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Picking up Museumkaart

Posted by (Minneapolis) on

I've been reading about the new rules around the Museumkaart and am *still *a bit confused about the procedure for picking it up the day of our arrival. I understand that now the card allows for a maximum visit to 5 museums. But someone also said that if you choose (as is recommended) to pick up your card at a less busy museum to avoid lines, that this museum will count as one of the five, even if you don't want to visit it.

My question is this: we arrive on Day One and I am thinking with jet lag will not be interested in museum-going on that arrival day. I'd like to just pop into a low-key museum to pick up our Museumkaart and proceed with a relaxing day sans museum-going. (Our first museum stop is the following morning at Anne Frank House, and I have already secured our timed-entry online for 10:30 a.m. on that day.) But from what I've read, along with your timed-entry ticket you must have your Museumkaart already in hand to stand in line to get in. Does it make sense to stand in line to pick up our cards on our arrival day, even though we will be actually visiting AF the following day? I want to be ready for the timed entry without risking a hassle to get the Museumkaart right before our timed entry.

Posted by
2487 posts

... that this museum will count as one of the five, even if you don't want to visit it
I don't know about the requirements for the Anne Frank Huis, but I do know last year I bought a card at a museum a few minutes from my home, without visiting it. It was no problem. Make clear you only want the card, possibly with the explanation that your jet-lagged mind isn't ready yet for a visit.

Posted by
3951 posts

It seems to me that with the new rules you’ll only be able to visit 4 more museums after you just pick it up at museum #1, whichever museum this is for you. Does it make sense cost and time wise to use it for real at just 4 museums for the remainder of your days?

It’s hard to comprehend they way they’ve quickly changed this kaart for tourists this spring/summer. We used it in April-May before this new restriction was in place at 14 museums in 3 weeks. It would be helpful to know if they force you to sign and date it at your first museum now. Prior to this new rule you could leave the name and date part not filled out. Only one museum we visited in the spring looked at that part and indicated we should fill it out but I just smiled, said thank you and put the cards back in my purse.

@ton we too picked up our kaart at a museum in Leiden we didn’t visit in April but it seems like with the new limit they must stamp it or fill it out for the recipient at the first museum ticket office.

Posted by
2487 posts

They make it less and less attractive for foreign visitors.
And then to know the Museumkaart started as a free - yes: free - extra with a train season ticket.

Posted by
143 posts

And then to know the Museumkaart started as a free - yes: free - extra with a train season ticket.

eh no... That was a deal between NS and Museumkaart that started in 1998. There was also a deal between Rabobank and Museumkaart (started in 1991). The museumkaart started in 1981, years before the deals with NS and Rabobank. In 1981 a museum card was priced at 15 guilders for an adult.

Posted by
809 posts

You can indeed stop at a smaller museum to pick up the Museumkaart without using up one of your five visits. We got ours at the Nieuwe Kerk when we were there in June. Since some of the big museums are 15-20 € it saved us money, even with the limit of 5 visits. Have a great trip!

Posted by
186 posts

Thanks to you all for your replies!

Since my inquiry, I have decided that we will stop at the Amsterdam Museum to pick up our Museumkaart on our first day spend some time there and hope our energy holds. I've heard it is one highly recommended to see, and RS does mention in the 2018 guidebook that it is a good museum at which to pick up the card initially (no long lines). It should be a good introduction to the city and its history. Then we'll be all set for Anne Frank the next day, which will leave the 3 main art museums to total the 5 visits. The cost savings isn't super huge, but it should allow for some faster lines and less time wasted!

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