The "Warmest" Museums for a Rainy Day
Skip the crowds at the Rijks. These intimate canal house museums are perfect for escaping the February rain.
It will rain in February. It's a fact of life in Amsterdam. While the instinct is to head to the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh, you'll be sharing that idea with thousands of others.
Instead, seek out the "house museums." These are former canal residences that have been preserved as they were. They are intimate, quiet, and make you feel more like a guest than a tourist.
1. Museum Van Loon
Keizersgracht 672
Built in 1672, this house offers a glimpse into the life of the Van Loon co-founder of the Dutch East India Company. The kitchen in the basement is particularly cozy, and the garden (viewable from the garden room) is stunning even in the rain.
2. Museum Willet-Holthuysen
Herengracht 605
A fully furnished double canal house. The highlight here is the dining room, set as if for a 19th-century feast. It’s less crowded than Van Loon and offers a perfect retreat from the wet streets.
3. Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder (Lord in the Attic)
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38
From the outside, it looks like a normal house. Inside, a narrow staircase leads you to a fully concealed Catholic church in the attic. The contrast between the living quarters and the pink-painted church upstairs is unforgettable.
Stories for the walk. These houses are just stops on a larger journey. Hear the stories of the canals between the museums. Start your listening tour →
Image credit: Amsterdam Mokum Tour
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