Amsterdam is a busy city whose culture and history are extremely diverse. From exploring the red light district, taking a boat ride through the canals, to biking down cobblestone side streets, the city is full of things to do. One great way to explore Amsterdam is to walk the halls of its many museums.
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is located in Museumplein Square, a collection of high-profile cultural institutions in the southern part of Amsterdam. There you’ll find other museums including Rijksmuseum, Diamant Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and more.
The Van Gogh Museum is entirely dedicated to the art and life of famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. Inside are many of his paintings and objects significant to his life, such as his art supplies and pieces of furniture.
The museum features many of Van Gogh’s most famous works, except for Starry Night which is located at the MoMA in New York City. All over the walls, visitors can admire Van Gogh’s other paintings, including Sunflowers, The Bedroom, and Irises. Though, the space is also full of lesser-known works like Beach at Scheveningen in Stormy Weather, Vase with Honesty, Avenue of Poplars Trees in Autumn, and Views of the Roofs of Paris.
Moco Museum
Also located in Museumplein Square is the Moco Museum home to Banksy’s statement pieces and other modern art pieces. The building itself is a mansion built in 1904 with architectural elements from earlier eras, a stark contrast to the modern art featured inside.
Moco is a boutique museum that features the modern and contemporary works of popular artists such as Banksy, Andy Warhol, and Daniel Arsham. Compared to other museums nearby, Moco is much smaller and in the layout of a home rather than an art gallery.
The artwork is placed throughout the entire inside and outside of the mansion. You’ll find rooms dedicated to specific pieces, as well as quotes placed randomly on the walls of the interior.
A quick tip! Try visiting the museum when it’s less crowded due to the size and layout of the inside. However, be sure to check out the grounds outside to see and interact with other unique sculptures.
Amsterdam is full of amazing things to do. Check out Amsterdamse Bos for a trip to the outskirts of the city!
Heineken Experience
This was, by far, my friend and I’s favorite thing we did in Amsterdam. The Heineken Experience is an interactive tour through the original Heineken brewery that walks visitors through the notable history of Heineken and the beer-making process. The cost of the tour covers entry, a sample beer, and two full beers at the end.
The first part of the tour is a good deal of history about the beginnings of Heineken and how they make their world-renowned brew. But they have an interesting way of doing this. After a typical walkthrough experience to learn the history of the brewery, you’re led to a prompt on the wall that reads “Are you ready to be bottled and brewed?” Then, you enter a large, empty room where all the walls turn into screens with a cinematic experience depicting the brewing and bottling process. Once leaving this space, you are given a small sample glass of beer before completing the tour.
The end of the tour is completely interactive. You can play games, take pictures against cool backgrounds, and other fun activities. This acts as a great buffer between the tour and redeeming your drinks from the bar at the end.
Read all about Storyteller Emmy's experience returning to the Netherlands, her birthplace, for the first time since she was a child!
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