimir Malevich, which were added in 2001. Wrap up your day with a dinner at a canal-side restaurant, where the reflective waters complement Amsterdam’s creative vibe.
Day 2: Contemporary Explorations and Urban Delights
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Morning
Start your day 2 at Rembrandt House Museum, where Rembrandt lived and worked in the former 17th-century house from 1639 to 1658 in this 17th-century, which today is a museum that pays tribute to the artist’s life and career. The Museum showcases Rembrandt’s living and working quarters, including his living room, art room, and the studio where he created his masterpieces. Find Rembrandt’s iconic works housed in the Museum, including his etchings “Abraham caressing Isaac (1637)”, “Abraham and Isaac 1645”, “Joseph’s Coat Brought to Jacob 1633,” and more.
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Afternoon
Stroll around the city’s urban core. Explore neighborhoods celebrated for Amsterdam graffiti art and street art Amsterdam. Explore areas like the NDSM Wharf, a real hotspot for street art. Then, head to the STRAAT Museum, a street and graffiti art museum in NDSM established in 2020. The Museum houses over 180 works from over 170 artists, most of which are new artworks created onsite. The collections include the artworks by artist Eduardo Kobra, Cornbread, SJK 171, Buff Monster, and more.
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Mid-Afternoon
Wander through the lively Jordaan district, a beautiful neighborhood in Amsterdam’s Greenwich Village, with narrow alleys and leafy canals lined with 17th-century houses, shops, cafes, and charming boutiques. Pop-up art exhibitions and local studios display innovative pieces that capture the city’s creative spirit. You will find contemporary art galleries in Jordaan, such as the KochxBos Gallery Amsterdam (& Studio), with works by artists like Claire Partington, Dadara, and Sarah Maple. Do consider exploring Noordermarkt, which has a historical background and a long history of 400 years. Find a wide range of crockery, jewellery design, vintage clothing, paintings and graphics, and bags made of recycled canvas.
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Evening
Head to the famous Anne Frank’s House, close to the KochxBos Gallery. Its hiding place is the Secret Annex, with the other buildings expanding the permanent exhibition on Anne Frank’s life and times. The Museum also has an exhibition space that showcases all forms of persecution and discrimination. Wrap up your day by enjoying dinner at restaurants like the Sefa Grill Restaurant, Smidtje Canal Cafe Dialoog, and De Reiger.
Tips To Improve Your Experience
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Bonus Tip
Always watch local art events and pop-up exhibitions; they often offer exclusive insights into emerging talent and hidden gems around every corner. Consider enhancing your experience by joining guided tours or art walks to learn behind-the-scenes access to private collections and intimate conversations with curators.
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Pro-Tip
Pro Tip for budget-conscious travellers: The city is absolutely walkable. Also try utilising the city’s buses and trams to make your travelling more convenient and accessible between your destinations. Additionally, you can easily reach NDSM by free ferry. The ferry leaves from behind Central Station and takes you to the former ship wharf within 15 minutes.
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Secret Weapon
Several popular galleries and museums, like the Stedelijk Museum and Rijksmuseum, offer free audio guides, allowing you to explore detailed commentary on exhibits at your own pace. The Van Gogh Museum offers a discounted admission price for students who present their international student card or proof of enrollment.
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Expand Your Artistic Horizons
Leverage digital platforms to continue your exploration beyond the city limits. Elisium Art is an online art gallery that brings contemporary, museum-quality paintings from emerging artists worldwide directly to you. Its carefully curated selection allows you to acquire original fine art with a personalised experience, expanding your collection far beyond local boundaries, even beyond Amsterdam’s artistic scene.
