Amsterdam is famous for its museums, with more than 50 of them around the city that showcase a wide range of art and historical artefacts, such as the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. However, what if you’ve already visited all the popular ones and you still want to explore more? Or what if you want to avoid the crowds? Here are 5 museums that are off the beaten path and are perfect for you to learn something unexpected.
Kattenkabinet (The Cat Cabinet)
To all cat lovers, this is the museum for you. Founded by Bob Meijer when his beloved cat died, the Cat Cabinet houses various paintings, posters and sculptures that centre around the furry felines. As you browse through this unique collection, learn more about the involvement of cats in art and culture.
Does looking at all the cats make you want to pet a real one? Well, you’re in luck, because a few cats actually roam the halls of the museum, with at least 5 watching over the art at all times. So be sure to give them a good scratch on the head for taking good care of this place dedicated to their kind.
Address: Herengracht 497, 1017 BT Amsterdam
Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm
Saturday - Sunday: 12pm - 5pm
Tickets:
Adult: €7
Student: €4
Child (below 12): Free
The Mouse Mansion
After the Cat Cabinet, why not visit their supposed enemy? Don’t worry, there aren’t any actual mice here. Created by Karina Schaapman, The Mouse Mansion is a miniature toy set built for her series of children’s books telling the story of two mice friends, Sam and Julia. Explore the many tiny rooms of this mansion, with its many inhabitants and incredible detail.
The Mouse Mansion is more than just a museum; it is also the studio where the sets for the book series are created. It acts as a gift store as well, selling DIY kits that let you build your own tiny mouse kitchen and living room back home.
Address: Eerste Tuindwarsstraat 1HS, 1015 RT Amsterdam
Opening Hours:
Wednesday - Sunday: 11am - 6pm
Micropia
Go even tinier than mice and visit Micropia, the world’s only museum of microbiology. Explore the invisible world of microbes and learn how they play an important role in our everyday lives, even though we can neither see nor feel them. Talks are also held by on-site lab technicians, who can answer any questions you may have.
This museum may seem like an art gallery as well, with its wall lined with hundreds of petri dishes on which different colonies of microbes are grown. So take your time to look at these petri dishes, and you might just discover the beauty of these microscopic creatures.
Address: Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, 1018 CZ Amsterdam
Opening Hours:
Monday - Sunday: 9am - 6pm
Tickets:
Adult: €16
Child (3-9): €14
Student: €7.50
Tickets must be reserved online.
Museum Tot Zover
Now for something a little morbid and solemn. Museum Tot Zover is a museum about death, fittingly located in Amsterdam’s largest cemetery. Learn about Dutch customs regarding death and funerals, as well as how death is dealt with in various cultures and societies around the world, through the museum’s collection of photographs, posters, and other historical artefacts.
Address: Kruislaan 124, 1097 GA Amsterdam
Opening Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday: 11am - 4pm
Tickets:
Adult: €7
Youth (13-18) and Seniors (65 and above): €5
Student: €3
Child (0-12): Free
Electric Ladyland
Now for a museum experience that will surely brighten your day, both figuratively and literally! Visit Electric Ladyland, the world’s first museum of fluorescent art. Transport yourself back in time to the hippie vibes of the 60s as you explore the collection of fluorescent minerals, art, and objects.
The museum is also interactive, with a Fluorescent Environment room. Visitors are more than welcome to contribute to this “participatory art”, and play a part in adding to this crazy, psychedelic room.
Address: Tweede Leliedwarsstraat 5, 1015 TB Amsterdam
Opening Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 2pm - 6pm
Tickets:
Adult: €5
Child (below 12): Free
Tickets must be reserved online
Amsterdam has more than its share of museums, some more popular than others. So once you’re done visiting the famous ones, why not explore one of these lesser well-known museums and gain more insight into the more unusual parts of our world and everyday life.
