Why go

The Stedelijk is Amsterdam’s museum of modern and contemporary art and design, and one of the most important of its kind in Europe. Its collection runs from the late 19th century to the present day, taking in painting, sculpture, photography, graphic design, furniture and video, and it is particularly strong on the Dutch and Russian avant-garde.

The museum has two very different buildings joined together: a red-brick 19th-century building and a gleaming white extension, opened in 2012, that locals nicknamed ‘the bathtub’. It stands next to the Van Gogh Museum on Museumplein, so it is easy to add to a museum day, and it is usually calmer than its famous neighbours. Exhibitions change through the year, so there is often something new on show.

The museum has collected boldly since it opened in 1895, and the galleries tell the story of modern art through movements rather than single masterpieces: Impressionism, Cobra, Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism and conceptual art all have their place. Design is treated as seriously as painting, from chairs and posters to fashion and typefaces, which sets the Stedelijk apart from most art museums. It is a good place to see how the Netherlands shaped modern design.

What to see

  • De Stijl. Paintings by Piet Mondrian and furniture by Gerrit Rietveld, including his famous Red Blue Chair.
  • Malevich. One of the largest collections of Kazimir Malevich’s work outside Russia.
  • Pop art and beyond. Works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and other post-war artists.
  • Design. Posters, furniture and everyday objects from more than a century of Dutch and international design.
  • Temporary exhibitions. A changing programme of contemporary artists and large retrospectives.

Plan your visit

The Stedelijk is open every day from 10am to 6pm, with no entry after 5.45pm, and on a few days it opens at 9am. Adults pay €22.50 and students €12.50, while visitors under 19 go free. Entry is also free with the Museumkaart and the I amsterdam City Card, which makes it a good-value stop if you have one. Buying online in advance is a good idea at weekends and in school holidays.

Allow an hour and a half to three hours, depending on how much time you spend in the temporary exhibitions. There are three places to eat and drink: Fonda Coffee Bar and Café Restaurant Sandberg on the ground floor and Fonda Café on the first floor. The library is open by appointment.

The museum faces Museumplein, with trams stopping just outside. It is a five-minute walk from the Rijksmuseum and right next door to the Van Gogh Museum.

Nearby

The Van Gogh Museum and Moco are next door and across the street, the Rijksmuseum is at the far end of Museumplein, and the Concertgebouw, home of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, is at the other end. The Vondelpark and the luxury shops of the P.C. Hooftstraat are both a short walk away, as are the cafés around the Van Baerlestraat. For lunch with a view of the square, the museum’s own restaurant is a good choice, and on a fine day Museumplein’s lawns are perfect for a picnic.