Taco Dibbits

Museum van Loon is a magnificent canal house belonging to the Amsterdam regent family van Loon, who actually co-founded the Dutch East-India Company. These days, the house has been opened to the public as an incredibly special look into how the upper echelons of Dutch society lived. Take an exceptional guided tour to get a glimpse of the history of the van Loon family.

Whether you’re in it for the artwork, the building or the sculpture garden outside, visiting the Rijksmuseum is an Amsterdam rite of passage. The Dutch national museum is dedicated to the fine arts and history and is impossible to miss from its perch at the head of the Museumplein. Since its founding 200 years ago, the Rijksmuseum has been a true cultural gem for the city.

If, somehow, you’ve managed to tire of the old master works of the Dutch Golden Age and are jonesing for something a little more modern, head over to Het Stedelijk Museum. This cool museum focuses on highlighting modern and contemporary art, as well as design. It’s just around the corner from the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, so it’s easy to soak up a lot of culture in one go.

It might sound a bit hyperbolic, particularly when you see all the other incredible buildings in Amsterdam, but this is probably one of the most beautiful & Instagrammable places in the whole city. This 17th century canal house has its very own chapel that just so happens to be bright pink. This is a photo opportunity that can’t be missed.

Artis is one of the longest running zoos in Europe, and the oldest in the Netherlands. And although we don't recommend every city zoo, this park is both beautiful and educational. The zoo and Planetarium are home to animals from every corner of the world, the ARTIS-Groote Museum makes learning about the ecosystem an immersive and interactive experience, and the Micropia is a discovery of the invisible microbes. Be sure to check out its botanic gardens while you’re there.

This gorgeous canal house is the home of the Netherlands’ very first photography museum. Currently it houses fourteen exhibitions spaces that change four times a year - every exhibition being as rich and varied as the last. 

The museums of Oud-Zuid aren’t the only ones who rule the roost, despite how it may seem. This culture-soaked neighbourhood is also home to many a fantastic gallery. Chief amongst them is EENWERK. Designed by Barend Koolhaas & opened in 2017, this contemporary exhibition space has quickly become one of our favourite spots in the city.

A private residence, yet also home to some of the most astonishing artworks, Collectie Jan Six is well worth a visit, though it is by appointment only. Don't be surprised when your spot a Rembrandt or Paulus Potter hanging on the walls, for this collection boasts a terrific amount of art and archives for art-history lovers to swoon over.