Wrapping Up in Amsterdam: More Museums

August 13, 2025

After traveling through other parts of the Netherlands, I returned to Amsterdam for the final few days of my trip. With the larger museums already behind me, I took this opportunity to visit a handful of smaller, more focused museums, each offering a unique perspective on the city’s history and culture. These visits rounded out the trip in an unexpected but meaningful way.

One of the most impactful stops was the Anne Frank House. Walking through the hidden rooms where Anne and her family lived in hiding brought a new level of reality to a story I’ve known for years. The museum is quiet and thoughtful, preserving the original structure while incorporating audio and visual materials that help contextualize the events. It was a powerful experience—one that leaves a lasting impression and reminds visitors of the importance of remembering individual stories within larger histories.

From there, I visited the Grachtenmuseum, or Museum of the Canals, which tells the story of Amsterdam’s development through its unique system of waterways. Housed in a 17th-century canal home, the museum uses models, animations, and interactive displays to explain how the city was planned and built. It was a helpful look at the engineering and design that shaped the layout of Amsterdam—especially after seeing how water management played such a major role elsewhere in the country, like in Kinderdijk.

Nearby, I stopped by the Tulip Museum, a small yet well-curated space that explores the history of the Dutch tulip industry. Though brief, the exhibits cover everything from the plant’s origins to the well-known “tulip mania” of the 17th century. It was interesting to see how something as simple as a flower became such a major part of Dutch identity and economy.

For my final stop, I visited the Katten Kabinet—a small, quirky museum entirely dedicated to cats in art. Located in another canal house, the museum holds an eclectic collection of paintings, prints, and sculptures, all featuring feline subjects. It’s a quiet, somewhat whimsical space that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still manages to reflect a long-standing place for animals in culture and creativity. 

Spending these last few days in Amsterdam allowed me to explore beyond the city’s major institutions and into places that were more specific and personal in focus. Each museum offered something different, but all contributed to a deeper understanding of the city and its layers.