History · Amsterdam · Netherlands
6 historic sites to see in Amsterdam
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House and Begijnhof. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 8–9 hours across 3 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 8–9 hours
- Areas
- Museum Quarter, Canal Ring and Old Centre
Historic sites in Amsterdam
.jpg){kind=link}
Museum · Museum Quarter
1.Rijksmuseum
Beyond the Golden Age it covers 800 years of Dutch history, from ship models and dolls' houses to Asian art, and a public cycle path runs right through the building's central passage.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
,_Anne-Frank-Huis_--_2015_--_7185.jpg){kind=link}
Museum · Canal Ring
2.Anne Frank House
The visit passes through the bare rooms where she wrote her diary, which is displayed at the end.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Historic site · Old Centre
3.Begijnhof
It holds Het Houten Huis, one of only two wooden houses left in the centre, dating from around 1528, and a Catholic chapel hidden behind ordinary house fronts.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Palace · Old Centre
4.Royal Palace Amsterdam
Its marble Citizens' Hall has maps of the world and the heavens inlaid in the floor, surrounded by some of the finest Golden Age sculpture in the country.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Old Centre
5.Our Lord in the Attic
Steep stairs lead through the merchant's rooms to the galleried church under the roof.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Museum · Old Centre
6.Rembrandt House Museum
The rooms are furnished from the inventory taken at the time, with his studio, his cabinet of curiosities and a large collection of his etchings; etching and paint-making demonstrations are often held.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Museum Quarter | Rijksmuseum | 3 hours |
| Canal Ring | Anne Frank House | 1–1.5 hours |
| Old Centre | Begijnhof, Royal Palace Amsterdam, Our Lord in the Attic and Rembrandt House Museum | 30 minutes + 1 hour + 1 hour + 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 1 free, 3 low cost, 2 mid-priced. Book ahead for Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House. The longest visit is Rijksmuseum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Rijksmuseum: Timed tickets are sold online; book a day or more ahead in high season.
- Anne Frank House: Entry is only by online ticket for a set time slot, and tickets sell out quickly.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Museum Quarter and Canal Ring): Rijksmuseum → Anne Frank House, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Old Centre): Begijnhof → Royal Palace Amsterdam → Our Lord in the Attic → Rembrandt House Museum, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. One of the quietest months, with occasional frost; good for museums and brown cafés.
- January: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold, grey and short days, but quiet museums, low prices and the Light Festival along the canals.
- November: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds. Wet and windy with short days, but Museumnacht, Sinterklaas and the Light Festival bring evening events.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Canal Ring (Grachtengordel) — Gabled merchants' houses along the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht
- Jordaan — Narrow streets, brown cafés and Saturday markets west of the canals
- Museum Quarter (Museumkwartier) — Grand villas, Museumplein and the Vondelpark
More of Amsterdam
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Amsterdam?
Rijksmuseum. The Dutch national museum's Gallery of Honour leads to Rembrandt's The Night Watch, with Vermeer's The Milkmaid, Frans Hals portraits and Delftware nearby.
+Which of these are free in Amsterdam?
Begijnhof.