Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
theoriginalfurnitureanddecor.Forgetthehistoryandjustbrowsethroughadozenroomsof
beautiful saccharine objects from the 19th century.
Cost and Hours: €8, audioguide-€3, Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00; take
tram #4, #9, or #14 to Rembrandtplein—it's a 2-minute walk southeast to Herengracht 605,
tel. 020/523-1822, www.willetholthuysen.nl . The museum also hands out a free brochure
that covers the house's history.
Tassen Museum (Hendrikje Museum of Bags and Purses)
This hardworking little museum fills an elegant 1664 canal house with 500 years of bag and
purse history—from before the invention of pockets through the 20th century. The collec-
tion, with lots of artifacts, is well-described in English and gives a fascinating insight into
fashionthroughtheagesthatfansofhandbagswilllove,andtheirpartnersmightevenenjoy.
The creative and surreal bag styles of the 1920s and 1930s are particularly interesting.
CostandHours: €8.50,daily10:00-17:00,threefloors—onehousestemporaryexhibits
and two hold the permanent collection, start on top floor, behind Rembrandtplein at Heren-
gracht 573, tel. 020/524-6452, www.tassenmuseum.nl .
▲▲▲ Hermitage Amsterdam
The famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, loans art to Amsterdam for a
series of rotating, and often exquisitely beautiful, special exhibits in the Amstelhof, a 17th-
century former nursing home that takes up a whole city block along the Amstel River.
Why is there Russian-owned art in Amsterdam? The Hermitage collection in St. Peters-
burg is so vast that they can only show about 5 percent of it at any one time. Therefore, the
Hermitage is establishing satellite collections around the world. The one here in Amsterdam
is the biggest, filling the large Amstelhof. By law, the great Russian collection can only be
out of the country for six months at a time, so the collection is always changing (check the
museum's website to see what's on during your visit). Curators in Amsterdam make a point
to display art that complements—rather than just repeats—what the city's other museums
show so well. The one small permanent “History Hermitage” exhibit explains the historic
connection between the Dutch (Orange) and Russian (Romanov) royal families.
Cost and Hours: Generally €15, but price varies with exhibit; audioguide-€4, daily
10:00-17:00; come later in the day to avoid crowds, mandatory free bag check, café,
Nieuwe Herengracht 14, tram #9 from the train station, recorded info tel. 020/530-7488,
www.hermitage.nl .
De Hortus Botanical Garden
This is a unique oasis of tranquility within the city (no mobile phones are allowed, because
“our collection of plants is a precious community—treat it with respect”). One of the oldest
Search WWH ::




Custom Search