Amsterdam Museums

Have you considered the Dutch Resistance Museum? It gives a very comprehensive coverage of the Nazi occupation of Netherlands as well as the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies. It is done much like the Schindler Factory Museum in Krakow in that it gathers in the visitor, sometimes without them knowing it. The Resistance Museum includes some information regarding Anne Frank.

I will also be in Amsterdam about that time. I knew about Vincent moving to the Hermitage but knew nothing about needing to make reservations. I plan to get a Museum Card - are reservations needed in addition to this? I've just looked at the RS Amsterdam book and he says nothing about reservations. Do you guys know something I don't? Thanks!! Shelley, have you been checking out restaurants?

We have been in Amsterdam three times, the Van Gogh Museum four times, the Rijksmuseum three times, and the Resistance Museum once. There is often a line at opening and throughout the day but it moves fast. What causes a holdup is when tour groups have preference over the commoners. We haven't had reservations for any museum, nor have we bought museum passes. We line up, pay at the door, and don't worry about the extra planning of getting ready before we get there.

We were there last October. Great time to visit as our weather was wonderful! We did not reserve ahead for any of the museums other than Ann Frank House. Our reservation for AFH was just after it opened for the day. I was shocked at how many people were already in regular line! The reservation entrance is to the left of the regular entrance - we just walked in so I am glad we had it. Our hotel desk attendant advised us to visit the other museums in the afternoon to avoid crowds and tours. We took his advice (around 2 pm) and never waited in a line for more than a few minutes. Did not know that the mini-Van Gogh had moved....but, we went to the Hermitage for a special exhibit and did not wait in line there either. In London...mind the gap....in Amsterdam....mind the bikes. I have never seen a person riding a bicycle (incredibly fast) while smoking and talking on a cell phone at the same time along with having a (non-helmeted) child sitting on the back! My daughter-in-law attended college there for a year and made up a song she sang while biking..."I WILL NOT DIE TODAY!"

I went to the Hermitage a couple of weeks ago for the Impressionist exhibition. At around 3 pm on Sunday, there was a fair line of people, but it moved pretty quickly. One of the hold-ups is that everyone seemed to be offered the museum pass, which then had to be explained and a choice made. . . I remember seeing really long lines for the Van Gogh Museum, when I went to the House of Bols across the street, so there may be more people heading to the Hermitage than for the Impressionists. There was a separate line for people with reservations, but I think the museum pass didn't help. Check just how much of the Rijksmuseum is open. I skipped it, since there were only 12 rooms open and a fairly high admission price. I went to the Dutch Resistance Museum, learned a lot and was very impressed, both by the presentation and by the Dutch resistance to the Nazis.

"...Check just how much of the Rijksmuseum is open. I skipped it, since there were only 12 rooms open and a fairly high admission price..." Those 12 rooms house some of the most important/valuable pieces of art in the world, which more than justifies the high-admission price.

@Ralph. Hope you won't hate me when I tell you I am not a Jerry Jones fan!

We visited all 3 in June (but VG in its old house) and purchased reserved tickets online for all of them. Turned out there was no line at the Rijks 10 min. before it opened, so we went right in. That said, we had only 2 days in Amsterdam, so I was glad to have the reservations and not worry about lines. Very easy to do online.
The condensed Rijksmuseum was definitely worth it. The best of the museum without all the walking!

Definitely get reservations for the Anne Frank Huis. It's small and very popular with school groups. If there's just one school group just ahead of you, nobody else fits in there ...

Shelley, Because this trip is over an early October weekend I would sdtrongly recommend advance reservations for all three of these activities. The added cost is minimal compared to standing in line for an hour or more at each...

Okay Ralph I'll bite or am I just out of the loop "Latin lettuce". I am unaware of this term. Please fill this ole gal in.

He's talking about marijuana.

Am I getting old or what? Won't mention my age but I will remember the Latin Lettuce. Thanks for the history lesson.