Category Archives: Amsterdam Museums

Hip Guide to Amsterdam

Amsterdam Museums

John Adams Institute

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The John Adams Institute provides an independent podium for American culture in the Netherlands. For three decades now, we have brought the best and the brightest of American thinking from the fields of literature, politics, history, technology and the arts. Love it or hate it, the United States plays an important role in the world: what happens in the US is of continuing relevance for the rest of the world, and we provide a window onto that.

The John Adams Institute was founded in 1987 by the cooperation of the West India Foundation of Holland and New York’s Dutch American West India Company Foundation to promote lively debates and lectures in historic venues within old Amsterdam.

This non-profit organization is dedicated to preserving the historic links between Amsterdam and New York City in particular, and the U.S. as a whole.

Located in the West India Huis, which was once the headquarters of the Dutch West India Company, the John Adams Institute holds a series of approximately eleven lectures or talks every year. These lectures have proven to be popular, and have sold out in advance many times. The speakers tend to be world-famous guests such as writers, artists and scientists with profound viewpoints.

The institute was named for John Adams, former president of the United States, who is also a former resident of Amsterdam. Adams was the first ambassador to the Dutch Republic from the U.S., and enjoyed a life of culture here in Old Amsterdam collecting and reading books, hobnobbing with European royalty and furthering U.S. interests here in the Netherlands.

Info:
Located in the West-Indisch Huis at Herenmarkt #97.

Museum Het Rembrandthuis

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The facade of the Rembrandt House and Museum

The Rembrandthuis Museum is where the famous painter established his own studios here in Amsterdam, and lived with his family from 1639 to 1658.

He eventually left after declaring bankruptcy, and the home has been restored with approximations of it’s original furnishings based on an inventory of his possessions from that time.

Most of the building is devoted to his daily life from the time, and is of course, filled with paintings and art.

Part two of the museum is the new museum wing, where you will find exhibition rooms. The museum shop, the entrance to the museum café, the auditorium and the Rembrandt Information Centre are also located in the new wing.

On the fifth floor is the Rembrandt Information Center, where you can research on DC-rom, in books and other publications. By appointment only.

Tropenmuseum

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Inside the Tropenmuseum you can stroll around the courtyard of a Javanese house, roam through noisy Arab streets, or find yourself in a thunderstorm in the middle of the African savannah. You may also relax to the authentic music of a South American jukebox – or listen to the gripping life story of a tropical rainforest-dweller.

Our visit coincided with the Batik exhibit showcasing the art form’s techniques, history and styles through the ages. Hundreds of examples of fine Batik, antique photos and dozens of displays showcase the regional origins of patterns, the different uses of Batik cloth, and more modern interpretations using the batik method.

I really appreciate the attitude of the museum and many exhibits, which review the negative impacts of human development upon these regions, and offer useful suggestions for preserving and restoring these ecosystems. This museum is highly recommended for tourists, students and children. In fact there’s a Children’s (Kinder) Museum too!

The Tropen Theater has excellent productions, showcasing ethnic music and culture from around the world, but like the museum, highlighting the former Dutch colonies of Indonesia, Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles.

Stedelijk Museum

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The Museum is in a new beautiful building!

The Stedelijk Museum was founded in 1874 by a group of private citizens in Amsterdam, led by C.P. van Eeghen, who donated funds and their art collections to establish a museum in the capital of the Netherlands that would be devoted to modern art. The collection, housed at first at the Rijksmuseum, was moved in 1895 into the Museum’s own building, designed by A.W. Weissman.

For its first decades, the Stedelijk maintained a diverse collection, which included works of contemporary Dutch and French masters but also period rooms and even the banners of citizens’ militias. Beginning around 1920, however, the collection was culled and the focus concentrated more rigorously on modern and contemporary art, including pioneering collections and exhibitions of design and photography.

Already known to visitors from around the world because of its paintings by Vincent van Gogh (many of them later transferred to the Van Gogh Museum upon its creation), the Stedelijk began its rise to international prominence after 1945, when curator and designer Willem Sandberg became the Director. In addition to expanding the collection and working directly with many artists, Sandberg initiated an ambitious and far­sighted exhibition program that put the Stedelijk at the forefront of contemporary art institutions—a program that continued under Edy de Wilde (Director 1963– 1985), Wim Beeren (1985–1993), Rudi Fuchs (1993–2003) and Gijs van Tuyl (2005–2009) and that contributed greatly to the development of the Stedelijk’s collection.

Info:
The Stedelijk Museum is open daily from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm, and is closed on January 1.

Take the #5 or the Circle Tram from Centraal Station.

Underground parking and an underground Albert Hein (supermarket) are located next door.

NEMO Science Museum

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New Metropolis is the huge greenish hulk arising over the entrance to the Ij Tunnel leading north out under Amstedam’s harbor. N.E.M.O. as it is called here, is a technology museum, exhibition space, meeting center and venue for events. The building was designed by the Italian Renzo Piano, and it does look like some futuristic ship’s hull rising from the harbor of Amsterdam.

The highlight is the high technology museum, with an amazing display of interactive scientific wonders to delight all ages. Other exhibits come and go in the large interior.

Also here are a number of rooms for use by public and private organizations for conferences, parties, etc. The Glass Ballroom can hold up to 800 people, the NEMO theater seats 300, the Lumiere Filmhall seats 199, the Da Vinci Hall holds 80, the Columbus Foyer holds a maximum of 500 people, and the ultimately swanky “Captain’s Cabin” with it’s brass trim and nautical decor holds 25 very special guests. (They are currently asking around $1,000 per day to rent just this one room.) Of course, they’ll rent you the roof as well! Which I gather could hold up to 2000 revelers.

Scheepvaart Museum

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The Scheepvaart Museum is the Netherlands Maritime Museum, located on Amsterdam’s harbor in the National Naval Depot, a former arsenal of the Dutch Navy that is over 300 years old.

The collection within tells the story of the maritime past of the Netherlands. Outside the Museum is a permanent berth for a replica of the Dutch East Indiaman “Amsterdam,” which is great fun to explore with guides in period costumes telling you about life aboard ship in the old days.

If you’ve got a binnacle at home, or a ship’s bell mounted somewhere, you’d be happy to spend hours wandering through this place. It’s fun even if you don’t have one.

Info:
Easy access by public transport: from Amsterdam Central Station 5 minutes by bus, line 22 or 32; or only a 15 minute walk.

Vakbondmuseum or the Stichting De Burcht

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The Diamond Window

The Vakbondmuseum is also known as the Stichting De Burcht. You’re asking why?

Well this building is so interesting that if you have any interest in architecture that you must visit.

Designed by the founder of the Amsterdam school of Architecture, Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856- 1934), who was a forceful figure on reshaping Amsterdam into what we see now in the 21st Century. The building was created for the thriving diamond industry whose capital was in Amsterdam at the time. Now the National Trade Unions Museum (or Stichting De Burcht) has its home here.

The museum’s website offers the following description: “Inside, you’re under the illusion that you have entered the covered courtyard of a Mediterranean palace. Sunlight streams down through a double roof of yellow and white glass and, passing through glass floor tiles, penetrates as far as the basement. The walls are of yellow, white and blue glazed brick and are relieved by vaults, columns and balustrades. An enormous hanging lamp high in the glass cupola, dominates the most beautiful of Amsterdam’s staircases. In the stylish rooms, you can enjoy paintings by Richard Roland Holst, stained glass windows, wooden panelling and furniture designed by Berlage himself. You can explore as high as the tower room that offers a view of the impressive cupola construction. In the high tower, you will see a lighted window pane in the form of a diamond.”

Dick Bruna House

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The Dick Bruna House Museum has opened in Utrecht, at the Centraal Museum in February, 2006. Dedicated to the life and work of perhaps Holland’s most favorite contemporary artist, this unique space is a joy to visit for children and adults alike.

Dick Bruna is the creator of the cartoon characters Miffy the Rabbit (known as Nijntje here in Holland), Poppy Pig, Snuffy the Dog and Boris Bear. Beginning in 1952, this artist has been delighting children of all ages with his unique, colorful style. Mr. Bruna was the son of a publisher, and he started his graphic arts career creating book covers.

In fact Dick Bruna is just as famous for his book covers as he is for his cartoons! Some authors he has worked for are Georges Simenon (Maigret) and Leslie Charteris (the Saint). He is also known for his incredible posters, stamps and other graphic designs.

Mr. Bruna said that “it is like a dream come true. And to have this during my lifetime! With most artists, this only happens after they’re long dead.”

Dick went on to say “in the earlier days, going to a museum was different. You had to be very quiet and all. With this museum, children play if they want, there are computers, they can draw, there’s lots of reading to do. But at the same time, the parents can see all the different things I’ve made for adults, book covers and posters and whatever.” Continue reading →