Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam

Current exhibitions

About the museum

In 1984 former resistance fighters set up a foundation to build a museum about resistance against National Socialism and fascism – initially without money, a building or a collection. As early as November 1985, Prince Bernhard opened the Verzetsmuseum in the former synagogue on the Lekstraat in Amsterdam-Zuid. The holdings had been assembled by the Amsterdam 4 and 5 May Committee, and at first the museum was run mainly by volunteers from the former resistance.

Because the location was remote and too small, the museum acquired parts of the Plancius building in the Plantagebuurt in 1997. Built in 1876 for the Jewish choral society Oefening Baart Kunst, the building had previously served as a social club and as a taxi and car garage. After extensive renovation, the museum opened here in 1999 with a new permanent exhibition; visitor numbers rose quickly.

A section on the Dutch colonies was added in 2005, and in 2013 the children's museum Verzetsmuseum Junior, which tells the true wartime experiences of four children and also travels as a mobile exhibition. After a renovation break, a completely redesigned main exhibition on the occupation opened in December 2022, followed in October 2024 by a new section on the former colonies between the world war and independence. In 2025 the museum celebrated its 40th anniversary with record visitor numbers.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on daily life, collaboration, the persecution of Jews and resistance, 1940–1945
• Section on the Dutch East Indies, Suriname and the Caribbean between war and independence
• Verzetsmuseum Junior with the stories of Eva, Jan, Nelly and Henk
• Personal testimonies, original objects and multimedia stations
• Free audio tour in seven languages and video tour in sign language

Permanent exhibitions

• Nederland in de Tweede Wereldoorlog – The main exhibition, newly installed in 2022, shows how the occupation changed daily life, how the persecution of the Jews unfolded and how people resisted.
• De voormalige Nederlandse koloniën: van Tweede Wereldoorlog naar onafhankelijkheid – Section open since 2024 on war, exploitation and independence movements in the Dutch East Indies, Suriname and the Caribbean, told from multiple perspectives.
• Verzetsmuseum Junior – Children's museum in which four children – one Jewish, one from a resistance family, one from an NSB (Dutch Nazi party) family and one from an ordinary household – tell of their wartime experiences through games and animations.

Founded

1985

Director

Karlien Metz

Admission & discounts

Free with the Museumkaart; also free with the Stadspas, I amsterdam City Card, ICOM pass, VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART and for Friends of the museum (no online reservation needed; show your pass at the ticket desk). Tickets online or at the ticket desk; audio tour included in admission.

Accessibility

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

The museum is on one level and step-free, with display cases easy to see from a wheelchair; only in Verzetsmuseum Junior are two stations out of reach and some rooms narrow. Two loan wheelchairs, folding stools, adapted restroom in the entrance hall, accessible parking space in front of the entrance (cannot be reserved). For blind and visually impaired visitors: guidance lines, tactile reliefs and objects, a magnifier and an audio tour with directions; mobile and fixed induction loops; video tour in Nederlandse Gebarentaal (Dutch Sign Language) with subtitles; regular tours in sign language and for blind visitors. Texts in plain language (B1/B2). Not low-sensory (dark rooms, sounds); a preparation document is available online. Contact: toegankelijkheid@verzetsmuseum.org.

Kids & families

Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 9+

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Verzetsmuseum Junior (recommended from age 9) tells the true wartime experiences of four children through animations, listening stations and games; an activity booklet is available at the ticket desk. On weekdays school classes have priority there – weekends and holidays are quieter. During the fall holidays, storytelling programs for families with children aged 9 and up.

Getting there & parking

Navigation apps often suggest the Waterlooplein or Weesperplein stops; according to the museum, the walk from there is considerably longer than from Artis.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check

The independent café-restaurant Plancius is located in the Plancius building. Museum shop with books (also in English and for children), accessible without admission; the Museumkaart is also sold there. Card payment only.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit