30 of the best · Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk, Rembrandt’s house, the Concertgebouw, the Nationale Opera & Ballet, Carré and the Eye Filmmuseum.
Our 30 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
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Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Amsterdam.
The Night Watch
The national museum of the Netherlands: Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, Vermeer’s The Milkmaid and 800 years of Dutch history.
Van Gogh’s paintings and letters
The museum devoted to Vincent van Gogh, on the Museumplein.
Home of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
One of the world’s great concert halls, at the end of the Museumplein.
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In-depth stories behind the list.
The back story
Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh across the square, the Concertgebouw at its end, and a city that still lives with art.
Visual arts
Great collections.
The story of the city
The museum of the city’s history, which also runs the canal house Museum Willet-Holthuysen.
The Night Watch
The national museum of the Netherlands: Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, Vermeer’s The Milkmaid and 800 years of Dutch history.
Van Gogh, the Stedelijk, Rembrandt’s house and the exhibitions on the Amstel.
Art about cats on the Golden Bend
Art about cats, in a canal house on the Herengracht.
Herengracht 497, 1017 BT AmsterdamExplore View on map
Formerly the Hermitage Amsterdam
Exhibitions of great art on the Amstel, in the building of the former Hermitage Amsterdam.
Amstel 51, 1018 EJ AmsterdamExplore View on map
Where Rembrandt lived and worked
The house on the Jodenbreestraat where Rembrandt lived and worked.
Modern and contemporary art
The city’s museum of modern and contemporary art and design, on the Museumplein.
Van Gogh’s paintings and letters
The museum devoted to Vincent van Gogh, on the Museumplein.
Art on the walls of the city.
Street art in a shipyard hall
A museum of street art and graffiti in a former shipyard building at the NDSM wharf.
NDSM-Plein 1, 1033 WC AmsterdamExplore View on map
Great buildings, old and new.
A quiet courtyard off the Spui
A walled courtyard of old houses around a garden, entered from the Spui.
The oldest church in the city
Amsterdam’s oldest church, now also a venue for contemporary art.
Oudekerksplein 23, 1012 GX AmsterdamExplore View on map
On the Dam
The 17th-century town hall on the Dam, now a royal palace open to visitors when not in use.
The grandest canal houses
Along the Herengracht from the Leidsegracht to the Vijzelstraat, past the widest and grandest canal houses.
The tower over the Jordaan
The church on the Prinsengracht, whose tower rises over the Jordaan and the Anne Frank House.
Prinsengracht 281, 1016 GW AmsterdamExplore View on map
Performing arts
The Concertgebouw, the Muziekgebouw, the BIMHUIS, Paradiso and the Melkweg.
Jazz on the IJ
Amsterdam’s jazz and improvised music stage, in a black box above the IJ.
Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR AmsterdamExplore View on map
Home of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
One of the world’s great concert halls, at the end of the Museumplein.
Music on the water
A concert hall on the IJ, for contemporary and classical music.
Concerts in a former church
One of the city’s best-known concert venues, in a former church near the Leidseplein.
Carré on the Amstel and Internationaal Theater Amsterdam.
On the Leidseplein
The city’s leading theatre company, on the Leidseplein, often with English surtitles.
On the Amstel
The great theatre on the Amstel, for musicals, comedy, dance and concerts.
The Nationale Opera & Ballet in their house on the Amstel.
The opera house on the Amstel
The Dutch National Opera and the Dutch National Ballet, in their house on the Amstel.
Cinemas and film.
Film on the IJ
The Dutch film museum and cinema, in a white building on the IJ facing Centraal Station.
IJpromenade 1, 1031 KT AmsterdamExplore View on map
An Art Deco picture palace
The Art Deco cinema between the Muntplein and the Rembrandtplein, now run by Pathé.
Arthouse cinema
An arthouse cinema with a restaurant in Oud-West.
Arie Biemondstraat 111, 1054 PD AmsterdamExplore View on map
Writers, libraries and bookshops.
Book online, weeks ahead
The house on the Prinsengracht where Anne Frank and her family hid in the Secret Annex.
Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK AmsterdamExplore View on map
Folk & cultural traditions
Traditional crafts and the people who keep them.
Dutch cheese
A cheese shop in the Nine Streets, stacked with Dutch and international cheeses.
Runstraat 7, 1016 GJ AmsterdamExplore View on map
Diamonds near the Rijksmuseum
An Amsterdam diamond house, with workshop tours, near the Rijksmuseum.
