Museumplein Amsterdam

Home to Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Moco Museum and more

Museumplein Amsterdam is very helpfully named, even if you do not speak Dutch. Museumplein or Museum Square is where some of the biggest and most popular museums in Amsterdam reside.

Museumplein hosts Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Moco Museum and Van Gogh Museum. It is a mecca for culture visitors who can easily spend a day or more exploring everything on offer. It is also very easy to get to.

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What museums are in Museumplein Amsterdam

Museumplein is a public square in Amsterdam, which is home to several museums:

1. Rijksmuseum – This is the national museum of the Netherlands, which houses an extensive collection of Dutch art and history.
2. Van Gogh Museum – Museum dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh containing the largest collection of his paintings and drawings in the world.
3. Stedelijk Museum – Devoted to modern and contemporary art and design.
4. Moco Museum – Privately owned modern and contemporary art museum.

In addition to these very popular museums, Museumplein also houses The Concertgebouw, which is one of the best concert halls in the world. You can attend a classical music concert, jazz performance and sometimes even pop concerts here.

How to get to Museumplein from Central Station

There are several ways to get to Museumplein from Amsterdam Central Station:

• Tram: Trams are an easy and iconic way to get around Amsterdam. From Amsterdam Central Station, take Tram 2 towards Nieuw Sloten and get off at the Rijksmuseum stop, which is located right next to Museumplein. You can learn about Amsterdam Transport Tickets to find out the best ticket options.

• Bus: Bus 397 provides a direct connection between Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Central Station. From there, you can take Tram 2 as described above.

• Bike: Amsterdam is very bike-friendly. You can rent a bike from one of the many rental shops located in the city center and cycle to Museumplein, which is only a 10-15 minute ride away.

• Taxi: Taxis are readily available in Amsterdam, and you can easily hail one from Amsterdam Central Station. However, taxis can be expensive and Amsterdam is not the best city for exploring by car.

• Walk: If you enjoy walking and have some time to spare, you can take a scenic stroll from Amsterdam Central Station to Museumplein. The walk takes about 30-40 minutes and takes you past many of Amsterdam’s iconic landmarks, including Dam Square which houses the Royal Palace.

How to get to Museumplein from Sloterdijk

The easiest option is to take a tram from outside the Sloterdijk Station. Look for Tram Line 12 in the direction of Amstelstation. After about 20-minutes you can get off at the Museumplein stop.

Is Museumplein a good place to stay in Amsterdam

Personally, we love staying in this area. It has a relaxed ambience, plenty of green spaces, is within easy reach of the historic centre and of course offers some of the best museums in the world on your doorstep.

But, as with everything it depends on what you are looking for from your visit to Amsterdam. If you are looking for nightlife or want to explore the city’s historic center, you may prefer to stay in areas like the Jordaan, De Pijp, or the Canal Ring. But, Museumplein is a great area to stay in Amsterdam, especially if you are interested in arts and culture.

Staying here you will be surrounded by some of the countries biggest and best museums and when you have had your fill of art (if that is possible), you will find the area to be a relaxing place with lots of green spaces including Vondelpark. 

Museumplein is pretty central, though we would call it on the inner edge of the city centre, not the heart of it.

One of the benefits of being on the ‘inner edge’ is the range of accommodation options, including luxury hotels, well-equipped budget-friendly hostels, some excellent value budget hotels and even some vacation rentals.

You’ll also find that Museumplein is very well connected to the rest of the city through trams, buses and the canal boats. Amsterdam is a small compact city so you are never too far out in our opinion.

If you’d like to learn more, we have a specialist page that focuses on hotels in Museumplein and around the Van Gogh Museum, which is at the heart of Museumplein Amsterdam.

Tickets for Amsterdam Museums in Museumplein

Nowadays it is alweays advisable to book your tickets in advance. Although sometimes there are limited tickets on the door, most of the big mueums now have online advance bookings only with entry time slots. You can use the links below to plan and book in advance.

History of Museumplein Amsterdam

Museumplein, Amsterdam has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Originally, the area was a vast open space used for various events such as parades and festivals. However, later the space was transformed into a park.

In the early 20th century, several museums were built around the park, including the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, and Van Gogh Museum. In the 1970s, the park was redesigned and renamed Museumplein, which means “Museum Square” in Dutch.

Over the years, Museumplein has become a cultural hub, attracting millions of visitors annually. The square is home to the big museums above, as well as the Moco Museum, The Concertgebouw and the nearby Diamond Museum Amsterdam. It also hosts numerous cultural events and festivals throughout the year and features in the Amsterdam Light Festival.

The Museumplein is often linked within the Museum Quarter of Amsterdam phrase, which brings in a lot more attractions under one area banner so to speak.