Luther Museum Amsterdam

About the museum

The museum shows the heritage of Amsterdam's Lutheran congregation. It is housed in the building "Wittenberg", which was built in 1772 as the Evangelical Lutheran deaconry home for the elderly and played an important role in the care of the poor, the old and orphans. The magnificent Burgemeesterspoort is a thank-you to the city fathers who had made the plot available; the rooms were designed by Jacob Otten Husly, among others.

The path to today's institution began in the mid-1970s, when board members of the old people's home realised that Lutheran church and art treasures were in danger of disappearing because many Lutheran institutions were closing. In 1986 a foundation was established to collect, catalogue and preserve the holdings; since 2008 it was called Luther Collectie Amsterdam and since 2019 Luther Museum Amsterdam.

The tour leads through the regents' room, the administrative office with a Luther connection and old Bibles, the linen room with silver communion vessels from Amsterdam, Doesburg, Zierikzee and Leiden – the oldest dating from the early 17th century – and the room of the regentesses. A long corridor tells the story up to today's diaconal work; exhibitions and concerts take place in the church hall. The museum sees itself as the only one in the Netherlands explicitly devoted to Lutheran heritage.

Highlights

• Men's and women's rooms of the regents' house of 1772
• Silver communion vessels from the early 17th century onwards
• Old Bibles and depictions of Luther, including "Luther with the Goose Quill" by Bartholomeus Breenbergh
• Burgemeesterspoort and church hall with organ and acclaimed acoustics
• The only museum in the Netherlands on Lutheran heritage

Permanent exhibitions

• Das Wittenberg-Gebäude mit Regentenzimmern und Sammlung – A tour through the men's and women's rooms, the administrative office and the linen room with Bibles, paintings, silver and original furniture, plus a corridor on today's diaconal work.
• Kirchensaal mit Burgemeesterspoort – The large hall of the house, with its organ and the magnificent Burgemeesterspoort, is also used for exhibitions and concerts.

Operated by

Stichting Luther Museum Amsterdam

Admission & discounts

Free with the Museumkaart, Stadspas, I amsterdam City Card and ICOM/ICOMOS card (show the card). Group visits cannot be booked online but must be requested by email. Tickets are non-refundable.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entrance is via a natural stone staircase; a lift suitable for transport wheelchairs can be used after prior registration (telephone or email) or via the bell at the garden gate. Inside the museum itself everything is step-free, and a wheelchair is available. An accessible toilet is on the lower level. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Also reachable by the Cultuur Ferry (hop-on-hop-off ferry).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 100 guests.

Men's and women's rooms (37 m² each, 10–20 people) and the church hall (168 m², up to 100 people in theatre/concert seating, up to 40 in U-shape) for meetings, presentations, dinners, concerts and weddings.

Plan your visit