Experience Amsterdam’s History in Motion – The New “Amsterdam in Motion” Museum
To celebrate Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary, a brand-new immersive museum called Amsterdam in Motion opened on October 27, 2025, in the former gasworks area of Westerpark.
Curated by the Amsterdam Museum, this interactive attraction lets you experience the city’s past, present, and future through stunning visuals, sound, and large-scale models — and the best part is, Museumkaart holders get in for free!
Forget the idea of a boring “history lesson.” Here, the city of Amsterdam literally comes to life through film, light, and sound. It’s a next-generation history experience you can see, hear, and feel.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes it so special.
What Is “Amsterdam in Motion”?
Amsterdam in Motion takes you on a time-travel journey — from the era when Amsterdam was still underwater, to the city’s birth through land reclamation, its Golden Age prosperity, everyday life through the centuries, and finally, the sustainable city of the future.
It’s an immersive, 15-minute experience featuring:
- Powerful sound and visual storytelling
- Projection mapping on a massive city model
- Screenings available in both Dutch and English
- A visually intuitive way to learn history and culture
It’s like taking a time trip through Amsterdam in just 15 minutes — not just for tourists, but surprisingly fascinating for locals, too.
Highlight: The Giant Moving City Model & Immersive Film Show
The main attraction is a 200-square-meter (about 110 tatami mats!) scale model of Amsterdam.
Every canal and building is carefully recreated, and three huge walls around the model turn into panoramic screens for an epic visual performance.
The story unfolds like this:
- The birth of Amsterdam – from sea to reclaimed land
- The Golden Age of trade and exploration
- Everyday life and waves of migration
- Urban design – canals, railways, housing
- The city’s sustainable future
As the visuals and sound merge with the physical model, the whole city seems to breathe and move.
You just sit and watch — yet somehow, you feel pulled into Amsterdam’s living history.
I honestly expected “just another model exhibit,” but it turned out to be so much more immersive than I imagined.
Fun Highlights & Takeaways
- Feels like a next-generation history class
- Projection mapping makes the city’s evolution easy to grasp
- After the show, you can walk around the huge model — and even spot your house or neighborhood
- Perfect for both visitors and locals — a new way to “learn” about Amsterdam
After the 15-minute show, everyone crowded around the model, pointing and laughing — “That’s my street!” “When was this canal built?”
Even though it’s not interactive, it becomes interactive naturally, just through people’s curiosity.
Second Floor: A Miniature City Filled with Local Stories
After the main show, head upstairs to the second-floor exhibition area.
It’s designed like a small Amsterdam neighborhood, where you can walk through themed sections — stations, canals, harbors, even the famous Ajax football club.
Highlights include:
- A bicycle pulled up from the canal (complete with rust and shells!)
- Archival videos of the harbor
- An Ajax fan culture corner
- The history of the central station
That rusty, shell-covered bike really hit me — such a perfect symbol of Amsterdam.
You can almost imagine how many more are still sitting at the bottom of the canals right now.
How Long to Visit & Who It’s For
Activity ~ Duration
Immersive Film Show: ~15 minutes
Model & 2nd Floor Exhibits: ~20–30 minutes
Total time: Around 30–50 minutes.
Recommended for:
- Museumkaart holders
- Anyone curious about how Amsterdam was built
- Families with kids (it’s quiet but visually captivating)
* Honest opinion: €18 is a bit pricey for a short visit, but totally worth it if you have the Museumkaart.
Also, note that you can’t enter mid-show, so arrive 10 minutes before your reserved time.
Final Thoughts: A Place to Truly “Understand” Amsterdam
Amsterdam in Motion is a rare museum where you can feel the city’s history, culture, and future vision — all within one immersive space.
For locals, it offers a fresh appreciation of your hometown.
For travelers, it’s the perfect pre-walk experience that makes your city strolls so much more meaningful.
Launched as part of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary celebrations, this special exhibit might be temporary, so if you’re curious — go soon!