Museumkaart - thoughts on 5 museum limit

After further perusing the Museumkaart website, I found this language that seems to confirm it is a maximum of five visits total.

The Temporary Museum Card purchased at the counter of a Museum has a validity of 31 days from the day the Temporary Museum Card was purchased. A Temporary Museum Card entitles you to a maximum of five museum visits. In order to extend the validity of the Temporary Museum Card to one year, the Cardholder must register on the Website (via the "Register your Museum Card" or via "My Museum Card" page). For the period of validity, however, the day on which the Museum Card was purchased remains the determining factor. After registration, there is no longer any restriction for the number of museum visits.

I would still like to find out if they are enforcing this and stopping someone on the sixty visit.

The new rules have been discussed quite a lot on TA. Sadly the new rule means a maximum of 5 visits in total using the temporary card. If you want to use the card more often, than you would have to register.

The Museumkaart was never aimed at foreign tourists who mostly stay in Amsterdam. It is a way to promote Dutch museum (culture, history, ...) to those who live (t)here. That means that not only the better known museums in Amsterdam benefit from this card, but also bigger and smaller museums in the rest of NL.

I think something is lost in translation. Maybe one of the NL posters can help with the fine print. We had a temporary Museumkaart which we used for 3 weeks when we visited Holland last month. We visited 14 museums all around the country with our card. We didn’t visit any of them more than once.

Wow I’m so glad we slipped in under the new, how new?, rule. We visited little 5€ village history museums as well as the major more expensive open air and art museums at 15€+. We loved them all and it was such a rich experience for us just a few weeks ago.

I get that, Floris, but if they just want to promote it for Dutch residents, why even have the temporary card? It's not worth buying if you can only see five museums. Most tourists will hit the Anne Frank house, the Rijks, the Van Gogh, the Stedelijk, and Hermitage. All the others will be affected. When I was there, I saw the Dutch Resistance Museum, the Holocaust museum, the Willet-Holthuysen, Museum of Bags and Purses, the Olde Kerk, the Mauritshuis, the Frans Hals - so many museums that I would never have been able to afford to see if I had to pay for every individual one.

It's sad because I really think that the smaller museums will be hurt by this. And maybe they don't care - I know that Amsterdam has complained about tourism. Maybe this is their way of trying to keep tourists away.

Mona, that's what I was wondering - I was there the last two weeks of May and had no problem using my card. So I'm questioning whether this new rule being strictly enforced against tourists. If any travelers are there now in the Netherlands, it would be helpful if you could verify anything about this.

@Mona: The new rule is just a week or two old. Before that the temporary card could be used for as many museum visits as you liked within the 30 day validity. The number of visits of the temporary card is now 5 within 30 days. If you register than the photo card is valid for un unlimited number of visits within a year. Photo cards will only be sent to addresses in the European Union.

I get that, Floris, but if they just want to promote it for Dutch residents, why even have the temporary card?

That is for Dutch residents as well. You can go to any museum, buy the temporary card, visit the museum, register afterwards and than wait a couple of days for the photo card and visit more museums. Otherwise you would first have to order a museumkaart online before you could visit a museum. That would mean less people buying the card.

You used to be able to buy the year pass at the museums. This card did not have a photo. Sadly that caused some fraud like AirB&B hosts who lent their (personal) card to visitors. As an anti fraud measure the photo card was introduced. And to have the same sort of service (easy to buy an museum card), they introduced the temporary card.

So I'm questioning whether this new rule being strictly enforced against tourists

No it is a new rule for every one

Floris, it's still prejudiced against tourists - Dutch residents (in fact, Europeans in general) have the option of registering the temporary card, which then removes the 5 museum limit. North Americans and other non-European travelers, however, do not have that option because you need a Europe address and a European bank card in order to register even the temporary card. I just tried to register mine and it is not possible (mine does not expire until June 17th).

There are other and better ways of doing this - it really eliminates the motivation for tourists to buy this card. Why would anyone? It's certainly not cost effective anymore. Maybe it's Amsterdam's way of forcing tourists to get the Iamsterdam card? I don't know - I will be curious to see what response I get from their website.

And when I questioned whether it was strictly enforced against tourists, I am assuming that tourists are the ones mostly using the UNregistered temporary card since most Europeans have the option of registering it to remove the 5 museum restriction.

Floris, it's still prejudiced against tourists

That is not unique. There are other discount cards (like the railway discount card) which are also only available to resident or people who have a Dutch bank account. I assume in the States there will also be discounts which are only valid to certain groups.

There are other and better ways of doing this

agreed

it really eliminates the motivation for tourists to buy this card. Why
would anyone? It's certainly not cost effective anymore.
I agree again, but... the museumkaart was never meant to be used excessively in a short period of time. It is meant as a year long pass.

Maybe it's Amsterdam's way of forcing tourists to get the Iamsterdam
card?

This has nothing to do with the municipality of Amsterdam. They are not a party in this. The Museumkaart is an independent foundation. And very important: their aim is not "museum in Amsterdam", but "museum in The Netherlands".

And when I questioned whether it was strictly enforced against
tourists, I am assuming that tourists are the ones mostly using the
UNregistered temporary card since most Europeans have the option of
registering it to remove the 5 museum restriction.

No, Dutch residents use the temporary card as well. They will not however visit 5 museums in a week. Normal use would be one or two museums in a week (or even in a month). So they will not have a problem with the new maximum. Even other Europenans will only benefit from registration if the return to NL within a year.

Even other Europeans will only benefit from registration if the return
to NL within a year.

Actually, other Europeans will benefit even if they don't return, because they are not limited to 5 museums once they register their card. The website is very clear that if you register your temporary card online, the 5 museum limit goes away. So if a European traveler comes to the Netherlands and registers their temporary card, they can use it as much as they want for 31 days. A non-European cannot register the temporary card because they don't have a Euro address and bank card.

We can discuss all we want the underlying motivation behind this rules - I'm just pointing out that I think the fraud (and I admit, it's a problem) could be addressed in some other way. I think it will hurt the smaller museums, considering how many non-Europeans visit the NL.

Actually, other Europeans will benefit even if they don't return, because they are not limited to 5 museums once they register their card. The website is very clear that if you register your temporary card online, the 5 museum limit goes away.

Not quite... After registration you will receive a new card, a photo pass, at the address you used during registration. This photo pass does not have a limit. After registration or receiving the photo pass (this is not clear yet) the temporary card becomes
invalid. Registration does not lift the maximum of 5 visits from the temporary pass.

If you stay for more than 5 days in NL and you can receive mail on your holiday address, you can use the Dutch registration form. That means that after registration the photo card will be sent to the Dutch address without additional cost (so no need for a SEPA bank account). This will take 3-5 days.

I think it will hurt the smaller museums, considering how many non-Europeans visit the NL.

Most likely not. As we see here, but also on the TA forums, that most tourist are interested in the larger museums in Amsterdam and sometimes The Hague. Never heard anyone on these forums asking for instance about:
https://tiendschuur.net , http://museumdezwartetulp.nl/site/nl/ , http://www.fruitteeltmuseum.nl , https://www.debastei.nl/nl or http://www.katwijksmuseum.nl . And to be honest... Tourist will visit these well known museums in Amsterdam even when they cant use the Museumkaart.

Not quite... After registration you will receive a new card, a photo pass, at the address you used during registration. This photo pass does not have a limit. After registration or receiving the photo pass
(this is not clear yet) the temporary card becomes invalid.
Registration does not lift the maximum of 5 visits from the temporary pass.

Now we're just arguing about semantics - it is clear that registration does lift the maximum of five visits. The only issue is that you're saying it becomes a full pass rather than temporary. That could be - but it doesn't change the fact that it's still prejudicial towards non-European travelers.

Now we're just arguing about semantics - it is clear that registration does lift the maximum of five visits. The only issue is that you're saying it becomes a full pass rather than temporary.

This is not about semantics... If a foreigner (or rather anyone) registers the card, the new photo pass (without any limitations) will be sent to his home address. So he wont be able to use that photo pass until his next visit to the Netherlands. After registration the temporary card, which has still a maximum of 5 visits, becomes invalid, even if the 30 days are not up yet.

I still agree that they should ship the card to any location in the world and add credit card as a payment method. But that would still mean you could only enjoy the unlimited photo card during your 2nd visit to The Netherlands.

We'll be in the Netherlands in 3 weeks and had planned on buying the Museumkaart pass. In fact, when arranging for timed entry tickets (before I knew about the limit) to the Rijkesmuesum, Anne Frank Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum, I had to indicate I would be paying with the pass. We will also be visiting two other museums that don't require timed entry tickets, and when I added up the regular cost, I will be saving 12 euro per person. So, even with the 5 museum limit, the pass is still a good option for us. Now, if only the TripKey is up and running, things will be good!

We'll be in the Netherlands in 3 weeks and had planned on buying the Museumkaart pass. In fact, when arranging for timed entry tickets (before I knew about the limit) to the Rijkesmuesum, Anne Frank Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum, I had to indicate I would be paying with the pass. We will also be visiting two other museums that don't require timed entry tickets, and when I added up the regular cost, I will be saving 12 euro per person. So, even with the 5 museum limit, the pass is still a good option for us.

Julie, I'm confused (which is not unusual for me). :) But when you add up the Anne Frank (€10), the Rijks (€17.50) and the Van Gogh (€18), it comes to €45.50. The price of the Museumkaart is €59.90. In order to save €12 per person, you need to find two remaining museums for a total of €2.4. Even the smaller musuems, like the Willet-Holthuysen, aren't cheap - the WH is €10.

My math skills aren't great but I don't see how you are saving €12 per person - am I missing something?

Mardee-The other two museums make up the cost. You're math is correct, but I hadn't put down the other two prices. The ones I listed were the ones I with timed entry tickets-the other two museums we need to be flexible with our times/dates.

Several questions regarding Museumkaart. Since there is now a 5 museum limit can I still use it to enter the Van Gogh on
two separate days?

If I purchase a private tour to the Van Gogh Museum do I still need to purchase a separate entrance fee or use the Museum karate that day?

It seems that some of the folks contributing to this thread are under the mistaken impression that foreign countries owe visitors the courtesy of offering them discounts on tourist activities.

While this new rule is not good for tourists, it has nothing to do with prejudice against foreigners. The Museumkaart is a benefit local residents are entitled to. There is no reason the Dutch should extend this benefit to foreign visitors. The old rule allowed foreign visitors to get a great deal on Dutch museums. The rule change, it seems to me, is designed to ensure that the benefit goes primarily to residents, as it was intended.

The temporary card enables residents to buy and start using the card while they wait for their permanent card to arrive. If I go to Macy's and open a charge card, they give me a temporary card I can start using immediately until my permanent card arrives. Same thing.

Floris is absolutely correct. There is no prejudice. And I fail to see how this will hurt smaller museums. If you were going to lots of extra museums with a Museumkaart, you weren't paying extra. I don't know how much revenue these small museums get for each Museumkaart entry from tourists, but I can't imagine it was a significant amount.

I think there are some disappointing attitudes of entitlement on display by some of the participants in this thread. We are not such an enormous financial boon to the Netherlands that they should roll out the red carpet for us give us big discounts for visiting their museums or riding their public transportation systems or eating at their restaurants. A little humility and perspective might be in order.

I assume in the States there will also be discounts which are only
valid to certain groups.

This is absolutely true.

I am going to the NL in October - staying in Amsterdam, but planning day trips to Haarlem, Delft, and somewhere else. I find the current Museumkaart page confusing. It says:
"According to new rules, only Dutch residents can use the Museum Card for a full one year. To others the card will expire after 31 days and they have to go through some paperwork to get it. The Museumkaart website is in dutch language only and online purchase is only to Dutch residents."

Then it goes on to encourage purchase of the 'for tourists' Amsterdam City Pass (Reijksmuseum, VanGogh, airport train both ways, canal boat ride and 20% off on 'many' other sites). It also requires one to pre-schedule the VanGogh museum visit for a given day/time.

Does anyone know what the paperwork might consist of to get the Museumkaart or how/where it is done? It seems that under the new system one might have to buy a separate 'city pass' or each city visited. That won't work for me very well since back issues may mean I can't visit multiple museums on those day trips.

Well said, Lane. The Museumkaart changes may be another small way the Dutch are trying to take back their country from the huge uptick of tourists-some of whom don’t act as appropriately as they should.
(https://www.npr.org/2018/08/07/632012775/in-amsterdam-even-the-tourists-say-there-are-too-many-tourists).

Where can I find an English version of the Museumkaart information? I do understand it is primarily intended for residents, but assume many of you on this thread have accessed plenty of info about it and may not speak Dutch. We will be in Amsterdam for 2 weeks end of Sept.

@Coach there is no English language available at the official site. You’ll need to use a secondary site such as this one http://www.amsterdamtips.com/tips/museum-kaart-amsterdam.php but even sites such as this are not 100% up to date. For instance the linked site doesn’t list the Van Gogh museum as one needing a timed entry reserved online only to accompany your Museumkaart. This policy at the VG museum started this spring.