Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder, or Our Lord in the Attic, is such a unique place to visit…read more "Hidden" in a 17th-century canal house, you can climb the stairs to the top floors to discover a house church as part of this museum. The Catholic church was built on the top three floors of the canal house during the 1660s. It is an example of a "schuilkerk", or "clandestine church." Since Catholics who rejected the Dutch Reformed Church were unable to worship in public, these hidden churches were often found on the top floors of canal houses. The canal house was built in 1630. Between 1661 and 1663 the top three floors of the house were transformed into a house church. The church is small, but beautiful. After the Church of St Nicholas was opened, the house church no longer needed to be used as a church. On April 28, 1888, it opened its doors to the public as a museum. It is the second-oldest museum in Amsterdam, after the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. Definitely put this one on your list of museums to visit in Amsterdam. On the way up to the church, you can visit the front room, the between room, the hall, the Jaap Leeuwenberg Hall, and the 17th-century kitchen. It is on I Amsterdam Card. Such a unique experience.

The name of this museum translates to "Our Lord in the Attic" and the attic in this museum is a…read moreremarkable example of a "clandestine church" dating to the 1660s. When the Dutch Reformed Church was made the official church of the Netherlands in the 1660s, Catholics, Jews, and other religious "dissenters" had to practice their religions in private. Rather than being given religious freedom, they were given something more akin to religious tolerance. Catholic "attic churches" were created to serve their communities, and this museum is the best preserved example of one. The audio guide does a great job of explaining the history of the church and the family that housed it. The house, built in 1630, is in excellent condition and provides an informative window into Amsterdam of long ago. If you have time to stop by for an hour or so, this is worth the visit.

On our last day in Amsterdam, we decided to come check out their botanical garden, and we are very…read morehappy that we did! This is a nature lover's paradise right here. They have endless plants, flowers, a butterfly sanctuary, and an on-site cafe and store. One part of the botanical garden right next to the cafe is under construction, but I don't remember what they are going to put there. I was able to block out the construction noise in my mind and enjoy the amazing nature the botanical garden had to offer. This was also the place where I learned that Amsterdam runs their monthly emergency tests at noon on the first Monday of each month. Hearing all the air raid sirens in a peaceful setting was really strange. We come from Las Vegas, a hot and dry climate where most flowers and plants nestled here won't be able to survive in. Seeing all these flowers alive and well in a climate where it doesn't get too hot was a great opportunity to admire. Also included was the biggest palm tree I've ever seen in my life, which is enclosed in a different sanctuary tucked away in the back of the garden. Also located behind the garden is a canal, where we saw a few ducks hanging around. Numerous birds, such as parrots, can also be found. After walking around the garden and admiring the plants and flowers, we stopped by their on site cafe for a quick lunch. My mom and I had their soup of the day, which was a tomato soup served with bread on the side, and my dad had their espresso and some sort of egg salad meal, I don't remember the exact name. The soup, though it was a light meal, was excellent and it paired well with the bread. Before we left, we checked out their store, where I picked up a shampoo bar, a conditioner bar, and a face bar. My parents also picked up some plantable pencils to plant back at home, though these may not survive for long after they're planted. Visiting the botanical gardens was a great way to wrap up our trip to Amsterdam and it was worth spending an hour or two here.

Beautiful place but it does have a pricey entrance fee…read more All in all worth it. I recommend taking a few bites of food and really just enjoying the outdoors. In the greenhouse it does get hotter naturally, but is well ventilated and isn't ever unbearable. Amazing plants, but only the most important ones had signs in English. A treat nonetheless. Saw the largest potted fern of my life, really amazing. 2 story greenhouse gives great views!

Aside from staying in one (rentals are available on various online platforms like Airbnb or VRBO),…read morewhere else than a working houseboat to better get a feel for these canal-side living arrangements so popular in Amsterdam? On a dreary fall morning I dropped by around 11am and the museum was empty aside for a couple staff. I showed my "i amsterdam" prepaid pass, they scanned it quickly and passed me the headset for a free self-guided audio tour, which lasts about 30 minutes. The tour starts at the front, where's there's an example of an older set-up, then leads to the back of the boat where a more modern layout is shown. Numbers next to signs tell you what to listen to on the audio guide. Some interesting tidbits I learned are that orange is practically a national color in the Netherlands, hence why the wall paper and decorations are all orange. New boats must be constructed according to strict regulations, and only a set number of spaces along the canals are allocated to houseboats so there's a limited supply. More interestingly, when the Netherlands football (soccer to us Americans) team won the European Championship in 1988, parties got so out of hand that some houseboats sank because too many people were climbing on them! I thought this was a calm, fun way to start my morning, and staff were friendly and helpful. This museum you can easily go thru in about 30 minutes, regular ticket prices are: Adults: €9.5 per person for Full Day entrance 10am-5pm Adults: €8 per person for Morning entrance 10am-12noon Children up to 12 years: €5 per person For more info: houseboatmuseum.nl

Super tiny museum because it's literally a houseboat. It is self-guided tour (you're given an audio…read moreclicker) that takes 30-45 minutes if you're listening intently to every section, or a speedy 15-30 minutes if you just want to listen and read about the main exhibits. Definitely not wheelchair/disability-friendly. The inside can be cramped in some areas, so be mindful of any bulky backpacks/bags you're carrying around. The information was pretty interesting - they definitely tried to cram a lot into a small space. I wouldn't recommend large groups here unless you break it up into groups of 4 people max. One and done type of museum.

I never saw the inside of the museum but the surrounding area is beautiful in the early hours of…read morethe morning.. I wanted to share my photos of this beautiful museum which is simply breathtaking to view before sunrise. :)

The national maritime Museum is really kid friendly. After a day of dragging my child to historic…read moresites, I needed to find something that he would enjoy too. We had the I Amsterdam card and so this made good sense as a choice. We heard it was great for kids and it really was. Doris the diver is basically a play area for kids 2 to 7. There's also bathrooms right next to it that include changing tables, small sinks, and small toilets for littles. We spent most of our time exploring the replica of the Dutch East India company ship. My son and I had a great time walking around the ship and lowering our heads to crawl into tight spaces. My son especially liked the police system in the cargo hold and trying to find the drawings of the wrapin the cargo hold.The views here are nice and it was a fun place to explore on a sunny spring day.

Do you want to peek inside to learn how a wealthy couple would have lived in Amsterdam in the…read more1800s? Used the I Amsterdam Card to visit the Museum Willet-Holthuysen which is located on famous ring of canals. The house was built for Jacob Hop, mayor of Amsterdam, around 1685. In 1739, the outside was redesigned in the Louis XIV style. The house was later acquired by Louisa Holthuysen and her husband, Abraham Willet. The couple was childless and lived quite a Bohemian lifestyle travelling and collecting art. Louisa was a very shrewd and strong businesswoman who had to keep bailing her husband out of debt despite her giving him a generous allowance. Much of the art collected was due to Louisa's art preferences. Upon her death, she bequeathed the entire building and its contents, including the art and books collected by her and her husband, Abraham Willet, to the city of Amsterdam on stipulation that it became a museum bearing their names. Loved exploring the three floors and beautiful gardens that are open to the public. Get the free audio guide which gives insight into the home and the occupants. No large bags are allowed but lockers are available. Love how the Victorian furnishing provide a backdrop for a contemporary fashion display. Such an interesting contrast in lifestyles. Definitely worth a stop while exploring Amsterdam.

This was a great spot to get in out of the cold (lol) and to see the inside of a house off of the…read morecanal. It told the story of a married couple that lived there and because of their extensive collections they left the house (the wife) to the city. It's not in its original state but the museum did a good job reimagining how it would have been. I enjoyed learning about the couple (even though no one really knew the truth about the relationship) and the home's history. It's self guided so you just take your time to explore.

Amazing spot. 1) The…read morelocation of the museum is excellent. 2) The museum has a section that is free. I will recommend to stick with the free section. It has everything you want to see. 3) Will for sure come back.

What a cool 17th Century building. They have the permanent collection of Dutch art as well as a…read moretemporary exhibit. I didn't get to see all of the rooms in the museum, unfortunately. I arrived there so late, and the place was about to close. The museum has a massive collection of artworks, sculptures, and archaeological finds. There's also films, photos and interactive presentations of how their city blossomed from poverty to prosperity. It cost 10 Euro to visit this place and it's tucked between the stores in the shopping district of Kalverstraat. When I arrived there and didn't get to see, much because I felt rushed I suggest going there early in the morning, so you don't miss out on anything.

Really enjoyed this photography gallery!…read more First things first--with it's unassuming townhouse facade along the canals, I initially walked up the steps to the museum's next door neighbors on the left, only to be corrected by a kindly elder gentleman who happened to be leaving the museum, and asked me if I was looking for Huis Marseille, then pointed to the entrance. Second, props to the museum's architectural or building director for the fancy front door. As I walked up, the door (like a regular townhouse door, not a glass sliding door) opened automatically, silently and seamlessly by itself (like magic! or maybe I'm easily impressed...) The layout of the museum is of two connected 17th century historic homes, so upon entering there is no lobby, a straight, narrow hallway leads towards the back of the house with rooms on either side. Further the staircases are narrow, steep and located in less conventional access points than modern construction, especially on the upper floors. So definitely not handicap-friendly. For the lower floors they've done some renovations in the ground/basement level for lockers, coat room, bathrooms, some offices. The ticket counter and small gift shop are in the left room in the entrance hallway. The staff were polite, quickly scanned my "i amsterdam" card*, mentioned where the lockers were, the starting point, and to follow the signs in the halls and rooms for the flow of the exhibits. The two photographers showcased in November were Michella Bredahl and Kusukazu Uraguchi. The former comprised of female portraiture in the Netherlands, specifically focusing on three subjects: 1) a family of five sisters over the course of over ten years, 2) sex workers in their homes, 3) her mother, herself and her sister from photos originally taken in the 70s. The latter's Shima no Ama" also centered on portraits of women, though specifically of all-female collectives in Shima, Japan, that dive and collect seaweed for sale, who also work and live together. The topics were presented well and I found the images poignant and educational in helping to learn about the fractured and wild variations in human experience. Time-wise I'd recommend 45min to 1hr. Regular admission is €12.50 for adults, €6.50 for students and seniors, discounts available for certain passes. 10am-6pm daily except open to 9pm on Thursdays. For more info: huismarseille.nl *This is a pre-paid tourist card which provides access to over 100 attractions (limit to one entry per attraction), with costs dependent on number of days/hours of validity (24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours). **yelp note: review number 1200!

A small gem for sure! It has a lot of light and space which is great for looking at the wonderful…read morephotography on display. Cute garden area with a nice tree in the backyard to sit and chat on a sunny day. The one star knock off is that it is a small space (more of a gallery than a museum) so I was a little surprised when they told me to you have to leave your stuff in a locker. But, it's only 1 euro and it's only if you have a bag (coats can just hang on the rack for free) so no real trouble. You get in for free if you have the museum card.

Of the many museums that visited during my time in Amsterdam, Het Grachtenhuis was one of my…read morefavorites. The museum itself isn't designed in the traditional no frills sense of where you go and look at a display, read the plaque, and move on. It is semi interactive and makes use of modern technology to tell the history of the Amsterdam canals. For those looking for an extreme in depth explanation and details, you will not find it here. Think of it like a watered down cliff notes video for history. It's geared towards tourist to entertain them while educating them, not boring them. Practicalities/Highlights: + It will set you back €12 for adults/ €6 for 5-17 years old kids if you purchase onsite. There is a slight discount if you buy online. It's free if you happen to have the Amsterdam City Card, Holland Pass Voucher Tulip and Mill, Stadspas, ICOM card + You will purchase your ticket in the small gift shop, which has a nice selection of goods that are reasonably priced, and be provided a audio guide that is offered in a handful of languages ( English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin) & Dutch) + The start of the tour requires you to ascend a flight of stairs; however, unlike other canal houses, they are handicap accessible to visitors with limited mobility. + The first portion of the tour is timed due to the way that they move you through the different rooms, which controls the crowd movements. The Upper rooms of the tour are as follows: 1. A brief quick crash course in how Amsterdam came to be with the use of a display and creative lights! (Timed) 2. Next, you get to be in the room where it happened! Sorry not that room, but you get to overhear how the city was designed and planned by architects themselves. (Timed) 3. Next you get to learn all about the pillars that support Amsterdam today thanks to the help of little clay men and you get to put you feet on top of the sand.(Timed) 4. The fourth and one of my favorite rooms is extremely interactive. You get to take a look and "peak" into different canal houses and see a glimpse of the past. (Explore at your pace) 5. The final room upstairs show a video clip of a more current Amsterdam and the use of the canals. (Explore at your pace) 6. There are additional rooms down stairs that you can explore at your own pace and are the more typical feel of what you would expect at a traditional museum.

Museum of the Canals: located on Herengracht, a scenic street with beautiful, canal-side…read morehomes--this museum takes visitors thru the history of Amsterdam's canals, from the reasons for development, the process of designing and constructing, the growth of the city and industries around the canals. Arriving to the building you go up a short flight of stairs and are directed to a ticket counter followed by a wait to the left of the counter in a seating area with a few benches. At the counter they scanned my "I amsterdam" card, and passed each visitor a free audio guide, available in multiple languages. Then the staff indicated to wait for the next tour that happened to start in 5 minutes (I think they're timed about 15 minutes apart). At that point, a staff member motioned the 7-8 of us in a small group to the hallway and provided instructions on how to use the audio guide. Close to the entrance of each exhibit room there is a digital marker where you scan your audio guide listening device and the relevant recording starts playing. There were about 7-8 rooms in the museum, 5 for the main exhibit and 3 additional rooms for an exhibit "Animals of the Canals" and a period room with mirrors. Estimated time is about 45 min to 1 hour for this museum. I enjoyed the tour and learned about how they decided to lay out the canals in a semi-circular format, though wish I had a little more time to spend in the room with the museum building model. Regular admissions are-- Adult: € 17,50 Student/CJP: € 12,50 Children 6 up to 17 years: € 9,50 Children 0 up to 5 years: free Museumkaart, Stadspas, iAmsterdam City Card, ICOM Card: free Hours are Mon: 12-5PM, Tues-Sun: 10AM-5PM. For more info: https://grachten.museum/en/