Amsterdam is world-renowned for some of the finest museums on Earth. The city’s piece de resistance is the Rijksmuseum, the national museum that reopened in 2013 after a decade of renovation. Originally designed by Dutch architect P.J.H. Cuypers, the palatial building was constructed over nearly a decade—from 1876–1885, after which the Rijks debuted as the Netherlands’ largest museum.

The Rijksmuseum’s collection includes masterpieces representing the best of Dutch painting from the 17^th-century to modern times. Among its most iconic works are paintings by Vermeer, Frans Hals and Rembrandt.

Alongside works by Golden Age Masters, the Rijksmuseum displays Delftware, sculptures, artifacts, clothing, Asian art, and items from maritime history that collectively revisit eight centuries of Dutch history.

Beyond the famed Rijks and Van Gogh Museums—repositories of historic art, iconic sunflowers and tormented starry nights―Amsterdam has more than 50 smaller museums.

Within the walls of these compact venues, you can explore everything from contemporary art (Stedelijk), pop/street art (Moco) and photography (Foam) to ancient torture (Torture Museum), sex through the ages (Sex Museum), houseboats (Houseboat Museum), tulips (Tulip Museum), soft drugs (Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Museum), and even an award-winning gem devoted to small bags and purses: the Tassenmuseum on the Herengracht.

A Return to Earlier Eras

You can step back in time at Museum van Loon, one of the best preserved of Amsterdam’s canal houses, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of 17th-century Holland. Built as a private residence in 1672, the museum was once the home of painter Ferdinand Bol, a pupil of Rembrandt.

In 1884, wealthy merchant Hendrik Van Loon purchased it as a wedding gift for his son Willem, a founding member of the Dutch East India Company, whose grandson became mayor of Amsterdam. Today, its ornate detailing, historic paintings, exquisite furnishings, and precious silver and porcelain are reminders of the splendor of an earlier era.

For a more somber look at Dutch history, visit the Jewish Historical Museum near Waterlooplein. In four restored 17^th– and 18^th-century Ashkenazi synagogues (plus a kosher café accessible without a museum ticket), the museum traces the history of the Jews in Holland. A special wing houses exhibits for children.

For Film Buffs and Feline Fanciers

At EYE, accessible via a free ferry from Central Station, film buffs can pay an homage to international cinema. Perched like an ivory spaceship on the northern bank of the river Ij, the striking facility encompasses interactive displays, four movie screening rooms, a museum shop, and exhibit space with rotating shows. Topping the contemporary structure is the eye-popping EYE bar/restaurant, where you can wash down a few bitterballen with beer on tap with the watery Ij as a backdrop.

Tired of highbrow culture? Sample a lighter approach to art devoted to a single theme at one of Amsterdam’s quirkiest museums: Katten Kabinet. While professionally curated, this homage to all things feline has a humorous edge. The collection features two floors of paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures by Picasso, Rembrandt, Toulouse-Lautrec and other renowned masters, all with cats on center stage.

Built in 1667 as a residence for the wealthy van Loon brothers, the structure was restored several times before affluent Dutchie Bob Meijer turned it into a museum in 1990 dedicated to the memory of his red tomcat John Pierpont Morgan. The present owner still resides on the upper floor of the building with his family and several felines who wander through the museum at will.