Interested in Dutch art, culture, history or science? Here’s a list of some of the most visited and interesting museums in the Netherlands that both expats and tourists should visit.
Museums in the Netherlands
Choose location
Aalsmeer
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Dutch Flower Art Museum
Kudelstaartseweg 1, 1431 GA
The Flower Art Museum is a great boost to Aalsmeer as a globally-renowned horticultural town. It is the world's first museum dedicated entirely to contemporary art inspired by flowers. The annual celebration of flowers, Aalsmeer Flower Festival, takes place at Aalsmeer, both at the Flower Art Museum, as well as at the Horticultural Museum of Aalsmeer.
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Aalsmeer Horticultural Museum
Praamplein, 1431 CV
Aalsmeer Horticultural Museum brings visitors back in time to the rich history of flowers in Aalsmeer from 1300 to the present day. There is a permanent exhibition at the museum, as well as frequently updated temporary exhibitions and flower shows. The annual celebration of flowers, Aalsmeer Flower Festival, takes place in June at two venues: the Aalsmeer Horticultural Museum (Historische Tuin), as well as at the Dutch Flower Art Museum.
Amstelveen
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Cobra Museum
Sandbergplein 1, 1181 ZX
Cobra Museum of Modern Art is dedicated to three art movements of the 20th century: Vrij Beelden, Cobra and Creatie, which caused a revolution in the Netherlands. The museum is named after Cobra, the artistic movement associated with Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam, was a breakthrough in modern art that continues to influence art theory and artistic expression to the present day.
Amsterdam
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Anne Frank Huis
Prinsengracht 267
Open to the public since 1960, the canal-side house serves as a present-day reminder of the war, the plight of its Jewish inhabitants, Anne Frank’s indomitable spirit and the celebrated diary she wrote during the time she spent in hiding in its secret annexe. Today the Anne Frank House (Anne Frank Huis) is a world-famous museum that receives around a million tourists yearly and the most visited building of its kind in Amsterdam.
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Bible Museum
Herengracht 366-368, 1001 AK
The Bible Museum is where art and culture meet the Bible, in a monumental building full of history. Archaeological discoveries, ancient artefacts, centuries-old models of the temple of Solomon and Herod, religious objects from the Judeo-Christian tradition and even aromas bring stories from the oldest and most-read books to life. The Bible Museum (Bijbels Museum) presents how the Bible came into existence and its influence on Dutch society through the ages.
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Rembrandt House Museum
Jodenbreestraat 4, 1011 NK
The Rembrandt House Museum (Rembrandt Huis) consists of the house and studio of the famous 17th-century Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn, as well as a modern extension. Rembrandt lived and painted there from 1639 until his bankruptcy in 1656. The original interior is reconstructed and the museum is also located in an adjoining modern building which houses the entrance, the museum shop and the two exhibition rooms.
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Rijksmuseum
Museumstraat 1
Located at Amsterdam's iconic Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum is one of the national museums of the Netherlands and the largest museum in the whole country. Its collection comprises over a million objects dedicated the arts, crafts and history of Amsterdam and the Netherlands, dating from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. It also has an Asian collection in its special Asian Pavillion.
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Nieuwe Kerk
Gravenstraat 17, 1012 NL
The Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) on Dam Square in central Amsterdam is no longer used as a church and is now a renowned exhibition space. It is famous for its stained glass windows, its organ, which is the largest historical organ in the Netherlands, and of course its much-talked-about exhibitions of treasures from other countries, cultures and religions, as well as photography exhibitions such as World Press Photo.
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FOAM Photography Museum
Keizersgracht 609, 1017 DS
Each year, FOAM Photography Museum hosts four major exhibitions, exhibiting different genres from art photography to fashion photography, as well as a lot of work by renowned documentary photographers. FOAM (which stands for Fotographiemuseum Amsterdam) is housed in a famous old building: completed in 1716, Keizersgracht 609 first operated as a warehouse. After coal merchant and art buyer Carel Joseph Fodor (1801-1860) took ownership and also bought the building next door, his last will and testament stipulated that the canal depot be used to store his impressive collection of artworks.
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Stedelijk Museum
Museumplein 10
Located in the heart of Amsterdam’s museum district, the Stedelijk Museum is dedicated to modern and contemporary art and design from the early 20th century up to the 21st century. It's subdivided into many different sections, such as painting, sculpture, installation, posters, photography, graphic design, industrial design, art books and moving image and sound.
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Hermitage Museum
Amstel 51
Hermitage Amsterdam is the largest satellite branch of the famous Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Located in a striking old building formerly known as the Amstelhof on the bank of the Amstel river, it was opened in 2009. As well as frequent temporary exhibitions, the Hermitage houses two permanent exhibitions: one about Dutch-Russian relations and one about the history of the magnificent building.
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Jewish Historical Museum
Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1
The Jewish Historical Museum (Joods Historisch Museum) is part of Amsterdam's Jewish quarter, providing deep insight into one of Amsterdam's most prolific cultures throughout history, including during the horrific events that Jewish people endured during World War II. The museum displays Jewish religious objects as well as Jewish art, historical artefacts, and multimedia presentations. It is the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated to Jewish culture.
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Tropenmuseum
Linnaeusstraat 2, 1092 CK
Tropenmuseum is one of the three constituents that make up the Dutch National Museum of World Cultures, one of Europe’s leading ethnographic museums, renowned for its collection and, more importantly, its focus on universal themes that connect humans worldwide. The permanent and temporary exhibitions display objects, photographs, music and film from many different cultures and touch on various social issues of our world.
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Van Gogh Museum
Stadhouderskade 55, 1072 AB
A visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a unique experience. The museum houses the largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh in the world, providing an opportunity to track the artist's development through time, and to compare his paintings to works by other artists from Van Gogh's time.
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National Maritime Museum
Kattenburgerplein 1, 1018 KK
The National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) shows how Dutch culture has been shaped by the sea, from commercial shipping to pleasure sailing. Stimulating, interactive exhibits allow visitors to explore over 500 years of maritime history. Ever since 1973, the museum has been housed - very aptly - in a former naval storehouse, built in 1656. Moored just outside is a replica of the 18th-century Amsterdam ship which sailed between the Netherlands and the East Indies.
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NEMO Science Museum
Oosterdok 2, 1011 VX
In 1997, Queen Beatrix opened NEMO Science Museum, the Netherlands’ largest science centre. It's a unique place in Amsterdam comprising five floors packed with interactive scientific and technological things to do and discover. It's old name New Metropolis has been shortened to NEMO. As well as being a celebrated museum, it also has a very popular roof garden with a cafe and an extensive seating area, which is a popular hangout during good weather.
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Museum of the Canals
Herengracht 386
Museum of the Canals (Het Grachtenhuis) is an interactive audiovisual experience which introduces visitors to one of the most important urban development projects in the world: the 17th-century canals of Amsterdam. The museum shows how the canal buildings came to be, starting in 1600 and also why they are so special nowadays in the 21st century.
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Amsterdam Museum
Kalverstraat 92
Amsterdam Museum (previously known as the Amsterdam Historic Museum), through the rich collection of works of art, objects and archaeological artefacts, brings to life the trials and tribulations of Amsterdammers stretching from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. It is located in the old city orphanage between Kalverstraat and Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.
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Ons' Lieve Heer Op Solder
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40, 1012 GE
Ons' Lieve Heer Op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic) is one of the oldest and most remarkable museums in Amsterdam (the second oldest museum in the Dutch capital after the Rijksmuseum) and has been declared a national monument. Behind the characteristic facade of the house by the canal lies a largely original 17th-century home and a completely hidden church.
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EYE Film Institute
IJpromenade 1
The EYE Film Institute, the Dutch centre for film culture and heritage, is dedicated to developing a distinctive film culture in the Netherlands. The earliest film materials at the EYE date from 1895, the very beginning of the Dutch film industry. Its dashing building on the north of Amsterdam's waterfront, which was officially opened in2012, houses a cinematography museum and many movie screens which are home to film festivals and other cinematographic events. It is most commonly reached by visitors from central station via free ferry.
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Cat Cabinet
Herengracht 497, 1017 BT
Cat Cabinet (KattenKabinet), as the name might suggest, is an art museum dedicated to cat-related artworks. Cats depicted by artists, both renowned and lesser-known, are on display there, including works by Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Toulouse-Lautrec and more. Visitors may also encounter some real-live cats wandering around the museum during their visit.
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Moco Museum
Honthorststraat 20, 1071
Moco Museum is a contemporary art museum located on Museumplein, with a mission to attract younger audiences and to make art more accessible to the wider public. Located in the stately Villa Alsberg dating from 1904, Moco typically holds exhibitions of the work of artists with a broad popular appeal, such as Banksy, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst and many more.
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Museum of Amsterdam Illusions
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 143 H, 1012 ES
The creative space at Amsterdam Museum of Illusions is a wonderful and unforgettable day out at the museum, the main participant of which is the spectator. Interactive and amusing, the exhibits play with your perception and teach you about the human brain and science and why you can see things with your eyes that your mind can barely comprehend. Exhibits may (and should) be touched, explored and photographed, as the viewer becomes part of an exciting story!
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Heineken Experience
Stadhouderskade 78, 1072 AE
The historic brewing facility of the world-famous Heineken beer brand welcomes visitors from all over the world to its visitor centre for brewery tours. Beer was brewed in this building from 1867 until 1988, when it moved to a bigger, more modern building outside the city. Visitor tours began in 1991 in its current museum building and by 2001, it had become one of Amsterdam's prime tourist attractions, thus changing its name to the "Heineken Experience".
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Dutch Resistance Museum
The Dutch Resistance Museum (Verzetsmuseum) explores the story of the Netherlands and its people during World War II, through photography, vintage posters, artefacts, films and sound files. The museum sets the scene of the treacherous events of the war, as well as everyday life during the war years, showing the resistance of the Dutch people against the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
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Fashion For Good Experience
Rokin 102, 1012 KZ
The Fashion For Good Experience is the world's first interactive museum dedicated to sustainable fashion innovation. The museum invites visitors to interact and learn about where their clothes come from, how they were made and how the future of fashion has been in need of a change for the better. Every half-year, there's a new carefully curated exhibition with a unique theme that highlights issues regarding fashion, both on the industry level and on a personal level.
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Power of Art House
In an intimate exhibition space on Entrepotdok, Power of Art House is using art to fight indifference. An interactive experience stimulates people to join the dialogue around tricky social and political issues, such as loneliness, corporate propaganda, and the experiences of refugees. International artists get a platform to communicate themes in powerful, satirical, and (at times) provocative ways, bringing attention to problems often ignored by the media. In a time where political engagement is precious, Power of Art House raises important questions without feeding you the answers.
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The Upside Down Museum
The Upside Down Museum is the most interactive museum you can imagine, featuring mesmerising optical illusions and Instagrammable sights! Create amazing selfies while you experience the world in fresh new ways at the Upside Down.
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Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds Museum is situated in the bustling heart of Amsterdam, containing remarkably life-like wax replicas of celebrities. The collection is captivating, featuring wax likenesses of world leaders, Hollywood celebrities, sports personalities, cultural figures and members of the Dutch and British royal families. The original Madame Tussauds Museum opened in London in 1835, and the Amsterdam Madame Tussauds Museum, conceived by the original founder's great-great-granddaughter, opened in 1970s. It was the first branch of the Madam Tussauds Museums to open in mainland Europe.
Appingedam
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Møhlmann Museum
Westersingel 102-104, 9901 GK
Located in Appingedam in the province of Groningen, Museum Møhlmann is a privately-owned museum displaying three permanent collections of realistic and figurative art. The museum is open from April until December each year and is housed in a listed building about 15 minutes from the city of Groningen. The exhibition space extends outside to the garden, where sculptures are on display. As well as contemporary art, there's a small collection of medieval art and objects.
Arnhem
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Arnhem Museum
Utrechtseweg 87, 6812 AA
Arnhem Museum is a museum of modern and contemporary art, as well as applied art and design. Forms of realism make up the core of the museum's collection.
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The Netherlands Open Air Museum
Hoeferlaan 4, 6816 SG
The Netherlands Open Air Museum (Nederlands Openluchtmuseum) is located on a 44-hectare site in Arnhem and comprises buildings from different times in Dutch history and from different parts of the Netherlands, exploring the culture of the everyday lives of ordinary people in times past. There is a heritage tram to transport visitors around the park, where they can see reenactments and replicas associated with the Dutch East India Company, World War I and slavery in the former colonies.
Delft
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Paul Tetar van Elven
Koornmarkt 67, 2611 EC
Paul Tetar van Elven Museum is a collection of paintings, porcelain and antique furniture on display at the former home of the namesake artist. Paul Tetar van Elven (1823-1896) was a painter and teacher of free-hand drawing at the Polytechnical School, the predecessor to the Technical University Delft. He was also an avid collector of porcelain and earthenware, an important point of note in the city of Delft, which is synonymous with all things pottery-related.
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Royal Delft Museum
Rotterdamseweg 196, 2628 AR
The Royal Delft Museum (Koninklijke Delftsch Aardewerkfabriek) is the leading producer of authentic Delft Blue ornamental earthenware and modern earthenware - in fact, it is the only Delft Blue pottery manufacturer left. At the Royal Delft Experience, visitors can discover reams of interesting backstories about the history, craftsmanship and innovation of this remarkable Dutch tradition.
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Museum Prinsenhof Delft
St Agathaplein 1, 2611 HR
Museum Prinsenhof Delft (The Prince's Court Museum) is a palace that has been a museum since 1911. It displays paintings from the 17th century and presents the story of the Eighty Years War against the Spanish and the role of the House of Orange during this period. The building was built as a monastery in the Middle Ages and later became an urban palace.
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Vermeer Centre Delft
Vermeer Centre Delft (Vermeer Centrum Delft) is an arts centre dedicated to the work of the Delft-born painter Johannes Vermeer in the context of the city of Delft where he lived in the 17th century. It comprises reproductions of his paintings, audio tours and a light studio. Visitors can view replicas of Vermeer's famous artworks in chronological order and learn about his methods, to get a glimpse into the life of the Dutch painter.
Den Bosch
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North Brabant Museum
Verwersstraat 41, 5211 HT
North Brabant Museum (Het Noordbrabants Museum) is an art museum in Den Bosch's museum district, which focuses on the art and culture of the North Brabant province of the Netherlands. As well as its permanent collection, some of the notable exhibitions held there have included the works of Hieronymus Bosch, Van Gogh and others.
Eindhoven
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DAF Museum
Tongelresestraat 27, 5613 DA
The DAF Museum in Eindhoven tells the story of the DAF brand of vehicles, which has become the fastest-growing truck manufacturer in Europe. A tour of the DAF Museum will take visitors from one surprise to the next. The inventiveness that has been characteristic for DAF vehicles from 1928 until the present day will even captivate visitors who have no special knowledge on the subject.
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Eindhoven Historic Village Museum
Boutenslaan 161 B, 5644 TV
Eindhoven Historic Village Museum (Eindhoven preHistorisch Dorp) is an archaeological open-air museum, which explores the Iron Age as well as the Middle Ages and other historic periods in the North Brabant province. Visitors can find out how the Romans and the Batavians and other civilizations lived, with replicas of their farming, weaving and spinning equipment. It's important to note that the historic village typically closes each winter.
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Van Abbemuseum
Bilderdijklaan 10, 5611 NH
The Van Abbemuseum is a museum of modern and contemporary art in Eindhoven, focusing on Dutch and international art. The museum has an area of almost 10.000 square metres and exhibits works by Picasso, Mondriaan and Kandinsky. It has one of the largest collections in the whole world of art by Russian avant-garde artist El Lissitzky. It was established in the 1930s by the art collector Henri van Abbe.
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MU Hybrid Art House
Torenallee 40-06, 5617 BD
MU Hybrid Art House zooms in on the hybrid visual culture of the present day, shines the limelight on the artistic talent of the future and carries out artistic research and development. MU art museum stands for the liminal space between "what art is and what art can be". It is located in a former Philips factory building in the iconic Strijp S district of Eindhoven, a neighbourhood that celebrates the city's industrial heritage, and also has a rich online space.
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Philips Museum
Emmasingel 31, 5611 AZ
The history of Eindhoven is intertwined with the backstory of the world-famous electrical and electronic brand Philips. Experience the history of this iconic brand through a fascinating narrative on entrepreneurship and innovation and browse the fascinating photographs, vintage Philips products and artefacts from the company's origins in 1891 until the present day. The museum is curated in both Dutch and English and can be of interest to anyone from age eight and over!
Enkhuizen
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Zuiderzee Museum
Wierdijk 12 - 22, 1601 LA
The Zuiderzee Museum is a museum dedicated to the cultural heritage and history of the Zuiderzee region - a part of the country that changed beyond recognition when it was split in two with the closing of the Barrier Dam (Afsuitdijk) in 1932. The indoor museum was established in 1950, consisting of 17th-century paintings, furniture, costumes and antique boats. It is divided between several buildings. The outdoor part features old-style buildings and a harbour replica.
Enschede
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Rijksmuseum Twenthe
Lasondersingel 129-131, 7514 BP
Rijksmuseum Twenthe is a national museum run by the government. It has a wide and varied collection of art and applied art from the Middle Ages up to the present day. One of the notable parts of its collection is its animal paintings of the early 20th century, as well as many impressive artworks by Dutch painter Karel Appel. Rijksmuseum Twenthe is the largest museum in the east of the Netherlands.
Groningen
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GRID Graphic Museum
Rabenhauptstraat 65, 9725 CC
The GRID Graphic Museum (GRID Grafisch Museum Groningen) is a museum devoted to the history of graphic design, printing and bookbinding. Graphic heritage comes alive in GRID, with novel ways of exhibiting graphic ingenuity. Visitors can marvel at historic printing presses and bookbinding devices and children and adults can take part in fascinating workshops.
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Groningen University Museum
Oude Boteringestraat 44, 9712 GL
The Groningen University Museum is celebrated for its scientific collection of the University of Groningen. There are also many artefacts relating to the history of the university itself, such as clothing, posters and photographs, as well as devices used for research and lecturing. The museum prides itself on providing an in-depth insight into the history of one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands.
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Groninger Museum
Museumeiland 1, 9711 ME
The Groninger Museum is an art museum which has managed to build an extensive and extremely varied collection ever since it was established in 1874. Its temporary exhibitions are as varied as they are prolific. Recent examples include exhibitions dedicated to David Bowie, Auguste Rodin, Ilya Repin, Cuban art and Nordic art.
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Museum aan de A
Brugstraat 24, 9711 HZ
The Museum aan de A used to be the Northern Maritime Museum (Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum), one of the most visited museums in the province of Groningen. It has now been relaunched and revitalised as a museum about the history of the city and province of Groningen, with a focus on the lives of (extra)ordinary Groningen residents. Situated in two beautiful historic buildings, it shows the history of Groningen, its successes and failures, and also hosts a variety of exhibitions, talks, dances and workshops.
Haarlem
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Frans Hals Museum
Groot Heiligland 62, 2011 ES
The Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem focuses on the works of the 17th-century portrait painter Frans Hals and his contemporaries. Alongside this, the museum has a collection of contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries by cutting-edge artists. The Frans Hals Museum is one museum at two locations: "The Hof", which is intimate and "The Hal", which is in a more bustling place, situated at the Grote Markt.
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Teylers Museum
Spaarne 16, 2011 CH
Teylers Museum is the oldest museum in the Netherlands, which has been open to the public since 1784. Furthermore, it's the best-preserved public arts and science building on earth. Its permanent collection comprises fossils, historic instruments for generating electricity and paintings by artists like Rembrandt, Michelangelo and Raphael. It even has some dinosaur fossils!
Heerlen
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Thermen Museum Heerlen
Coriovallumstraat 9, 6411 CA
The Roman heritage of Coriovallum (better known as Heerlen) is presented and preserved by the Thermen Museum Heerlen. The site itself is the predecessor of the current town of Heerlen and presents many items that were found in the direct vicinity. The partially reconstructed Roman bathhouse is renowned as the best-preserved Roman building in the country.
Helmond
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Museum Helmond
F.J. van Thielpark 1, 5707 BX
Museum Helmond has two locations: the 700 year old castle and the Kunsthal, where visitors can enjoy contemporary art. Their museum is an ideal day out for groups, students, families and lovers of art, photography & castles.
Leiden
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Rijksmuseum Boerhaave
Lange St. Agnietenstraat 10, 2312 WC
Rijksmuseum Boerhaave is the Dutch National Museum for the History of Science and Medicine, which opened its doors in 1931. The museum displays historical instruments from all scientific fields, but the most prolific examples are related to medicine, physics and astronomy. Rijksmuseum Boerhaave has 25 rooms, arranged with thematic subgroups, from lenses and prisms to anatomic samples preserved in glass bottles.
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Lakenhal
Oude Singel 28-32, 2312 RA
Lakenhal is a museum of fine art in Leiden. Leiden was a city in which Rembrandt, Jan Lievens, Gerrit Dou, Jan Steen and Jan van Goyen all lived and worked in the same time frame, and this museum pays tribute to that remarkable fact. The building, which means "cloth hall", dates from 1640, originally serving as a guild for cloth merchants. The museum was founded in 1874.
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Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
Rapenburg 28, 2311 EW
The Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) is the national centre of archaeology where you can appreciate the cultures of ancient Egypt, the Near East, the classical world and the early Netherlands. The museum is closely associated with the faculty of archaeology of Leiden University, as the museum began in 1743 with a collection that was bequeathed to the university.
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Japan Museum SieboldHuis
Rapenburg 19, 2311 GE
When you visit the Japan Museum SieboldHuis you are treated to beautiful objects from Japan: fascinating Japanese artefacts behind a Dutch historical facade. The items on display - including maps, art, utensils, plants, animals and rocks - were collected by Philipp Franz von Siebold during his stay at the former Dutch trade colony in Japan between 1832 and 1829.
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De Valk Windmill Museum
2e Binnenvestgracht 1, 2312 BZ
The Falcon (De Valk) is an authentic tower windmill, dating from 1743. This traditional Dutch windmill has seven floors, all of which are open to the public. De Valk became a municipal museum in 1966 and in the year 2000, it became operational as a mill once again, restoring original purpose in addition to its growing popularity as a visitor attraction.
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Leiden Botanic Gardens
Rapenburg 73, 2311 GJ
Leiden Botanical Garden (Hortus Botanicus Leiden) is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands and located in the historical centre of Leiden. Behind the academy building of the Leiden University, you will discover a green oasis with a large collection of plants native to South-East and East Asia, Southern Europe and South Africa.
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National Museum of Ethnology
Steenstraat 1, 2312 BS
The National Museum of Ethnology (Museum Volkenkunde) originated in two national collections. One of these was the Royal Cabinet of Curiosities (Koninklijk Kabinet van Zeldzaamheben) in The Hague, established in 1816 by King Willem I. Together with the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam and the Africa Museum in Berg en Dal, the three museums make up the National Museum of World Cultures.
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Leiden American Pilgrim Museum
Beschuitsteeg 9
Located in a beautifully preserved house built ca. 1365-1370 near the clock tower of the Hooglandskerk, the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum tells the stories of the founders of New England, the Pilgrims. The museum delivers a rich history of pilgrim life in Leiden before the famous passage to what is now America, with a collection of furniture, books, maps, engravings and other artefacts.
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Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR
Naturalis Biodiversity Centre is a natural history and biodiversity museum in Leiden. The museum focuses on biodiversity with a huge world-class collection and a combination of teaching, research, individual experience and projects for educating the general public. One of the most impressive parts of the permanent collection is one of the most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus skeletons ever discovered.
Maastricht
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Museum aan het Vrijthof
Vrijthof 18, 6211 LD
The Museum aan het Vrijthof focuses on history, art and antiques, located on the most famous square in Maastricht. It opened in the mid-20th century, though the building is centuries older. The museum is located in one of the oldest non-religious buildings in Maastricht, the so-called Spanish Government Building, a building which acquired its name in the 16th century.
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Bonnefantenmuseum Maastricht
Avenue Ceramique 250, 6221 KX
The Bonnefantenmuseum Maastricht is the foremost museum of fine art in the province of Limburg. It was founded in 1884, with many gems of 17th-century Dutch, Flemish and Italian painting, as well as contemporary art. The name derives from the French "bons enfants" meaning good children, which was the name of a former convent in which the museum was resident for some years in the 20th century.
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Bureau Europa
Avenue Ceramique 226, 6221 KX
Bureau Europa is a museum in Maastricht related to architecture and urbanism. It hosts not just exhibitions, but also workshops, city tours and lectures in the fields of architecture, urbanism and design. Bureau Europa was founded in 2006 and aims to convey narratives about our cities and surroundings.
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Maastricht Natural History Museum
De Bosquetplein 7, 6211 KJ
The Natural History Museum Maastricht holds more than 550.000 natural objects, while its collections comprise more than 11.000 species, including over 1.000 type specimens. Located in a former monastery near a botanical garden in the historical Jeker Quarter, the museum is dedicated to geology, palaeontology and flora and fauna of South Limburg.
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Bosch Brewery
Wycker Grachtstraat 26
Experience the history of making beer in Brewery Bosch where beer has been brewed since 1758. Visit one of the best-preserved treasures of Maastricht: Brewery Bosch is the oldest surviving complete brewery in Maastricht, complete with a malting house, brewery and even the brewer's house. As an ode to the art of beer brewing in the Netherlands, Brewery Bosch is a cultural treasure.
Nijmegen
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Het Valkhof Museum Nijmegen
Kelfkensbos 59, 6511 TB
Museum Het Valkhof in Nijmegen houses a major collection of Roman antiquities, old masters and modern art. It has existed since 1999 and focuses chiefly on archaeology and art. Even its location has historical significance: it stands on the edge of Valkhof Park, which is the site of a Roman army camp and a citadel built by Charlemagne.
Otterlo
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Kröller-Müller Museum
Houtkampweg 6, 6731 AW
The Kröller-Müller Museum has a world-renowned collection of mainly 19th and 20th-century visual art. Situated in the Hoge Veluwe National Park, it was founded in 1938 by art collector Helene Kröller-Müller. The centrepieces include the large collection of work by Vincent van Gogh and a sculpture garden. It has the second largest collection of Van Gogh works, after the Van Gogh Museum.
Rotterdam
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Tax and Customs Museum
Parklaan 14-16
The Tax and Customs Museum (Belasting & Douane Museum) relates to tax and customs and the history of taxation in the Netherlands. It has a collection that explains the ins and outs of the Dutch tax system over the centuries and a clear insight into the historical evolution of Dutch taxes and their role in everyday life, as well as the customs system of Rotterdam port over the centuries, including anecdotes about smuggling.
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Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum
Museumpark 18, 3015 CX
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. In 1849 the lawyer Boijmans left his art collection to the city of Rotterdam. With the acquisition of the Van Beuningen collection in 1958 the museum got the second part of its name. It is located in the city's museum district, near the Kunsthal and the Rotterdam Natural History Museum.
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Rotterdam Maritime Museum
Leuvehaven 1, 3011 EA
Situated in the bustling heart of Rotterdam, the Rotterdam Maritime Museum is one of the world’s top maritime museums. Established in 1874 by Prince Henry of the Netherlands, it is also the oldest maritime museum in the Netherlands. It possesses 850.000 objects from six centuries of maritime history, including restored ships and cranes of historical significance.
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Het Nieuwe Instituut
Museumpark 25, 3015 CB
Het Nieuwe Instituut (The New Institute) illuminates our rapidly changing world and fosters discussion of topics related to design. This art institute is an important platform for exhibitions, lectures and research on contemporary design, art, architecture and urban planning in the Netherlands. There are guided tours of the building, and additionally, a ticket to Het Nieuwe Instituut also grants access to nearby Sonneveld House Museum.
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Chabot Museum Rotterdam
Museumpark 11, 3015 CB
The Chabot Museum Rotterdam houses a number of different collections, for instance, it manages the private Grootveld Collection that consists of 26 paintings by the Dutch painter and sculptor Hendrik Chabot that date from the period 1940-1945. There are also sculptures, drawings and graphics by Chabot. These collections combine to provide an excellent summary of Chabot’s oeuvre. The white 1930s villa in which the museum is housed has been declared a national heritage site.
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National Museum of Education
Nieuwemarkt 1a, 3011 HP
The National Museum of Education (Nationaal Onderwijsmuseum) houses more than 350.000 objects related to education including chalk boards, ink pots, atlases, photographs, wall-charts and films. As well as exhibitions, the museum also organises guided tours and specially-themed projects of various kinds, giving insights into what shaped Dutch education through the centuries.
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Rotterdam Natural History Museum
Westzeedijk 345, 3015 AA
The Rotterdam Natural History Museum (Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam) is a natural history museum comprising an estimated 400.000 objects, which was established in 1927. It is housed in the Villa Dijkzigt, dating from 1852 and extended in 1995 with a modern glazed pavilion which was designed by the Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat.
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Kunsthal Rotterdam
Museumpark, Westzeedijk 34, 3015 AA
The Kunsthal Rotterdam, located at the edge of Museumpark, hosts about 25 exhibitions a year. It presents culture in the widest sense of the word: old art, new art, design, photography ranging from high art to popular culture. The building, designed by Rem Koolhaas and opened in 1992, is one of the Dutch architectural icons of the 20th century.
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Nederlands Fotomuseum
Las Palmas, Wilhelminakade 332, 3072 AR
The Nederlands Fotomuseum organises exhibitions of and about photography, consisting of images of the 20th and 21st centuries. It is associated with over 150 archives of images by Dutch photographers. The museum is steeped in Dutch history, culture and society and visitors can view over 120.000 images and watch short films from the archives.
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World Museum Rotterdam
Willemskade 25, 3016 DM
The World Museum (Wereldmuseum) in Rotterdam is an ethnographic museum exploring cultures both in the past and in the present. It offers, by its outstanding ethnographic collection of over 1.800 objects, a unique place to absorb and experience a variety of cultures, from Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East. Universal themes of humankind, such as celebration, conflict, mourning, ornamentation and prayer can be traced in multiple contexts.
Schiedam
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Stedelijk Museum Schiedam
Stedelijk Museum Schiedam is an art museum specialising in 20th century and contemporary Dutch art, including many artworks from the Cobra movement of European art. Cobra, the artistic movement associated with and named after the first two letters of each of the placenames of Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam, was a milestone in modern art that continues to influence and inform art theory and artistic expression in the 21st century. The art ranges from paintings to sculptures and from photography to installations.
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National Jenever Museum
The National Jenever Museum in Schiedam is an ode to the traditional Dutch alcoholic drink Jenever (also known as Genever). For those curious about the history of the spirit, as well as the unique distilling process, this museum is enlightening, playful and interesting. It's also a good opportunity to taste different blends of Jenever in the traditional Dutch way, accompanied by well-chosen bites and snacks.
Soest
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National Military Museum
Verlengde Paltzerweg 1, 3768 MX
The National Military Museum is housed in the former airbase at Soesterberg in the province of Utrecht. The museum has a permanent collection of army tanks, planes, helicopters and armoured vehicles on display, as well as frequent temporary exhibitions. The exhibits are a combination of the older collections from the Military Aviation Museum of Soesterberg and the Army Museum of Delft.
The Hague
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Escher in the Palace
Lange Voorhout 74, 2514 EH
Escher in the Palace (Escher in Het Paleis) is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the world-famous Dutch artist M.C. Escher, whose art startled millions of people all over the world. Escher was famous for his optical illusions that play with our perceptions. Located inside the stately Lange Voorhout Palace, it is sometimes simply referred to as the Escher Museum.
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The Hague Museum of Photography
Stadhouderslaan 43, 2517 HV
The Hague Museum of Photography (Fotomuseum Den Haag) opened its doors in December 2002. It is part of the Kunstmuseum The Hague and works closely with the print room of Leiden University Library. It has hosted many prolific exhibitions of the works of some of the most eminent photographers in the world, such as Man Ray, Anton Corbijn, Erwin Olaf and others.
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Museum of Communication
Zeestraat 82, 2518 AD
The Museum of Communication (Museum voor Communicatie or COMM) is the national postal museum and houses interactive exhibits about communications.
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Museon
Stadhouderslaan 37, 2517 HV
Museon is a museum dedicated to culture and science in The Hague. A significant percentage of Museon's visitors are school children as it hosts educational exhibitions and programmes for younger audiences. Its collection is mainly in the areas of ethnology, archaeology, geology, biology, history and science.
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Kunstmuseum
Stadhouderslaan 41, 2517 HV
Kunstmuseum (formerly known as Gemeentemuseum Den Haag) is an art museum in The Hague renowned for its large Mondriaan collection. The building itself is culturally significant, built in the 1930s by the Dutch architect H.P. Berlage. The modern art includes paintings by Degas, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, Mondriaan and more. There is also a print room, a fashion collection, pottery, glass art and musical instruments.
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The Historical Museum of The Hague
Korte Vijverberg 7, 2513 AB
The Historical Museum of The Hague is located in the royal city centre. It tells the story of The Hague, its inhabitants and its government, with frequent temporary exhibitions as well as a permanent collection. The museum is housed in the former archery house of St. Sebastian's guild and dates from 1636. It is built on the site of a gatehouse that was used by the civic guard.
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Prison Gate Museum
Buitenhof 33, 2513 AH
The Prison Gate Museum (Gevangenpoort) tells the thrilling tales of crime and punishment in days gone by. The museum has a history that stretches back seven centuries and is among the top 100 most important monuments in the Netherlands. It is housed next to the 18th-century art gallery founded by William of Orange in 1774.
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The Mesdag Collection
Laan van Meerdervoort 7-F
The Mesdag Collection is a private art museum in The Hague which houses the exceptional collection of 19th-century art assembled by the renowned marine painter Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1831-1915) and his wife Sientje Mesdag-van Houten (1834-1909). As well as paintings, there's also a large collection of Japanese art and pottery.
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Mauritshuis
Korte Vijverberg 8, 2513 AB
The two-storey Mauritshuis is beautifully symmetrical and consists of 6.400 square meters of exhibition space. It was once the residence of count John Maurice of Nassau. Today, Mauritshuis has a large art collection, including paintings by Dutch Golden Age painters. The most famous painting in the Mauritshuis is arguably Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. The museum also features a broad range of works by Rembrandt, Jan Steen, Frans Hals, Hans Holbein the Younger and others.
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Huis van het boek
Prinsessegracht 30, 2514 AP
Huis van het boek is located in the charming former residence of Baron Van Westreenen van Tiellandt (1783-1848) and focuses on the history and development of old and modern books, manuscripts and other prints.
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Turkish Museum
Westhovenplein 125
The Turkish Museum (Turks Museum Nederland) highlights the centuries-old relationship between Turkey and the Netherlands as well as the experiences and memories of the first-generation immigrant workers.
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Louwman Museum
Leidsestraatweg 57, 2594 BB
The Louwman Museum prides itself on being the world's oldest private collection of coaches and cars. In the purpose-built museum in The Hague, there are over 250 cars on display, all collected by the Louwman family. One of the highlights is the Benz Patent Motor Car from 1886. Located near the A44 highway at the edge of The Hague Forest, the 10.000 square metre exhibition space is a treasure for car-lovers of all ages.
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Beelden aan Zee Museum
Harteveltstraat 1, 2586 EL
Visit the only museum in the Netherlands focused purely on sculpture. Located in Scheveningen, the Beelden aan Zee Museum building, designed by Wim Quist, manages to remain out of sight from the dunes. The exhibition consists of portraits, sculpture heads and a fascinating timeline of modern sculpture by sculptors such as Karel Appel, Man Ray, Wim Quist, Tom Otterness and Fritz Koening.
Tilburg
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De Pont Museum
Wilhelminapark 1, 5041 EA
De Pont Museum is a contemporary art museum based in Tilburg, North Brabant. Significant exhibitions at De Pont over the years have included the work of Anish Kapoor, Ai Weiwei, Marlene Dumas and Bill Viola. The museum is named after the lawyer and businessman J.H. de Pont (1915-1987), whose estate provided for the establishment of a foundation to stimulate contemporary visual art in 1988.
Utrecht
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Catharijneconvent Museum
Lange Nieuwstraat 38, 3512 PH
Catharijneconvent Museum is a museum of sacred art in Utrecht. It exhibits the past and present of Christian heritage in the Netherlands and offers insights into the art and cultural history of the Netherlands deriving from Christianity and its influence on Dutch society. It has a collection of objects dating from the early Middle Ages to the present, such as richly illustrated manuscripts, paintings, altarpieces, garments and gold and silver artefacts.
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Centraal Museum
Nicolaaskerkhof 10, 3512 XC
The Centraal Museum is one of the oldest municipal museums in the Netherlands. Museum highlights include the 1.000-year-old "Utrecht Ship" and paintings by Utrecht-born 17th-century artists and Northern mannerists. The Centraal Museum also runs the Rietveld Schröder House Museum and the Miffy Museum, a museum dedicated to the work of Utrecht-born illustrator and children's book author Dick Bruna.
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Sonnenborgh Observatory
Zonnenburg 2, 3512 NL
Discover the secrets of Sonnenborgh: go behind the thick walls of the 16th century bastion to search for cannon emplacements. Climb the steps up to the 19th century telescope domes and gaze at the stars. Sonnenborgh Observatory is an astronomical museum which was the first-ever home of the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute.
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National Railway Museum
Maliebaanstation 16, 3581 XW
National Railway Museum (Spoorwegmuseum) is not just a museum: it is a fascinating environment in which you discover how the railway changed the world. It was opened in 1927 and shows the development of the Dutch railway, from the first-ever Dutch steam engine, through to the present day. It is one of the most charming museums in Utrecht and focuses on the social context of train travel, as well as the technical aspects of trains.
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Speelklok Museum
Steenweg 6, 3511 JP
Museum Speelklok in Utrecht collects, preserves, presents and restores an extensive and internationally renowned collection of self-playing mechanical musical instruments such as barrel organs, clockwork music players, pianolas, player pianos and street organs.
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Utrecht Botanic Gardens
Budapestlaan 17, 3584 CD
Utrecht Botanic Gardens are part of Utrecht University and are open to the public each year from March 1 until December 1. Covering nine hectares, this extraordinary oasis of natural beauty features a rock garden, an evolution garden, greenhouses, a bamboo walkway and more.
Valkenswaard
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Falconry & Cigar-makers Museum
Oranje Nassaustraat 8b, 5554 AG
The Falconry and Cigar-makers Museum consists of two collections, which can be visited in the same building. The falconry explores the history of wealthy falconers who trapped falcons and trained them. Additionally, the museum gives insights on cigar making and its long history, through movies, pictures, documents, tools and utensils.
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Netherlands Museum of Lithography
Oranje Nassaustraat 8c, 5554 AG
The collection of the Dutch Museum of Lithography (Steendruk Museum) comprises book illustrations, cartography, commercial posters and lithographic prints. The museum regularly holds workshops and printing demonstrations. Visitors can learn about stone printing and the great revolution and sprang up in the art of printing by Gutenberg and his printing press.