Planning update: The Amsterdam Museum is active, but its former temporary location at Amstel 51 closed on December 1, 2025. Its historic Burgerweeshuis building on Kalverstraat is being renovated and is expected to reopen in 2029. For a visit in 2026, choose Amsterdam in Motion at Westergas or Huis Willet-Holthuysen on Herengracht.
Amsterdam in Motion is the best default choice for visitors who want an accessible introduction to the city’s past, present and future. Huis Willet-Holthuysen is better for period interiors, canal-house history and a smaller historic setting.
Ticket prices, opening hours and access information were last verified on August 14, 2026. Check the official booking calendar before travelling because schedules and exhibitions can change.
In this guide
- Amsterdam Museum locations open in 2026
- Is the Amsterdam Museum worth visiting?
- What to expect at Amsterdam in Motion
- Tickets, opening hours and reservations
- How to get to Amsterdam in Motion
- Family visits and accessibility
- Huis Willet-Holthuysen
- Where to see the collection during renovation
- Frequently asked questions
Amsterdam Museum locations open in 2026
The Amsterdam Museum now operates as a network museum. It presents the city’s history through two permanent locations, online collections and changing programmes produced with partners across Amsterdam.
| Location | Current status | Best for | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam in Motion | Open | Multimedia city history, urban change and families | Pazzanistraat 19–23, Westergas |
| Huis Willet-Holthuysen | Open | Canal-house interiors, domestic history and decorative arts | Herengracht 605 |
| Burgerweeshuis | Closed for renovation | Future main Amsterdam Museum | Kalverstraat, city centre |
| Amsterdam Museum aan de Amstel | Closed since December 1, 2025 | No longer an Amsterdam Museum visitor location | Amstel 51 |
The museum was founded in 1926 and manages more than 100,000 works and objects connected to Amsterdam. Its exhibitions consider the city’s achievements as well as subjects such as migration, inequality, housing, colonial history and social change.
Is the Amsterdam Museum worth visiting?
Yes, Amsterdam in Motion is worth visiting when you want a clear, visual introduction to how Amsterdam developed and how the city is changing. It is especially useful near the start of a trip because its city model helps connect neighbourhoods, infrastructure and historical events.
It is not a conventional gallery filled with rows of historic paintings. The principal experience combines a scheduled multimedia presentation with interactive installations about Amsterdam’s past, current pressures and possible futures.
Amsterdam in Motion is best for
- First-time visitors who want an overview of the city
- Families with school-age children
- Visual learners who prefer models, projections and interactive displays
- Visitors interested in housing, migration, canals, football, fashion, protest and urban planning
- Wheelchair users who need a lift and accessible exhibition floors
Choose another museum when
- Your priority is Dutch master paintings rather than Amsterdam’s urban story
- You want an extensive traditional art collection
- You are primarily interested in Vincent van Gogh
- You expected to visit the former orphanage building on Kalverstraat, which remains closed
What to expect at Amsterdam in Motion
Amsterdam in Motion is curated by the Amsterdam Museum and occupies a former industrial building in Cultuurpark Westergas. Its centrepiece is a large model of Amsterdam animated by projection mapping, sound and storytelling.
- A scheduled 15-minute presentation: The show traces Amsterdam’s development from a settlement beside the Amstel to the present-day metropolitan area.
- A 200-square-metre city model: The model contains approximately 30,500 buildings and is presented as the world’s largest multimedia model of a city.
- A self-paced interactive exhibition: The upper floor examines housing, migration, nature, canals, protest, Ajax, fashion, trade, the port and future city planning.
The audiovisual presentation is offered in Dutch and English. Select the correct language when reserving because the model show begins at a fixed time.
Amsterdam in Motion tickets, opening hours and reservations
Current ticket prices
| Visitor | Admission |
|---|---|
| Adult aged 18 or older | €18 |
| Student | €14 |
| CJP cardholder | €11 |
| Child aged 0–17 | Free |
| Museumkaart, I amsterdam City Card, Stadspas, Go City and eligible partner cards | Free, subject to card conditions |
A timed reservation is required for every visitor, including visitors using a free-admission card. Amsterdam in Motion is cashless, so bring a debit card, credit card or another accepted digital payment method.
Current opening hours
- Monday–Wednesday: 11:30–16:30
- Thursday–Friday: 10:00–17:00
- Saturday–Sunday: 10:00–18:00
Use the official hours and prices page and the live ticket calendar as the final check before departure.
How to get to Amsterdam in Motion
Amsterdam in Motion is in the Westergas cultural complex northwest of the canal belt. Public transport is usually easier than driving.
- From Amsterdam Centraal: Take bus 18 or 21 to Van Hallstraat, followed by a walk of under 10 minutes.
- By tram: Tram 3 and tram 5 stop near Westerpark.
- By bicycle: Westergas is straightforward to reach by Amsterdam’s cycle network; park only in designated bicycle areas.
- By car: Paid parking near Westerpark is limited and expensive. An outer-city P+R followed by public transport is normally more practical.
Arrive before the booked time. The multimedia presentation begins according to the selected timeslot rather than running continuously.
Family visits and accessibility
Children aged 17 and under enter Amsterdam in Motion free of charge, although each child still needs a reserved ticket. Children of all ages are admitted, and the venue recommends the experience most strongly for ages six and older.
The short model presentation, moving projections and interactive upper-floor displays make this a more approachable option for many families than a large traditional collection museum.
Accessibility at Amsterdam in Motion
- Wheelchair-accessible exhibition spaces
- Lift serving the exhibition floors
- Accessible toilet
- Seating in several areas
- Free admission for a necessary personal companion
- Guide dogs and registered assistance animals permitted
Important limitation: The grandstand facing the city model does not have designated elevated wheelchair positions. Contact the venue before visiting when sightlines or additional support are a concern. Review the official accessibility information for current details.
Huis Willet-Holthuysen: the historic-house location
Huis Willet-Holthuysen is the Amsterdam Museum’s second permanent location. The double-fronted canal house at Herengracht 605 contains period rooms, a ballroom, decorative arts, a formal garden and displays examining the lives of both its affluent residents and household staff.
Choose this location for a quieter, object-led visit in Amsterdam’s Centrum. It provides a closer look at canal-house life than the technology-led presentation at Amsterdam in Motion.
- Opening hours: Daily, 10:00–17:00
- Adult admission: €15
- Student or CJP admission: €7.50
- Ages 0–17: Free
- Audio tour: Available in Dutch, English, French and German
Accessibility warning: The historic house is not wheelchair accessible and has no lift. Visitors must use multiple stairs to see the principal rooms. Check the official visitor page before booking.
Where to see the Amsterdam Museum collection during renovation
Only a portion of the Amsterdam Museum’s collection is displayed at its current visitor locations. The institution continues to lend objects, produce exhibitions with partners and make collection records available online while the main building is renovated.
Selected major works from the collection are temporarily displayed at the Rijksmuseum. The Amsterdam Museum also maintains an online collection and current programme showing what can be seen at each location.
Which Amsterdam museum matches your interests?
| Your main interest | Best match |
|---|---|
| How Amsterdam developed and how it is changing | Amsterdam in Motion |
| Canal-house interiors and domestic history | Huis Willet-Holthuysen |
| Dutch master paintings and national history | Rijksmuseum |
| Vincent van Gogh’s art, life and letters | Van Gogh Museum |
Practical tips before you book
- Do not navigate to Amstel 51 for an Amsterdam Museum visit.
- Choose Dutch or English when reserving Amsterdam in Motion.
- Reserve a timeslot even when using a Museumkaart or another free-admission card.
- Bring a digital payment method because Amsterdam in Motion is cashless.
- Check the official agenda when a particular temporary exhibition matters to your visit.
- Review location-specific accessibility information rather than relying on a general museum listing.
FAQs
Is the Amsterdam Museum open in 2026?
The institution is active, but its Kalverstraat main building and former temporary location at Amstel 51 are closed. Visitors can go to Amsterdam in Motion at Westergas or Huis Willet-Holthuysen on Herengracht.
Where is the Amsterdam Museum now?
The principal city-history experience is Amsterdam in Motion at Pazzanistraat 19–23 in Westergas. The museum also operates Huis Willet-Holthuysen at Herengracht 605.
How much are Amsterdam in Motion tickets?
As last verified on August 14, 2026, adult admission is €18, student admission is €14, CJP admission is €11 and visitors aged 17 and under enter free. Several museum and city cards are accepted.
Do I need to reserve Amsterdam in Motion in advance?
Yes. Every visitor needs a timed reservation, including children and visitors using a Museumkaart, I amsterdam City Card or another free-admission card.
Is Amsterdam in Motion suitable for children?
Yes. Children aged 17 and under enter free, and the multimedia model and interactive installations are designed to engage families. The venue recommends the experience most strongly for children aged six and older.
Is the Amsterdam Museum wheelchair accessible?
Amsterdam in Motion has wheelchair-accessible exhibition floors, a lift and an accessible toilet, although its model-show grandstand has no designated elevated wheelchair positions. Huis Willet-Holthuysen is not wheelchair accessible because it has many stairs and no lift.
When will the main Amsterdam Museum reopen?
The museum currently expects its renovated Burgerweeshuis building on Kalverstraat to reopen in 2029. Construction schedules can change, so check the official museum website for updates.
The bottom line
In 2026, treat the Amsterdam Museum as a network rather than a single building. Book Amsterdam in Motion for the clearest overview of the city’s history and current challenges. Choose Huis Willet-Holthuysen for a historic canal-house visit. Do not use the old Amstel 51 address, and check the official programme when the reopening timeline or a temporary exhibition affects your plans.
