Bezoeker kijkt naar hedendaagse kunst in een inspirerende museumomgeving
© Nick Bookelaar

The Art Alliance museums

A masterpiece that leaves you speechless. A building that makes an impression even before you step inside. Art in the middle of the woods, by the sea or in the heart of a historical town. In the Netherlands, art and culture are everywhere and close at hand. With the 16 outstanding and surprising museums across the Netherlands listed below, the Art Alliance showcases what our country has to offer. Because wherever you are in the Netherlands, there’s always a museum to suit your interests and your travel style.

Dutch Masters or modern

Come face to face with Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals and Van Gogh. Artists who forever changed the way we see the Netherlands. Their work is famous the world over. Seeing the Dutch Masters in real life is truly awe-inspiring. Admire masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam or the Mauritshuis in The Hague. In Haarlem, discover just how lively Frans Hals’s portraits still are. Ideal for a city break packed with history, beautiful streets and canals, and unforgettable art. And in the middle of our country, you can immerse yourself in Rietveld’s remarkable works.

On the other hand, it is modern art that really challenges us and offers a glimpse into the world of tomorrow. In creative cities such as Rotterdam and Arnhem, you’ll find museums that focus on new ideas and perspectives. The Kunsthal in Rotterdam is constantly changing its perspective and subject matter. And in that very same city, you’ll be surprised by the extraordinary Depot Boijmans van Beuningen. The building itself is an architectural work of art, both inside and out. And in Arnhem, you could visit Museum Arnhem and combine it with a meal at a good restaurant or a relaxing afternoon in the city. You don’t have to understand everything straight away. That's precisely what makes it powerful.

Visitors view Depot Boijmans van Beuningen Rotterdam

Let yourself be moved by old and new perspectives

Visitors viewing Rembrandt’s The Night Watch at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, one of the Netherlands’ most famous Dutch Master paintings
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Rijksmuseum

More than 800,000 works of art tell the story of the Netherlands.

Visitor photographing Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring at the Mauritshuis in The Hague, home to some of the Netherlands’ most iconic Dutch Master paintings
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Mauritshuis

Find yourself face to face with 17th-century masterpieces such as Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Goldfinch.

Visitor exploring Dutch Golden Age paintings at the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem, one of the Netherlands’ leading museums for Dutch Masters
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Frans Hals Museum

Discover the secret behind the fluid and lively portraits of Frans Hals, a 17th-century innovator.

Woman looking at paintings at Centraal Museum Utrecht
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Centraal Museum

From the Rietveld chair to Miffy: discover how design and innovation have shaped Utrecht for generations.

Depot Booijmans van Beuningen Rotterdam
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Depot Boijmans van Beuningen

From surrealists to design icons: discover a collection full of unexpected connections.

Borstentros by artist Maria Roosen Museum Arnhem
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Museum Arnhem

Fresh perspectives from contemporary artists and a wide-ranging collection of modern art and realism.

Kunsthal Rotterdam sideview
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Kunsthal Rotterdam

A dynamic place where art, photography, design, and pop culture constantly alternate.

Heritage and stories

Outdour art Kröller-Müller Museum Veluwe, Evert Strobos, Palissade

A city or region becomes more interesting once you know its stories: old façades are no longer merely beautiful, squares take on meaning and landscapes begin to speak. You see things in a different light and discern details you wouldn’t have noticed before. If you’re cycling through the Veluwe, be sure to visit the Kröller-Müller Museum and wander through the extensive sculpture garden. Amidst works of art, forests and open fields, you’ll experience how culture and nature complement each other and present new perspectives.

In Leeuwarden, ceramics, regional stories and international influences come together. The Stedelijk Museum Breda has a contemporary view of the city and its society, whilst in Limburg you can discover more about the culture, traditions and history of this distinctive region. This adds an extra dimension to every destination, allowing you to take home more than just lovely memories. A visit to a museum simply helps you to understand places better.

Keramiekmuseum Princessehof Leeuwarden

Experience history beneath your feet

Keramiekmuseum Princessehof Leeuwarden
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Fries Museum & Princessehof Ceramics Museum

Contemporary design and world-famous ceramics tell stories of the past, present and future.

Westfries Museum lady comes down stairs
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Westfries Museum

Discover all about the time when the world came to Hoorn – a prosperous city brimming with adventure, trade and encounters.

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Stedelijk Museum Breda

From the royal heritage of Nassau to contemporary visual culture: expect the unexpected.

A visitor photographs Van Gogh’s painting Sunflowers at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo
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Kröller-Müller Museum

A unique combination of world-class art, nature experiences and a sculpture garden in De Hoge Veluwe National Park.

Limburgs Museum exterior
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Limburgs Museum

Get to know the people of Limburg, their stories, traditions and archaeological treasures.

Surprising collections

Outdour art Kroller Muller museum Jean Dubuffet, Jardin d’émail Kröller-Müller Museum Veluwe, Gelderland

The best-known routes don’t always provide the best discoveries. Museums that are difficult to pigeonhole are the ones that can make the biggest impression. Because of a special collection, a striking building or an unexpected combination of art, landscapes and history. Places like these invite you to linger and look around, without any set plan. You’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised, discover new connections and realise how a small detour can sometimes lead to the most extraordinary story of your journey.

Take a trip to Dordrecht to discover six centuries of Dutch paintings. At Singer Laren, you can see The Thinker, alongside refined black-and-white drawings and colourful paintings. Combine a visit to the Museum Beelden aan Zee with a refreshing walk on the beach at Scheveningen, followed by a coffee amongst the sculptures in the museum garden. In Drenthe, archaeology, art and landscapes come together in a surprising way. Various places offer art collections that defy conventional categories: quirky, diverse and well worth the detour, and always showcasing something new.

Museum Beelden aan zee met sprookjes beelden op de boulevard

Quirky: encountering new things at every turn

Wall with posters from the Singer Laren Museum
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Singer Laren

A museum, theatre and sculpture garden in a place that has been an inspiration for generations of artists.

Visitor surrounded by Dutch Golden Age landscape paintings at the Dordrechts Museum in Dordrecht
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Dordrechts Museum

What stories do the silent witnesses of bygone times have to tell? Be amazed by six centuries of art.

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Drents Museum

Embark on a journey around the world, from prehistoric finds to internationally acclaimed exhibitions.

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Museum Beelden aan Zee

Enjoy modern sculptures half-hidden amongst the dunes whilst taking in views of the sea and the dunes.