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Madame Tussauds Amsterdam

Madame Tussauds Amsterdam (Dam Square 20, Amsterdam) — Marie Tussaud, better known to the world as “Madame Tussaud”, sculpted her first wax statue, of the French writer Voltaire, in 1777; since then, her name and empire have traveled the world and introduced millions to her craft of ultra-realistic wax models. Madame Tussaud’s Amsterdam location was the museum empire’s very first overseas venture, and remains one of the capital’s most popular tourist attractions.

With an enviable location on Dam Square (which boasts splendid views from its upper floors), Madame Tussauds is conveniently central museum, and fits in well with a tour of the square and its monuments. Both children and adults alike are wowed by the craftsmanship and sheer realism of the waxworks, and there’s hardly a museum in town that offers more photo opportunities to its visitors.

Most people know what to expect at Madame Tussauds: wax sculptures of celebrities, heads of state, and other notables. But each location also subtly introduces visitors to the pop-cultural landscape of its country. Next to Princess Diana, visitors can see the current Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and her beloved mother, Queen Wilhelmina; next to Barack Obama, the former Dutch Prime Minister Jan-Pieter Balkenende, who has suffered countless remarks on his resemblance to Harry Potter. And in no other Madame Tussauds can beer lovers pose beside Freddy Heineken, late president of the Heineken brewery. Hours: 9:30 am – 9:30 pm daily. See their website for updated ticket pricing: https://www.madametussauds.com/amsterdam/en/

Maastoren

Maastoren (Wilhelminaplein 1, Rotterdam) — this skyscraper on the Maas is the tallest building in the Netherlands. The office complex consists of two elements, a high tower of 165 meters and a lower one of nearly 100 meters. There’s a parking lot from floors 2 through 10. The aluminum facade transitions to a lighter color towards the top, ending in the glass sky lobby on the roof.

Museo Joods Historisch

Joods Historisch Museum (Jewish Historical Museum)( Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1) — this museum is dedicated to Jewish history, culture and religion, in the Netherlands and worldwide. It is the only museum of its kind in Holland. First opened in 1932, and was initially housed at the Waag (Weighing House) on Nieuwmarkt square. Following the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War II, the museum was forced to close and much of the collection was lost. The museum reopened its doors in 1955. In 1987, it moved to a new location, occupying four former synagogues on Jonas Daniël Meijerplein square, across the road from the Snoge or Portuguese Synagogue (for which joint tickets are sold).

The museum’s collection includes some 11,000 art objects, ceremonial objects and historical objects, only some five percent of which is on display at any one time. It has two permanent exhibitions as well as regularly changing temporary exhibitions. The exhibition on the ground floor focuses on Jewish traditions and customs. The presentation is inspired by the former interior of the synagogue. Ceremonial objects from the museum collection are shown in locations where they used to be placed in the synagogue. This gives visitors a sense of the surroundings in which they find themselves and enables them to taste the original synagogue atmosphere.

Admission: €17 (adult), €8.50 (youth ages 13-17 years), €4.25 children € 6-12 years, free for children under 6 years. Hours: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm (daily).

Hermitage Amsterdam

Hermitage Amsterdam (a dependency of the Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg)(Amstel 51, Amsterdam) — The Hermitage Amsterdam is the Dutch branch of the world-famous Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Located on the banks of the Amstel River, the Hermitage Amsterdam is an exhibition space and cultural education centre with a focus on Russian history and culture. Hermitage Amsterdam displays rotating selections of pieces from the Hermitage collection in Russia. These include paintings, graphic works, sculptures, applied art and archaeological discoveries. Hermitage Amsterdam has a special children’s section and regularly holds workshops focused on fun and creativity.

Tsar Peter had a special relationship with Amsterdam, having lived in the city for several years. He founded the very first public museum in Russia, and some of the exhibits at the original Hermitage were items he acquired in the Netherlands. Back then, the museum offered visitors a free shot of vodka to entice them inside. The two countries have been major trading partners since the Golden Age, and Amsterdam’s Canal Ring inspired Peter the Great to found the city of St Petersburg. Admission: €25 (adult), €18 (youth from 12 years old), free for children up to 11 years. Hours: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (daily).

Havenmuseum

Havenmuseum (Leuvehaven 50-72, Rotterdam) — The collection of the Havenmuseum clearly shows the port of Rotterdam between 1850 and 1970. Fully refitted historic transport ships, steam engines and ship motors bring bygone days to life. Over the years, the port’s activities have been moved to locations such as Botlek, Europoort and Maasvlakte, yet these new ports are now virtually inaccessible for visitors. The museum provides insight into what life at the port used to be like and visitors can take a round trip on the water bus, former port ferry or steam towboat. Admission: €12.50 (youth/adult 16 years and above), €9.00 (children ages 4-15 years), free for children under 4 years. Hours: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday – Saturday), 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Sunday.

Torre Euromast

Euromast Tower (Parkhaven 20, Rotterdam) — The Euromast Tower is the highest observation tower in the Netherlands. At 100 metres, the tower provides a fantastic panoramic 360° view of the city and much further afield. Visitors who want to go even higher can take the Euroscope, a rotating lift, another 85 metres to the top. Daredevils can rope slide or abseil from the top of the Euromast Tower. The shop down below sells all kinds of original souvenirs, all with the Euromast theme. Admission: €9.75 (youth/adults ages 12-65), €8.75 (seniors), €6.25 (children ages 4-12), free for children (ages 0-3). Hours: 9:30 am – 11:00 pm (daily / April – Septembeg

Casas cubo

Cube Houses (Kijk-kubus, Overblaak 70, Rotterdam) — the cube houses were designed by Piet Blom, who saw his design as a tree and the entire complex as a forest. Blom wanted to develop a village within a large city; a safe haven where various different functions could take place.

The Kijk-Kubus (Museum House) is a fully furnished show home in the Blaakse Bos, an unusual collection of cube-shaped homes. The interior was specially developed to give visitors an impression of how it’s possible to live in a cube house with sloping walls. Scale models, photo panels and a screen provide visitors with extra information. Admission: €2.50 (youth/adult ages 12-65), €2 for seniors, €1.50 (children ages 3-12), free for children under 3 years. Hours: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm (daily).

Ayuntamiento

City Hall (Rotterdam Town Hall, Coolsingel 40, Rotterdam) — On 15 July 1915, Queen Wilhelmina laid the foundation stone for the City Hall on Coolsingel, opposite Stadhuisplein. The monumental building has a symmetrical design, constructed around a courtyard, with the main entrance in the middle. The courtyard, laid out as a small park, can be accessed via the street which runs through the middle of City Hall.

Beeldenroute Westersingel

Beeldenroute Westersingel (Rotterdam) — Along the Westersingel canal, which runs between Chinatown and the Museumkwartier, the Beeldenroute Westersingel (Westersingel Sculpture Route) displays various works of art from Rotterdam’s International Sculpture Collection. This sculpture route features 17 works by major sculptors such as Rodin, Carel Visser, Joel Shapiro en Umberto Mastroianni.

Anne Frank Huis

Anne Frank Huis (Anne Frank House) (Prinsengracht 267, Amsterdam) — where young Jewish girl Anne Frank and her family hid for two years during World War II. Today it’s one of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam, with almost a million visitors a year.

Having fled from persecution in Germany in 1933, Anne, her sister Margot, their parents and four other Jews went into hiding on 5 July 1942. Living in an annex behind Prinsengracht 263, they were sustained by friends who risked everything to help them; a bookcase marks the entrance to the sober, unfurnished rooms. But on 4 August 1944 the occupants were arrested and transported to concentration camps, where Anne died with Margot and their mother. Her father, Otto, survived, and decided that Anne’s diary should be published. The rest, as they say, is history: tens of millions of copies of the diary have been printed in a total of 55 languages.

In the new wing, there’s a good exhibition about the Jews and their persecution during the war, as well as displays charting racism, neo-Fascism and anti-Semitism, and exploring the difficulties in fighting discrimination; all have English texts. To avoid the famously long queues, arrive first thing in the morning, or (in summer) after 7pm.
Interestingly, the Amsterdam South apartment the Franks previously lived in now hosts persecuted writers from around the world. Learn more at: www.annefrank.org Admission: €10.50 (adult), €5.50 (children ages 10-17), €0.50 (children ages 0-9 years). Hours: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm (daily)