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Tropenmuseum – Amsterdam Tropical Museum

This museum is one of Amsterdam hidden treasures. Located off city centre in a beautiful old building in East Amsterdam (Amsterdam Oost), Tropenmuseum often remains forgotten, like an old collection of post stamps. However, if you are interested in other cultures, other countries and distant lands - do no miss it. Amsterdam Tropenmuseum exhibit is modern, fascinating on many levels and inspiring. Moreover - a great museum to visit with kids, it is like a journey to all exotic.

Tropenmuseum tickets

You can reserve your visit in advance on this Tropenmuseum tickets website.

Audio tour in Dutch, English, French and German available at extra charge.
The museum shop is selling interesting objects from other lands, such as African masks.
The shop is accessible only with the entry ticket.

Tropenmuseum opening hours

History of Tropenmuseum

Tropenmuseum has been created in 1864 in Haarlem, as the Colonial Museum and later (1910) moved to Amsterdam. After 1949, when a Dutch colony of Indonesia (former Dutch East Indies) became independent, the Museum became part of the Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, researching the life in distant countries, not necessarily primitive cultures – simply different, than a Western tradition.

Tropenmuseum exhibits

A visit to the Amsterdam Tropenmuseum starts on the second floor accessible with a big lift. The show is divided by continents. It begins with South America and through Africa reaches Asia and the Antilles on the first floor. Additionally, they have frequent temporary exhiits aimed on various topics. And to the left from the entry is Tropenmuseum Junior – a separate part of the museum dedicated to children.

The whole museum is divided into many smaller exhibits – each of them unique and modern in its presentation with the use of multimedia, light, sound, even smell and often beautiful decors. However the main value of the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam is its collection. The exhibited objects have unique historical and esthetical value. Each of the exhibits is like a journey through a mysterious, exotic territory.

An object with a story

Each month the curators select few objects from the immense collection of the Amsterdam Troopical Museum and present them in special way, telling the whole story behind it and tracing its route before it arrived at the museum’s collection. A special information card is given to visitors looking at these objects.

Visiting the Tropenmuseum

This is a huge and rich museum. Nevertheless, because the whole middle part of the building was constructed as a large gallery open through all floors, it never overwhelms the visitor. No thick air. Space and transparency all over the place. Modern and intelligent presentation makes the visit pleasant to a larger public, including children.

How to get to Tropenmuseum

Walking: from the Waterlooplein along the Plantage Middenlaan (10 minutes)
By public transport: trams lines 9, 14 from the Central Station (exit on the stop Alexanderplein); tram 10 (stop Alexanderplein); bus 22 (stop Eerste van de Swindenstraat).
By car: drive away from the city centre along Plantage Middenlaan from the Waterlooplein; pass Artis (on your left) and cross two bridges on canals. The Amsterdam Tropenmuseum will be just in front of you. Park in one of the streets nearby (metered parking). Driving from the ring, take an exit S113 and drive direction to the city centre. After about 2 miles (3 km) at the roundabout, you will see the red brick museum building on your left.

Tropenmuseum – Amsterdam Tropical Museum on the map