Museum District Guides by City

Plan Your Museum Day with Ease – Explore Dutch Cities by District

Visiting museums in the Netherlands is easy and rewarding when you know where to go. Our city-by-city guides show you exactly how to navigate museum-rich districts—whether you're strolling through Amsterdam’s Museumplein, exploring The Hague’s royal center, or discovering modern gems in Rotterdam. With walking routes, transport tips, and downloadable maps, you’ll experience more art, less hassle.

🟦 Amsterdam – Museumplein & Beyond

Amsterdam’s cultural heart is centered around Museumplein, a green urban plaza surrounded by the city’s top museums.

Key Museums (Museumplein):

  • Rijksmuseum – Dutch Golden Age art, Rembrandt’s Night Watch
  • Van Gogh Museum – The world’s largest collection of Van Gogh
  • Stedelijk Museum – Contemporary and modern art
  • Moco Museum – Banksy, Warhol, and pop culture icons

Nearby Gems:

  • Foam – Photography exhibitions near the canal belt
  • Amsterdam Museum – Stories of the city in the heart of the old center
  • Jewish Museum – Cultural quarter with 4 historic synagogues
  • NEMO Science Museum – Interactive family-friendly exhibits in a ship-shaped building
  • H'ART Museum (formerly Hermitage) – Rotating international exhibitions

🟨 The Hague – Art, Royalty & Reflection

The Hague is compact and walkable, with most museums near the city center or Noordeinde Palace.

Key Museums:

  • Mauritshuis – Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Rembrandt, and Dutch masters
  • Escher in Het Paleis – Optical illusions in a former royal palace
  • Kunstmuseum Den Haag – Mondrian, De Stijl, and fashion exhibitions
  • The National Gallery – Dutch history and classical painting collections
  • Children’s Book Museum – Interactive exhibits for young visitors

🟥 Rotterdam – Modern, Bold, and Unexpected

Rotterdam’s museums are innovative and close to the city center or within walking distance of each other.

Key Museums:

  • Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen – The world’s first publicly accessible art storage
  • Kunsthal – Diverse, rotating exhibitions in architecture by Rem Koolhaas
  • Maritime Museum – Ship models, navigation tools, and interactive harbor exhibits
  • Witte de With Center – Contemporary art in an edgy, experimental space
  • Wereldmuseum Rotterdam – Cultural artifacts from around the world

🟩 Utrecht – Stories, Science & Dutch Design

Utrecht is compact, with museums nestled in its medieval streets and canals.

Key Museums:

  • Centraal Museum – From Utrecht Caravaggisti to modern design
  • Museum Catharijneconvent – Christian heritage and medieval art
  • Railway Museum – Trains and travel through history, perfect for families
  • Speelklok Museum – Musical automata and self-playing instruments

🟧 Leiden – The City of Discovery

Leiden combines natural history, art, and academic depth, all within walking or biking distance.

Key Museums:

  • Museum De Lakenhal – Golden Age painters and modern exhibitions
  • Naturalis Biodiversity Center – Dinosaurs, wildlife, and science
  • Rijksmuseum Boerhaave – History of science and medicine
  • National Museum of Antiquities – Egyptian mummies and Roman artifacts