Day Trips to Amsterdam

Overview

This is a collection of day trips to Amsterdam, with reviews of places to visit and things to do that I will update as I complete each day trip. For the record, all my trips start and end from the central train station and were made completely on foot without hopping on any vehicles.

You'll notice that I haven't included some highly recommended sites, such as the Anne Frank House. This is only because I've visited them previously.

Feb 2006: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and a walk through the Museumplein to the Concertgebouw, ending with a few drinks at the Heineken Brewery.

Feb 2006: Stedelijk Museum, VOC Cafe, St Nicolaaskerek, Amstelkring Museum, Oude Kerk, and Het Rembrandthuis, ending with a walk along the Prinsengracht and Herengracht.

Feb 2006: Scheepvaartmuseum, Museum Van Loon, and Joods Historisch Museum

Quick Tips:

Go to the museums early to beat the crowds and tour groups! Buy a museum card. It will save you time and money.

Best Way To Get Around:

While trams are convenient, I find that walking is the best way to get around, as you get to see much more.

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Heineken Brewery

Attraction | "Heinekenbrouwerij"

This isn't a museum in the traditional sense. In fact, the only things from the past are the old brew kettles and lager tanks where the beer matured. The highlight of the tour, if you can call it that, is a 3-minute "ride" where you experience what it's like to be a beer bottle--I won't give any more away! A similar ride on a horse-drawn coach delivering beer was equally disappointing. There are also computer games, and you can create a video of yourself (either at a set of drums or embedded into a bottling line video or a background of beer using blue-screen technology) to send to friends. The only consolation is that you get three free drinks (of Heineken, of course) and a promotional glass.

I went when there was a line waiting to get in at around 4:30pm. We didn't get in until 5pm, and although normally this would be more than enough time, we were not allowed to try all the exhibits before closing time (6pm).

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by honeyb on February 5, 2006

Heineken Brewery
Stadhouderskade 78 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1075 AE
+31 (0)20 523 92 22

Rijksmuseum

Attraction

This day trip on February 4, 2006, also included the Van Gogh Museum and the Heineken Brewery.

The museum is currently being refurbished, and the current exhibit titled "The Masterpieces" is displayed in a refurbished wing of the building. The exhibition showcases the golden age of the Netherlands in well-organized themes, culminating in Rembrandt's "The Nightwatch." As part of Rembrandt's 400th birthday, all of the museum's Rembrandt pieces are on display in one room. Other pieces of interest include some very impressive dollhouses that cost their original owners as much as real houses. Works by Johann Vermeer are also on display.

As the name of the current exhibit suggests, the best of the museum's pieces are on display and the smaller exhibition area made it easy to see all the masterpieces in a visit of around 2 hours.

Go real early to beat the crowds and groups. I took the audio tour for an extra 4 euros. I suggest that you buy the guide instead. The text is the same as the audio tour. You'll have to read it, but at least you get to take the pictures home with you.

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by honeyb on February 5, 2006

Rijksmuseum
Stadhouderskade 42 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1071 ZD
+31 20 674 70 00

Van Gogh Museum

Attraction

This day trip on February 4, 2006, also included the Rijksmuseum and the Heineken Brewery as well as a walk through the Museumplein (museum park) to the Concertgebouw (concert hall).

The Van Goph Museum houses the largest collection of works by Vincent van Goph. It is in the same vicinity as the Rijksmuseum, which makes it convenient to visit both on the same day. The main exhibit provides a very easy-to-follow biography of Vincent, from the Netherlands to Paris, Arles, Saint-Remy, and Auvers-sur-Oise, and his works, including the renowned "The Potato Eaters," "The Sunflowers," "The Bedroom," and "The Courtesan." In addition, there are collections of his letters, as well as works from his circle of friends and peers. The museum is spacious and easily accommodates crowds, making it easy to appreciate the works.

The museum also houses a study area with computers. Also on exhibit at this time was a comparison with Edouard Manet's style.

Entrance is 10 euros and includes a free check. Go early to beat the crowds.

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by honeyb on February 5, 2006

Van Gogh Museum
Paulus Potterstraat 7 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1071 CX
+31 (20) 570 52 00

Museum Amstelkring

Attraction

There's another secret in Amsterdam besides Anne Frank's house. The Amstelkring museum hides a church that is big enough to have a chapel too!

The museum, in the red light district, is easy to miss as you are distracted by the district's other notable attraction. It showcases a 17th century canal side house during the Netherlands's Golden Age. The house has an antechamber, a parlour, drawing room with a box bed (a bed in a cupboard space), and 17th and 19th century kitchens. The impressive church houses an organ, galleries, a chapel, confessional, silver collection, and views of two other churches—the Oude Kerk and St Nicolaaskerk.

This is one of the oldest museums in Amsterdam and has more to it than initially meets the eye.

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by honeyb on February 13, 2006

Museum Amstelkring
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1012
+31 20 624 6604

Rembrandthuis

Attraction

The Rembrandthuis was Rembrandt's residence at the height of his life. It is certainly very grand and impressive even by today's standards. The interior has been refurnished based on notary documents of his possessions that were drawn up when he went bankrupt.

Many paintings from his time, works by others in his studio, are on display. The museum next door houses almost all of Rembrandt's etchings.

Don't visit during the last hour if you want to see a demonstration of how etchings are printed.

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by honeyb on February 13, 2006

Rembrandthuis
Jodenbreestraat 4 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1011 NK
+31 20 520 04 00

Oude Kerk

Attraction

This church is right in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, with working women in their cabins across the street. Stop in to confess your sins and redeem your soul!

Actually, do stop in to view the impressive organ, the oak vault ceilings, stained glass, and Saskia's tomb (she was Rembrandt's first wife). I forgot, but check but the engravings on the choir stalls, supposedly they are worth seeing.

One remark: the church felt colder inside than outside when I visited.

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by honeyb on February 13, 2006

Oude Kerk
Oude Kerkplein 23 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1012 GX
+31 20 624 91 83

St. Nicolaaskerk

Attraction | "St Nicolaaskerk"

This church dominates the skyline as you exit from the central train station.

It's worth stopping in for 5 to 10 minutes, to view the black marble pillars, the blue aura of the dome, and the bulging depiction of Maximilian's crown over the altar.

Visit it on your way back from the Stedelijk museum or the Scheepvartmuseum.

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by honeyb on February 13, 2006

St. Nicolaaskerk
Prins Hendrikkade 73 Amsterdam, Netherlands

Scheepvaartmuseum

Attraction

This museum, housed in what was once the headquarters of the Dutch navy, chronicles the history of Dutch shipping. There are model ships, paintings, old maps, and small boats on display.

I stopped in to visit the replica of the Amsterdam, a sailing vessel that belonged to the VOC (the Dutch East India Company), that like the Titanic, did not last beyond its maiden voyage (its captain ran it aground on the south coast of England after running into a storm that broke its rudder). The cabins are open to the public, and you can get right upclose and get a feeling of what it was like to sail in those days. Actors onboard help to recreate the atmosphere.

The royal barge is also on display. One section of the museum is devoted to the Dutch exploration of the world.

The rest of the museum was so-so for me, not being an aficionado of all-things shipping.

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by honeyb on February 26, 2006

Scheepvaartmuseum
Kattenburgerplein 1 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1018 KK
+31 (20) 523 22 22

Museum Van Loon

Attraction

This is a canal mansion, turned into a museum to enable the public to see the grandiose lifestyle of a rich and famous Amsterdam family. In this case the Van Loons, several of whom held prominent positions in the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The museum didn't offer much more than what I'd imagine and several rooms were closed to prepare for a new exhibit during my visit, making it less worthwhile.

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by honeyb on February 26, 2006

Museum Van Loon
Keizersgracht 672 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1017 ET
+31 20 624 52 55

Hoog Duitse Synagoge/Joods Historisch Museum

Attraction | "Joods Historisch Museum"

The Jewish Historical Museum is located in the former Jewish section of Amsterdam, near the Rembrandthuis and Waterlooplein market. The current exhibits are located in the Great Synagogue, which is the only section that is open. Like many other museums in Amsterdam at this time (February 2006), parts of the museum (the other three synagogue buildings) are under renovation, and therefore closed. The synagogue has evolved, and reconstructed images of the building over time can be viewed on a computer.

The exhibit on the ground floor displays ceremonial items and explains important events in Jewish life such as the Sabbath, Purim, Rosh Hashanah, Bar Mitzvah, Passover, circumcision, etc. Personal perspectives, and short films of these events are also available on computer stations located around the central podium, where the Torah would have been read in earlier times.

The exhibit on the top floor is a chronology of Jews in the Netherlands.

"Hidden" in the bag check and coat rack area, is a mikvah bath that was actually more interesting than the main exhibits.

If you're looking for displays of the holocaust, visit the Anne Frank House.

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by honeyb on February 26, 2006

Hoog Duitse Synagoge/Joods Historisch Museum
Jonas Daniël Meyerplein 2-4 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1001 RE
+31 20 625 42 29

Anne Frank Huis

Attraction | "Anne Frankhuis"

One of, if not the, most famous landmark building in Amsterdam is this museum that encompasses the house and annex where the young Jewish girl Anne Frank wrote her secret diary whilst hiding with other family members from the Nazis. As you'd expect, the museum displays various artifacts and film clips from the time when the building was the office and warehouse of her father's business, making spice mixes for sausages and jam gelling agents. However, as you step through the hidden doorway behind the bookcase you are transported back in time. Step into her shoes as you view pictures that Anne clipped and pasted to the wall of the room, barely large enough for a bed. Another personal touch are the marks drawn on the wall to mark the growth of the children. Even the bathroom and toilet tell a story, as they could not be flushed during the day. Anne's original diary is of course also on display.

The actual house and annex is the building on the left, partially obscured by the tree in my picture, but the entrance is through the modern-looking building that forms part of the museum and also houses the museum store and cafe.

It took about 15 minutes to get in from the back of the line in the picture.

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by honeyb on April 9, 2006

Anne Frank Huis
Prinsengracht 263 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1016 GV
+31 20 556 71 00

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