Huis Willet-Holthuysen: Museum in Grachtengordel, Amsterdam

Huis Willet-Holthuysen is a 17th-century double canal house on the Herengracht in Amsterdam, kept as a museum by the Amsterdam Museum. You go to see how a wealthy couple lived in the 19th century: the ballroom, the salons and the kitchen downstairs are all there. Abraham Willet and Louisa Holthuysen lived here in the late 19th century, and he filled it with his art collection. Louisa left the house to the city in 1895 on condition that it became a museum. Rooms to look out for include the ballroom in Louis XVI style, furnished in 1865, the dining room and the garden room, and the souterrain kitchen shows what happened out of sight of the guests. Out the back is a French garden. A free audio tour comes in Dutch, English, French and German, and groups of up to 15 can ask for a guided tour. Contemporary exhibitions also appear among the period rooms. The house has stairs and no lift, so it is not wheelchair accessible. The Museumkaart is valid, and it opens later on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. By tram, take 4 to Rembrandtplein or 14 to Waterlooplein. Metros 51, 53 and 54 stop at Waterlooplein, where you take the Nieuwe Herengracht exit. Note that the only lift at that metro station is at the Stopera exit. The Cultuur Ferry, a hop-on hop-off boat, sails from Thursday to Sunday between 09:30 and 17:30, and there is a public jetty in front of Herengracht 605. Personal assistants go in free, which you can mention at the ticket desk.