History Museums in the Netherlands
Museums telling the story of Dutch and European history – from the Golden Age to the recent past.
North Holland (39)
Rijksmuseum
Anne Frank Huis
Museum Rembrandthuis
Wereldmuseum Amsterdam
De Nieuwe Kerk
Oude Kerk
Amsterdam Museum
Allard Pierson
Joods Museum
Het Scheepvaartmuseum
Forteiland Pampus
Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder
Sexmuseum Amsterdam
Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum
Beeld & Geluid
Heineken Experience
Huis Willet-Holthuysen
Zuiderzeemuseum
Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam
Museum Van Loon
Hollandsche Schouwburg
Zaans Museum
Diamant Museum Amsterdam
Kasteel Radboud
Stadsarchief Amsterdam
Marinemuseum
Molen De Adriaan
Nationaal Holocaustmuseum
Westfries Museum
Amsterdam Tulip Museum
Corrie ten Boomhuis
Cruquius Museum
Grote Kerk Alkmaar
Museum van de Geest
Museumstoomtram Hoorn-Medemblik
Amsterdam Pipe Museum
Collectie Six
Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen
Nederlands Stoommachinemuseum
South Holland (18)
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
Museum Prinsenhof Delft
Rijksmuseum Boerhaave
Museum De Lakenhal
Museum Panorama Mesdag
Fenix
Kasteel Duivenvoorde
Sint-Janskerk
Japanmuseum SieboldHuis
Louwman Museum
Maritiem Museum Rotterdam
Molenmuseum De Valk
Rijksmuseum Meermanno
Museum Het Leids Wevershuis
Museum Rotterdam
Pilgrim Museum Leiden
RTM-Trammuseum
Atlantikwall Museum Noordwijk
Friesland (13)
Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal
Koninklijk Eise Eisinga Planetarium
Keramiekmuseum Princessehof
Vuurtoren Ameland
Fries Museum
Tresoar
De Schierstins
Museum Heerenveen
Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden
Cultuurhistorisch Museum Sorgdrager
Fries Landbouwmuseum
Landbouw- en Juttersmuseum Swartwoude
Maritiem Centrum Abraham Fock
Gelderland (9)
Nederlands Openluchtmuseum
Kasteel Ammersoyen
Kasteel Doornenburg
Kasteel Doorwerth
Nationaal Fietsmuseum Velorama
Airborne Museum Hartenstein
Kasteel Cannenburch
Valkhof Museum
Kasteel Hernen
Utrecht (8)
Limburg (5)
Drenthe (4)
North Brabant (4)
Flevoland (3)
Groningen (3)
History Museums in the Netherlands: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 106 history museums in the Netherlands, spread across 10 provinces and 58 towns and cities. Most of them are in North Holland (39), South Holland (18), and Friesland (13).
At the city level, Amsterdam (24), Leiden (7), and Leeuwarden (5) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several history museums in a single day.
7 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs €15 at the median, and the middle half charge between €10 and €17.50.
41 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 77 offer dedicated programs for families, and 72 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 history museums in the Netherlands
The best-known history museums in the Netherlands
RijksmuseumArt · Amsterdam
Anne Frank HuisMemorial · Amsterdam
Ir. D.F. WoudagemaalTechnology · Lemmer
Koninklijk Eise Eisinga PlanetariumTechnology · Franeker
Museum RembrandthuisPeople · Amsterdam
Wereldmuseum AmsterdamWorld cultures · Amsterdam
De Nieuwe KerkArt · Amsterdam
Oude KerkArt · Amsterdam
Amsterdam MuseumHistory · Amsterdam
Allard PiersonArchaeology · Amsterdam
History museums in the Netherlands with free admission
History museums in the Netherlands with programs for families
- RijksmuseumArt · Amsterdam
- Ir. D.F. WoudagemaalTechnology · Lemmer
- Koninklijk Eise Eisinga PlanetariumTechnology · Franeker
- Museum RembrandthuisPeople · Amsterdam
- Wereldmuseum AmsterdamWorld cultures · Amsterdam
- Oude KerkArt · Amsterdam
- Allard PiersonArchaeology · Amsterdam
Kasteel de HaarCastles & Palaces · Haarzuilens
Nederlands OpenluchtmuseumOpen-air · Arnhem
Rijksmuseum van OudhedenArchaeology · Leiden
Wheelchair-accessible history museums in the Netherlands
- RijksmuseumArt · Amsterdam
- Ir. D.F. WoudagemaalTechnology · Lemmer
- Wereldmuseum AmsterdamWorld cultures · Amsterdam
- De Nieuwe KerkArt · Amsterdam
- Allard PiersonArchaeology · Amsterdam
- Rijksmuseum van OudhedenArchaeology · Leiden
Joods MuseumHistory · Amsterdam
Hash Marihuana & Hemp MuseumSpecial · Amsterdam
Beeld & GeluidSpecial · Hilversum
Rijksmuseum BoerhaaveTechnology · Leiden
History museums in the Netherlands with the highest published visitor numbers
- Anne Frank HuisMemorial · Amsterdam
- Nederlands OpenluchtmuseumOpen-air · Arnhem
SpoorwegmuseumTechnology · Utrecht
Het ScheepvaartmuseumHistory · Amsterdam- Rijksmuseum van OudhedenArchaeology · Leiden
Drents MuseumArchaeology · Assen
Oorlogsmuseum OverloonHistory · Overloon
Museum CatharijneconventArt · Utrecht
Nationaal GevangenismuseumHistory · Veenhuizen
Museum Prinsenhof DelftHistory · Delft
Current special exhibitions at history museums in the Netherlands
- WORNRijksmuseum · Amsterdam · until March 21, 2027
- Carel Visser in de RijksmuseumtuinenRijksmuseum · Amsterdam · until October 25, 2026
- Nieuw in de 20ste eeuwRijksmuseum · Amsterdam · until November 9, 2026
- Willem de Kooning at workRijksmuseum · Amsterdam · until January 17, 2027
- Document Nederland: Nieuwe EnergieRijksmuseum · Amsterdam · until January 17, 2027
- Tekenen!Rijksmuseum · Amsterdam · until May 23, 2027
- ‘Wie is er weg?’ – Het Joods Lyceum 1941–1943Anne Frank Huis · Amsterdam
- Zij maakt het verschilIr. D.F. Woudagemaal · Lemmer · until October 30, 2026
- Ik zie wat jij niet zietKoninklijk Eise Eisinga Planetarium · Franeker
- ExperimenteerdriftMuseum Rembrandthuis · Amsterdam · until January 3, 2027
By province
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many history museums are there in the Netherlands?
Our directory currently lists 106 history museums in the Netherlands across 58 towns and cities.
What are the best-known history museums in the Netherlands?
Some of the best known are Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank Huis, Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal, Koninklijk Eise Eisinga Planetarium, and Museum Rembrandthuis.
Which history museums in the Netherlands offer free admission?
7 museums are free to visit – for example Hollandsche Schouwburg, Corrie ten Boomhuis, Grote Kerk Alkmaar, and Tresoar.
Which history museums in the Netherlands are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 45 are open, such as Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank Huis, and Koninklijk Eise Eisinga Planetarium.
Which history museums in the Netherlands are wheelchair accessible?
41 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Rijksmuseum, Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal, and Wereldmuseum Amsterdam. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit history museums in the Netherlands?
A regular adult ticket costs €15 at the median, with prices ranging from €5 to €25. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums