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Amsterdam Museums and discounts

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We're headed to Amsterdam next week - Dad, Mom and 14 year-old, and meeting some friends that will double this crew. We have from our arrival on Thursday morning until our cruise starts Sunday - call it 3 days. I've been looking at the Museums and discounts and would welcome any feedback on what to do or not. We already have tickets to the Anne Frank Museum Friday morning, and would like to definitely see the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, take a canal cruise and maybe visit some churches (Oude Kerk and Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder?) or the Maritime museum. We may rent bikes one day if the weather is good - or visit more museums or shop if it's not. We would like to get a transportation card one way or another so we don't have to pay per trip.

I've been looking over the I amsterdam city card and Holland passes and the Medium Holland passes would be about 10 Euros less than a 48 hour Amsterdam card (for the whole family), but is there a convenience factor to one versus the other?

Seems our boys enter free into the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, but would we still need to get them tickets for entry? We would have to pay for GVB cards and canal cruise, and they would get a discount into some of the other Museums. For those reasons I figured it was better to not get them the card/pass. If we are getting quicker entry into the two big museums it would seem to be worth something, but I'm just not sure how that works with the kids in tow sans cards and passes.

Thanks to all for your help.
Bob

Posted by
330 posts

Hi Bob,
Been to Amsterdam with my family, including two teenagers. We did a lot off walking and only used the trams once.
At both museums, we purchased the tickets ahead of time. Didn't do any passes. You can get the free tickets for the teenagers when you are getting your own via the website on the internet.
We also did the Anne Frank house too.
If you rent bikes, then you wont need the trams.

Hope this helped.
Enjoy your time in Amsterdam!
-Olga

Posted by
1005 posts

Don't get the Holland or I amsterdam cards. They aren't worth the cost. For transit, Amsterdam has 3-day transit passes that are a good deal. Be sure to stagger your art museum visits--Rijks one day and Van Gogh the other. Too many art museums in one day will exhaust you and turn off your boys. I'd take them to the Dutch Resistance Museum if you have the time--great exhibits and some good kid-oriented presentations as well. Have fun.

Posted by
1078 posts

Did Amsterdam this June with our 11YO grandson and I would definitely recommend the "I Amsterdam" card; included in the card was transportation in the city, "Our Lord in the Attic," a canal boat tour, discounted tickets for Van Gogh and Rjkes Museum(didn't go this time, however we did with his older brother on an earlier trip) and "Museum NEMO" which was loaded with teens(the teen sexuality exhibit seemed to be particularly popular with this age group) and many hands-on exhibits. Also included was the "Tulip Museum" which is across the street from the Anne Frank house so you can do something while waiting to line-up-by the way, the timed entry has made a world of difference in the experience.
Suggest you check out what else is on it- we liked having one card for everything. Finally, don't miss the Vondelpark on a Saturday-take some wine and food and watch the crowd-it's quite a show. Then, make reservations for dinner at the Seafood Market(reservations required,020-6708355) at 5 Van Baerlestaart-it's the street that splits Vondelpark. Enjoy!

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks all for the feedback and advice. We're getting excited for this first trip to Amsterdam.

For others also going soon, I found out that if you have an I amsterdam card, Holland Pass or Museumkaart for adults, you still need to get "free" tickets for those under 18 to the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. You can get the Rijksmuseum tickets online - no charge and print them from your computer. You need to get in the voucher line at the Van Gogh Museum.

We will probably spread these two museums across a couple of days. So many other things look like fun as well.

Thanks,
Bob

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