Free entry
Free museums in Amsterdam
9 museums, galleries and other places with free entry
Entry to most of Amsterdam’s big museums is paid. The Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and Eye all sell tickets. What is free here is smaller: a city archive, a chess centre, two art spaces, and a few free corners such as the Rijksmuseum gardens and the roof of NEMO.
Every place below was checked on its own website, and we leave out what we could not confirm. If you plan to visit several paid museums, the Museumkaart is a yearly pass with unlimited entry to over 500 museums in the Netherlands. Opening days and times change, so the link on each one goes to its own site.
Collections and archives
- Stadsarchief Amsterdam Vijzelstraat
The city archive in the De Bazel building. The permanent Schatkamer display and its film room are free and need no booking. The exhibition hall works with online tickets, and not every show there is free.
- Max Euwe Centrum Leidseplein
Chess museum and library named after Max Euwe, the fifth world champion, on the Max Euweplein. Free entry. The centre has announced a move, so check its site before you go.
- Amsterdam Cheese Museum Prinsengracht
A cheese shop with a small museum in the cellar on the history of Dutch cheese. Entrance and tastings are free and need no ticket. It is a commercial place, and it sells what it shows.
Free art spaces
- Framer Framed Oost
Contemporary art space on the Oranje-Vrijstaatkade. Entry is free, and visitors are asked to pay what they can to support the foundation.
- Melkweg Expo Leidseplein
The exhibition space of concert venue Melkweg, rooted in photography, with a changing programme of contemporary visual culture and emerging artists. Free to visit.
Gardens, a roof and a courtyard
- Rijksmuseum Gardens Museumplein
The gardens around the Rijksmuseum, with an annual sculpture show. No ticket or start time needed. They are open in summer only, and the museum itself is ticketed.
- NEMO rooftop square Oosterdok
The sloping roof of the NEMO science museum, with a view over the city. Access is free by the stairs on the east side. The museum below is ticketed.
- Begijnhof Spui
A courtyard of old houses behind the Spui, first recorded in 1307 and still lived in. Its visitor information lists house rules and no entry charge. It is private ground, and groups are limited to twelve people.
- De Boswinkel Amsterdamse Bos
The visitor centre of the Amsterdamse Bos, with exhibitions, activities and a shop. Free entry.
Free exhibitions on this week
More free things
Frequently asked questions
Which Amsterdam museums are free to enter?
Very few of the big ones. The list on this page covers what we could confirm on each place’s own website, including the Schatkamer at the Stadsarchief, the Max Euwe Centrum, Framer Framed and Melkweg Expo. Anything we could not confirm is left out.
Are the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum free?
No. Both charge adults for entry and ask everyone to book a start time. Younger visitors get in free at both, and the age limit is on each museum’s site. The Rijksmuseum gardens are free when they are open, which is in summer.
What is the Museumkaart?
A yearly pass with unlimited entry to over 500 museums in the Netherlands, sold through museum.nl. It is not free, but it can pay for itself if you visit several museums in a year. Some museums still ask you to book a start time, and some exhibitions can carry a supplement.
Do I need to book a free museum?
Mostly not. The Schatkamer at the Stadsarchief needs no reservation, though the archive’s exhibition hall asks for an online ticket even when entry is free. Check the place’s own site before you travel.