Museum Tot Zover

About the museum

By its own account, Museum Tot Zover is the only museum in the Netherlands specialising in death, burial and remembrance, and the only one in the world located in a listed cemetery. It lies directly behind the main gate of Amsterdam's De Nieuwe Ooster cemetery. In the former director's residence, a modern exhibition space and Café Roosenburgh were created, the latter set up in 2007 together with De Nieuwe Ooster.

The collection is oriented towards cultural history and comprises more than 3,000 objects, including hair pictures, death masks, post-mortem photography, coffins, urns, miniature hearses and ingredients for a modern Muslim funeral. Highlights include a death portrait of a boy by Otto van Veen (1584), a death portrait by Nicolaes Maes (around 1671) and a rare hair bouquet from 1871.

The permanent presentation "Top-13 Collectie" guides visitors through the building along the themes of rituals, the body, grief and memory. In addition, there are changing exhibitions with artists, designers and photographers who take up socially relevant topics. The museum also sees itself as a knowledge centre: its website explains rituals and objects, it offers teaching materials such as "Doodgewoon in de klas", and it organises symposia through its Funeraire Academie.

Highlights

• The only Dutch museum in a cemetery
• Collection of over 3,000 objects: hair pictures, death masks, coffins, urns
• Death portraits by Otto van Veen (1584) and Nicolaes Maes
• Permanent presentation "Top-13 Collectie" on rituals, the body, grief and memory
• Free audio tour through the museum and cemetery park (approx. 45 minutes)
• Café Roosenburgh with terrace in the former director's house

Permanent exhibition

• Top-13 Collectie – The permanent presentation shows objects on funeral culture and funerary art from over 3,000 collection items, arranged by the themes of rituals, the body, grief and memory.

Founded

2007

Director

Guus Sluiter

Admission & discounts

Free with the Museumkaart, I amsterdam City Card, ICOM, Stadspas and Vereniging Rembrandt. The audio tour through the museum and De Nieuwe Ooster is free. Payment by card (PIN) only.

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 café and the first part of the museum (corridor, Great Hall, ritual room) are at ground level; the second part in the old building with the mourning rooms can be reached via a wide staircase with six steps or by lift. Because of the doors between the rooms, the museum recommends a companion; the museum is not accessible with a mobility scooter. Adapted toilet at the entrance. Guide and assistance dogs are allowed in the museum, other dogs only in the café.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Dedicated page for children with tips (including saying goodbye to a pet, children's book recommendations); school programme "Pluk de dag" for primary school groups 5–8; children up to 12 free.

Getting there & parking

By car from the A10 ring road, exit S113 towards Watergraafsmeer, after about 1,100 metres turn left at the traffic lights into Kruislaan; the main gate is on the left after 100 metres. The museum is the first building on the right after the gatehouse. Bicycle racks next to the gatehouse. Tram 19 is running on a diverted route until December 2027 because of roadworks.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Wi-Fi

Café Roosenburgh with a small menu, terrace and Wi-Fi (shared entrance with the museum); run with volunteers from the neighbourhood.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

The café and the garden room (Tuinzaal) can be rented for meetings with lunch and book presentations; enquiries via the café's floor manager. In addition, the museum rents out pop-up exhibitions and individual museum objects.

Plan your visit