Of the 41 museums in Amsterdam where you can use your museum card, there are 13 museums specializing in Architecture and Design.
- 13 Design and Architecture Museums in Amsterdam
- Fashion Design:Fashion for Good
- Film:Eye Filmmuseum
- Photo:Huis Marseille
- Photo:Foam Photography Museum
- Interior design:Museum Van Loon
- Interior design:Huis Willet-Holthuysen
- Interior design:Luther Museum
- Interior design:Multatuli Museum
- Architecture design:Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder
- Architecture design:Grachtenmuseum
- Architecture design:Museum Het Schip
- Architecture design:Van Eesteren Museum
- Art center:de Appel
13 Design and Architecture Museums in Amsterdam
Visiting museums in the Netherlands, you can discover designs such as houses and interiors from the 16th to 18th centuries, modern art and architecture from the 19th to 20th centuries, and the latest fashion and digital art of the 21st century.
There are a total of 41 museums in Amsterdam that accept the Museum Card. Of these, 13 of them are museums specializing in design and architecture.
Fashion Design:Fashion for Good
The Fashion for Good Museum in Amsterdam is an innovative museum dedicated to sustainable and ethical fashion. It offers visitors an immersive and interactive experience focused on exploring the future of fashion and promoting positive change within the industry.
Film:Eye Filmmuseum
The Eye Filmmuseum is a prominent cultural institution dedicated to the preservation, exhibition, and celebration of film and cinematography. It is one of the Netherlands’ most significant film museums.
The museum boasts extensive exhibition spaces where visitors can explore various aspects of film history, including its technological advancements, artistic innovations, and cultural significance.
Exhibitions often feature artifacts, props, costumes, posters, and multimedia installations related to iconic films and filmmakers.
Photo:Huis Marseille
Huis Marseille is a photography museum. It is situated in a beautifully preserved canal house that dates back to the 17th century, making it not only a space for contemporary photography but also a historical landmark.
Huis Marseille showcases a diverse range of photography exhibitions throughout the year, featuring both established and emerging photographers from around the world.
Also the museum has a permanent collection of photography, including works by renowned photographers as well as pieces by lesser-known artists. This collection provides insight into the evolution of photography as an art form and highlights significant trends and developments within the medium.
Photo:Foam Photography Museum
Foam Fotografiemuseum is a renowned photography museum. Since its inception in 2001, Foam has established itself as a leading institution dedicated to contemporary photography, showcasing the work of both established and emerging artists from around the world.
Foam hosts a dynamic program of temporary exhibitions that cover a wide range of photographic genres, styles, and themes. These exhibitions often feature thought-provoking and visually striking works that push the boundaries of the medium and explore pressing social, cultural, and environmental issues.
Interior design:Museum Van Loon
The Museum Van Loon is a historic house museum. It is situated in a beautifully preserved canal house that dates back to the 17th century and provides visitors with a glimpse into the lifestyle of Amsterdam’s wealthy elite during the Dutch Golden Age.
The Museum Van Loon is housed in the former residence of the Van Loon family, a prominent Amsterdam regent family. The canal house, situated on the Keizersgracht canal, features elegant architecture, period furnishings, and exquisite decor, providing visitors with an immersive experience of 17th-century Dutch domestic life.
In addition to the interior of the canal house, the Museum Van Loon also features beautifully landscaped gardens that offer a tranquil retreat from the bustling city streets. Visitors can stroll through the gardens, admire the seasonal blooms, and enjoy views of the historic architecture surrounding the property.
Interior design:Huis Willet-Holthuysen
Huis Willet-Holthuysen is a historic canal house museum.
The museum is housed in a beautifully preserved canal house that was once the home of the Willet-Holthuysen family, a wealthy Dutch patrician family. The house features period furnishings, decorative arts, and architectural elements that reflect the tastes and lifestyle of its former residents.
The museum garden is a hidden gem in the central Amsterdam, an oasis of calm way from the busy streets. You can wander through the formal garden, which features manicured lawns, flowerbeds, and a charming tea house, and enjoy views of the historic architecture surrounding the property.
Interior design:Luther Museum
The Luther Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of Lutheranism in the Netherlands and the role of Martin Luther in the Protestant Reformation.
The museum features exhibits that trace the history of Lutheranism in the Netherlands, from its introduction in the 16th century to the present day. These exhibits explore the spread of Protestantism, the formation of Lutheran communities, and the influence of Luther’s teachings on Dutch religious and cultural life.
Interior design:Multatuli Museum
The Multatuli Museum is dedicated to the life and works of Eduard Douwes Dekker, better known by his pen name Multatuli.
Multatuli was a 19th-century Dutch writer famous for his novel “Max Havelaar,” which exposed the abuses of colonialism in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and advocated for social justice.
The museum features exhibitions that explore Multatuli’s life, writings, and his impact on Dutch literature and society. Visitors can learn about the historical context in which Multatuli lived and worked, as well as the controversies surrounding his ideas and activism.
Architecture design:Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder
Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder, which translates to “Our Lord in the Attic Museum,” is a unique historical museum. It is housed in a 17th-century canal house and is known for its hidden Catholic church located in the attic.
The highlight of the museum is the clandestine Catholic church, which was established in the attic of the canal house during the 17th century when Catholic worship was prohibited in Amsterdam. The church, complete with an altar, pulpit, and pews, provided a secret place of worship for Catholics during a time of religious persecution.
In addition to the hidden church, Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder features meticulously preserved period rooms that showcase the domestic life of Amsterdam’s wealthy merchants during the Dutch Golden Age. Visitors can explore the furnished rooms, including the kitchen, bedrooms, and living spaces, to get a sense of daily life in 17th-century Amsterdam.
Architecture design:Grachtenmuseum
The Grachtenmuseum, also known as the Museum of the Canals, is a museum located in Amsterdam dedicated to the city’s iconic canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The museum explores the rich history of Amsterdam’s canal ring, which was constructed during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. Visitors can learn about the engineering feats behind the canal’s construction, the urban planning principles that shaped the city, and the social and economic significance of the canals.
Architecture design:Museum Het Schip
Museum Het Schip is dedicated to the architectural movement known as the Amsterdam School, with a focus on the social housing projects designed by architects of this movement.
The museum is housed in Het Schip (The Ship), a striking example of Amsterdam School architecture. Designed by architect Michel de Klerk, Het Schip was originally a public housing complex built in the early 20th century. Its unique design features expressive brickwork, curved lines, and intricate details inspired by the Art Nouveau and Expressionist movements.
Museum Het Schip showcases exhibitions that explore the history, principles, and legacy of the Amsterdam School architecture and the social housing movement in Amsterdam. These exhibitions may include photographs, architectural drawings, models, and other artifacts that provide insights into the design philosophy and social context of the Amsterdam School.
Architecture design:Van Eesteren Museum
The Van Eesteren Museum is dedicated to the life and work of Cornelis van Eesteren, a Dutch architect and urban planner known for his contributions to the modernist movement in urban design.
The museum provides insights into the historical context of urban planning in the Netherlands, particularly during the early to mid-20th century when van Eesteren was active. You can learn about the social, economic, and political factors that influenced urban development during this period, as well as the emergence of modernist principles in architecture and planning.
Art center:de Appel
De Appel Arts Centre, commonly referred to as de Appel, is a contemporary arts institution. Founded in 1975, de Appel has established itself as a leading platform for contemporary art, fostering experimentation, dialogue, and collaboration within the international art community.
De Appel organizes a dynamic program of exhibitions showcasing the work of emerging and established artists from around the world. These exhibitions often feature interdisciplinary and experimental artworks that challenge conventional boundaries and explore pressing social, political, and cultural issues.