Museum hopping throughout the country: these are nice museums in the Netherlands
Some people love to wander around for hours, others are already overstimulated after two rooms: of course we are talking about museums. We often suffer from option two, unless the museums manage to keep us interested. The Netherlands is bursting with great museums and we would like to list them for you. Maybe it's not the first thing you think of when you want to go out for a day. But believe us, that's not so crazy. Often easy to combine with a city trip and you also learn something from it.
Our tip: go alone and early, then you are often less likely to be overstimulated and you can waddle through the museum at your own pace. Read about it in this list nice museums in The Netherlands and plan your solo getaway for a bit of art.
Museum Arnhem is situated in a place that spontaneously leaves you speechless: high on a glacial ridge, overlooking the Rhine. Inside, a surprising mix of contemporary art, fashion, jewelry, and colorful Neorealism awaits. Refreshing, inspiring, and just a little different from the norm. The museum is known for its idiosyncratic choices and showcases work by artists you absolutely won't find in every museum. Since the 80s, the museum has primarily acquired art created by women and artists with culturally diverse backgrounds. Cool, just like the design of the entire building: historic with a touch of contemporary design.
There is also a sculpture garden that is free to enter. Take a stroll among the artworks, settle down on the terrace for coffee or lunch amidst the greenery, or challenge someone to a game of ping pong. Hungry? Pull up a chair at Café Pierre Great to combine with a day trip to Arnhem, but we are also happy to drive a detour for Museum Arnhem.
Located in Amsterdam's canal district, you'll find Museum Van Loon, one of the city's most unique and historic canal houses. Since 1973, this former residence, complete with its original interior, charming garden, and coach house, has been open to the public. It offers a glimpse into the life of the Van Loon family, who played a prominent role in Dutch history. The museum regularly organizes exhibitions and programs that highlight current social issues. Since 2019, the museum has been actively collaborating with various communities to develop a critical and inclusive perspective on heritage.
Home sweet home. In the middle of the Museumplein you will find MOCO Museum. MOCO is there for those who get excited about icons and innovation. The museum is accessible and full ofmodern, contemporary and digital art. Think of works by big names like Banksy, Yayoi Kusama, Keith Haring and Andy Warhol, but also fresh new voices like Andres Reisinger, whose pink Take Over Elastic room where the boundary between digital and physical blurs. Also not to be missed: the work Robbie Williams, in which he explores themes such as self-love, vulnerability, and mental health candidly and with a wink. Always surprising, sometimes quirky, but in any case never boring.
So many different museums, but which one is also fun for kids? We'd like to give you a nudge in the right direction: Rijksmuseum MuiderslotThis gem of a castle, located in picturesque Muiden, is one of the Netherlands' medieval castles still in top condition. A step back in time to a rich history. The castle itself is a real eyecatcher, with its towers, beautiful gardens, canals and drawbridge. Inside you will find all kinds of rooms with old school Details, decorations, and you'll feel like you're living in what it must have been like a long time ago. There's art, a museum café, and of course, the castle gardens. There's a playground for kids, there's always something to do in the castle workshop, and every first Sunday of the month there's a theater performance. The view from the highest tower? Magnificent!
In short, Muiderslot is great for a day out with little rascals and on the calendar There are many themed weekends throughout the year. For a delicious fish, pop into Muiden, and you'll be all set.
On to Rotterdam, where it is bursting with great museums. And so may the Kunsthal should not be missing from your list. Open since 1992 and one of the first art halls in the Netherlands. The building was designed by architect Rem Koolhaas and has seven different exhibition halls where 25 exhibitions can be seen throughout the year. These consist of several art movements; from modern masters and contemporary art to forgotten cultures, photography, fashion and design. So there is plenty to see. In addition to the various exhibitions, the Kunsthal also has a rich program of activities for young and old, of which attention to talent development is a major theme. Check the site for these activities and current exhibitions.
Yes, Artis is always a good idea, but did you know that this certainly also applies to the ARTIS-Groote Museum? An interactive museum where kids (and their parents) learn how all life on earth is connected. Where do we come from? Where are we going? And what role do we play in the bigger picture? Questions that we all want to have answers to.
There are various workshops throughout the year, ranging from a game to a lecture or an experiment. The exhibitions, installations, exhibits, artworks, films and stories in this historic national monument hold up a mirror to you (young and old), confront you with questions and offer you new perspectives. Did you know, for example, that your intestines do the same thing as tree roots? And that as a baby you crawled over the ground just like a crocodile moves?
Free admission for children up to 12 years old, and most fun for kids aged 8 and up. You can visit all week between 10 am and 17 pm, but on Thursdays the museum is open until 22 pm.
We are heading back to Rotterdam, because these two shouldn't be missing from your museum list either. We are talking about museum Boijmans Van Beuningen en Boijmans depot. We'll start right away with one disclaimer: Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has been closed for a while due to a thorough renovation, but we're going to mention it anyway! Van Beuningen is the only museum in the Netherlands with a collection of Western art history from the Middle Ages to the present. Although the museum is closed, the collection can be seen in other museums. And then next up: The Boijmans Depot is the first art depot (so officially not a museum) in the world that is open to visitors. Here you will find more than 155 collected artworks arranged and structured in fourteen depot spaces. It is open to visitors; the fantastic building alone is worth a visit. You can find tickets and all information on the website.
To be fair, especially the building itself where it is Groninger-Museum is in, we love it so much. Everywhere you look there is something new to discover and no shortage of colors. The reflections on the surrounding water provide a real explosion of color and always provide the city with enough color, sun or no sun. The Groninger Museum already scores enough points there as far as we are concerned. And the inside? It is also worth a visit. You will find a lot about art history there. Painting, photography, fashion, installations, applied arts and archeology are the main subjects of the exhibitions on display. A nice wide range with something for everyone. Nothing beats that.
image: Erik and Petra Hesmerg
Amsterdam is bursting with museums Stedelijk Museum there is one of them in our capital. This is another case of 'just the outside is nice to look at'. The museum building is in the shape of a large bathtub. And for those who haven't seen this yet, it's true. A mega bathtub, in the middle of the city. And that of course includes contemporary and modern art. That is certainly what can be seen inside (no wet intention with lots of soap and such, but art). Diversity and inclusion is an important topic for the museum and they do everything they can to ensure that everyone feels at home in the museum.
A day in the city of Utrecht with your friends? Or even spend a night in the city? And are you at a loss as to what to do or do you just feel like losing yourself in art? Then it is Central Museum in Utrecht the place to be. It is also the oldest municipal museum in the Netherlands and there is plenty to see and experience. You can relax in the garden of the museum and enjoy a beer on the terrace. But of course you come there for the art. In the museum's monastery building you will find the largest Rietveld collection, and by largest we mean the largest in the world. And nice if you are out with the kids: the Miffy Museum is also part of the Central Museum, so there is plenty to see by Dick Bruna. For the rest of the exhibitions, modern and contemporary art are the common thread and home-grown works are on display. You can make a varying offer.
image: Ukiyo Koffie & Robert Oosterbroek
The Miffy Museum in Utrecht has been for a while now back in business in a brand-new, twice-as-large guise as before. Step into your own childhood memories and the colorful world of Miffy and her friends. This is the place where kids can let their imaginations run wild and embark on a voyage of discovery as young adventurers. The museum has added a host of themed rooms and interactive surprises. From exhibitions to activities such as building, painting, and even a 360-degree projection room. Plenty of stimulation, to be sure! The museum is designed for various age groups, as well as for children with disabilities. It is wheelchair accessible and all senses have been taken into account: scent boxes, color contrasts, tactile materials, games in relief, and explanations in Dutch Sign Language (awesome!). Have a cup of coffee in the cozy museum café and take a look in the museum shop for the real deal. collectibles.
Love it street art.? Then it is STREET Museum something for you in Amsterdam. In the middle of the NDSM wharf you will find a large old warehouse full of everything street art.. The museum is an ode to the art form that is often a bit of a forgotten child, but recently several large street art works have made the news and that makes this neglected child a lot more important. The art form has a great impact on art, fashion, design and advertising. The works of art on display were created especially for the museum. Ideal to combine if you have planned a day at IJ-Hallen, because you can walk straight into the museum when you have finished wandering around all the stalls.
On to Eindhoven (the craziest), because that's where you'll find it Van Abbemuseum. And that's not just any one. The Van Abbemuseum is one of the leading museums for contemporary art in Europe. This art movement started in the 60s/70s and consists of many different types of materials and disciplines. Installations, performance and different types of media art such as photography and video are often discussed. The exhibitions vary across these different disciplines and feature many collaborations with international artists.
photo: Florian Koch
Find it at the very tip of the Netherlands, in Maastricht Bonnefanten museum. The museum has a collection of various art movements. You can discover them all spread across the different floors. The museum's mission and vision is to make visitors more aware of the world we live in; this is reflected in the themes of the exhibitions.
Since 2025, the Westerpark in Amsterdam has been located Villa, a new museum in an old house. And it feels exactly as cozy as it sounds. No vast white halls or endless corridors, but simply: room in, room out, and art by contemporary artists everywhere. Like wandering through someone's home, but full of surprises on the walls and in the corners.
It is a bit like a mini-Museum Voorlinden, but with a good dose of Amsterdam down-to-earth attitude and a relaxed atmosphere. vibeNo fuss here. And a nice detail: the artists you see here also benefit from Villa's success. So you know, if you buy a ticket, you're directly contributing to their work. Win-win!
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