Top Amsterdam Art & Culture Spots: A Local’s Guide

Amsterdam, very famously known for its canals and bikes, has a hugely creative heart beating inside it, too. So, if you like the arts or you’re a bit of a culture vulture, you should definitely visit a gallery and discover its amazing cultural spots. From huge museums housing globally admired masterpieces to hidden independent galleries showing work from really interesting rising stars, Amsterdam truly is a very special place for experiencing creativity. Let’s check out the gems that just can’t be missed!

Rijksmuseum: Delving Deep into Dutch Masters

No trip to Amsterdam can be complete without visiting the Rijksmuseum. Actually, it’s just impossible. It is like your art-historical anchor point, holding pieces from really awesome folks such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Frans Hals. When you wander through those great halls, the whole thing really feels like strolling through centuries of superb Dutch artistry. One must-see piece is Rembrandt’s “The Night Watch,” that fills a complete wall because it’s so darn big and full of detail. So you see, to view it for real really makes you get a sense of Rembrandt’s skill in portraying movement and light.

The building of the museum itself, honestly, it’s quite a sight! With its really intricate architecture and displays, you could easily spend an entire day there without seeing everything it has to show. Actually, I was quite lost, but pleasantly so. In that case, you’ll get to follow the rise of Dutch art from the Middle Ages to the present day. You’ll also get to discover the very deep cultural heritage and the stories connected to each artefact.

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Don’t miss these things at the Rijksmuseum:

“The Night Watch” of Rembrandt
The collection of Delftware
The Cuypers Library, that’s a gorgeous example of library design

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Van Gogh Museum: Walking in the Footsteps of a Genius

You know, the Van Gogh Museum is not only home to a great collection of Vincent van Gogh’s works, actually it is also dedicated completely to one artist’s life. In other words, prepare yourself for an awesome emotional encounter. When you follow the progression of his work, right from his very early pieces to his quite frantic later masterpieces, that really gives you quite a rare view into his mental health and creative progress. Pieces like “Sunflowers,” “The Potato Eaters,” and some of his own self-portraits give quite a clear look into his unique way of thinking and also his quite hard struggles.

Just so you know, it’s important to get tickets online early. Usually the queues are very long, and in fact you may miss out if you don’t plan. Really, try to set aside at the very least three hours in order to really do justice to the displays. What makes this museum particularly appealing is just how close you may feel to Van Gogh’s emotions and feelings; his brushstrokes basically shout to you from off the canvases.

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Here’s a brief visitor tip:

See “The Potato Eaters” for a representation of Van Gogh’s beginning, and really see how he learned to portray ordinary folk.
Do not miss his self-portraits to see how his views of his very own life changed with time.

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Anne Frank House: A Window into History

Beyond art, Amsterdam too provides extremely crucial cultural experiences. The Anne Frank House offers a very deep view of one the most painful parts of the previous century. Anne Frank’s actual home during the time she was in hiding gives an extremely powerful, yet terribly stark view into the conditions of her life, her dreams, and her thoughts during the Second World War.

As a matter of fact, the tiny, secret annex is mostly untouched. That makes it nearly possible for visitors to really appreciate the claustrophobia and constant concern that existed at the time for Anne and her family. Reading quotations from Anne’s diary there, as a matter of fact it makes all the difference because it puts a face, heart and personality to wartime experiences and really acts as a sharp reminder of the cost of intolerance. You should book tickets far in advance since they only allow limited visitors daily, thus, allowing for quite a sober, thoughtful visit.

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Here’s what makes Anne Frank House so important:

Visiting this preserved location makes a very strong impact which you can’t get with just historical reading.
Engaging directly with Anne’s writings gives extremely useful understanding of that really horrible time in history.

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The Jordaan District: Exploring Art in the Streets

In fact, for more contemporary and less renowned art encounters, simply explore the Jordaan District. Actually, that neighborhood is filled with independent art galleries that basically showcase all forms of contemporary art. From works which push limits to quite peaceful scenic displays, you’re likely to discover really special pieces from local and global artists alike. These tiny galleries really promote close encounters. It also offers chances to speak directly to the gallery owners, learning everything regarding the ideas that lie under those creations.

So that you know, you can take your time getting lost on Jordaan’s picturesque paths. So you’ll probably find cool wall paintings, street musicians, and tiny art installations set randomly which truly turn this place into a constant gallery in the open. In addition, several cozy cafés and restaurants let you take a pause. Basically, to reflect after several art viewings is highly valued.

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Check out the Jordaan for:

Its quite special neighborhood with lots of tiny galleries for discovering new artists.
Quite awesome casual setting mixed together with art and cuisine.

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Eye Film Museum: A Cinematic Experience

Alright so for fans of cinema, visiting the EYE Film Museum is a real must. It isn’t just because of all the film-related exhibits; this iconic place is famous because of its remarkable architecture that faces the waterfront. So, the museum keeps both Dutch and international movies. Additionally, the interactive exhibits give really great details into movie-making, animation and the effect movies have on society.

Actually you’ll probably see vintage movie posters here, cameras, and scenic movie bits and bobs that movie fanatics will value quite deeply. Very, very, often, there are retrospectives as well. Furthermore, talks are hosted which present viewers more of movie past and innovation. So you see, if your passion goes into the history of film, and when films reflect society, the EYE Film Museum presents a detailed, amazing excursion.

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Why you should visit the EYE Film Museum:

Basically this iconic structure on the IJ River combines cinematic studies and striking looks.
Examine several areas from movie conservation through influence.

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