Why go

Moco, short for Modern Contemporary, is a privately run museum in a townhouse villa on Museumplein, built in 1904 and squeezed between the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. It opened in 2016 and has become one of the most visited museums in the city, thanks to its collection of Banksy works and its playful mix of famous names, street art and immersive digital installations.

It is smaller and much less formal than its neighbours, with bright rooms, lots of photo opportunities and a garden with sculptures. For many visitors, especially teenagers and anyone who prefers pop culture to old masters, it is the most enjoyable museum on the square, and it fits easily into an hour between bigger visits.

The collection mixes paintings, prints and sculpture with digital and immersive works, and the displays change regularly, so there is often a new room or exhibition to see. Moco also has sister museums in Barcelona and London.

The museum was founded by two Amsterdam gallery owners, and the building itself, Villa Alsberg, was designed by Eduard Cuypers, a nephew of Pierre Cuypers, the architect of the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Centraal. Inside, the original staircases and fireplaces survive between the modern artworks. Moco is a good choice on a rainy afternoon, and its short visit time makes it easy to combine with a canal cruise or lunch nearby.

What to see

  • Banksy. A collection of works by the anonymous British street artist, one of the reasons Moco became famous.
  • Pop art. Works by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
  • Yayoi Kusama. Pieces by the Japanese artist known for her dots and infinity rooms.
  • Immersive and digital art. Light and projection rooms that respond to visitors.
  • The garden. Sculptures outside the villa, facing Museumplein.

Plan your visit

Moco is open every day from 9am. From 9 November to 17 December 2026 it closes at 6pm on Mondays, 7pm from Tuesday to Thursday and on Sundays, and 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Over the holidays, from 18 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, it stays open until 8pm every day. Check the website before you go, as hours change by season.

Tickets start at €21.95 online, and children up to 4 go free. Standard tickets have a time slot: if you arrive at the start of your slot, entry is guaranteed, with a margin of five minutes. Flex tickets, which cost more, let you come at any time during opening hours. Tickets bought on Moco’s website can be changed up to the day of the visit. A free audio tour is included, so bring headphones. Allow 60 to 90 minutes.

The museum is at Honthorststraat 20, on the edge of Museumplein. Trams stop a couple of minutes away, and the walk from Leidseplein takes about ten minutes.

Nearby

The Van Gogh Museum is next door, the Rijksmuseum is a few minutes’ walk away, and the Stedelijk is across the square. The Vondelpark, the P.C. Hooftstraat and the Heineken Experience are all within walking distance.