Amsterdam in Motion is a new multimedia attraction which features the story of Amsterdam using a large scale model ‘maquette’ of the city. Book Amsterdam in Motion tickets here
It is located in the Zuiveringshal Oost building at Westergas, a former gasworks in the Westerpark area on the north-western side of the city. It is just a few doors down from the Fabrique des Lumières immersive digital art show.
Amsterdam in Motion was opened in October 2025 as part of the 750th anniversary of the city and is run by Amsterdam Museum.
The main exhibition hall contains the highly impressive 200m² maquette model. This has a scale of 1:1,300 and includes 30,500 buildings – apparently the world’s largest multimedia model of a city.
This is a much larger and more advanced version of the canal ring model found at room 5 of the Grachten Museum which opened back in 2012.
There are 2 separate sections of the Amsterdam in Motion map model – the smaller section at the bottom-left represents south-east Amsterdam.
The first part is a 15 minute audio-visual show of the history of Amsterdam. From a small village on the Amstel river in 1275 to the present day and beyond.
The audience takes a seat at the side stand – the best views are from the middle on the upper steps. Separate shows are available in both Dutch and English.
Undoubtedly the visual elements of the show are cutting edge using advanced projection, lighting and narration. This is able to bring many elements of the city to life – from reclaimed land and waterways to roads and cycle lanes.
Being run by Amsterdam Museum in collaboration with the city council it is not surprising that the presentation content has some subtle ‘politically correct’ overtones and narratives – but that is for each visitor to judge for themselves.
After the show you can get up close to the maquette and freely walk around it whilst the projections still run. There are a few viewing steps placed around the model.
Seeing the satellite image projected onto the 3D model is really quite something:
You then leave the main hall and head upstairs to an exhibition with various sections and displays. Themes presented here are:
- Amsterdam canals (see a dredged bike covered in mussels)
- Ajax football team (mural, shirts and fan corner)
- Protests (create your own protest banner)
- Fashion
- City of change (experiment with some interactive elements)
- City of contrasts
A visit to Amsterdam in Motion takes around 45-60 minutes.
There are locker and bathroom facilities upstairs from the main entrance hall. There are no cafe facilities on site but there are a number of places around the Westergas area.
Perhaps some will find the admission price a little steep for what is essentially a 15 minute show. If you have a Museumkaart or I Amsterdam City card then it’s certainly worth booking a visit as entrance is free.
Entry is recommended for those interested in discovering the history and geography of Amsterdam. A visit could also be combined with the nearby Fabrique des Lumières and the new Banksy Museum (10 minutes walk away).
Amsterdam in Motion Essential Info
Opening Hours10:00-17:00 (Mon-Fri), 10:00-18:00 (Sat-Sun). Shows are booked with a specific entry and language timeslot – arrive 15 minuted before the start time. |
Amsterdam in Motion Tickets & AdmissionAdmission costs €18.00 for adults, €14.00 for students. Free entry for children 0-17, I Amsterdam City Card and Museumkaart holders. Book Amsterdam in Motion tickets here or check availability: |
How to Get to Amsterdam in MotionFrom Amsterdam Central you can take GVB bus 21 (direction: Geuzenveld, stop: V.d. Hoopstraat) or GVB bus 22 (direction: Sloterdijk, stop: Nassauplein). From there it is a short walk to Amsterdam in Motion. GVB Tram 3 also serves Westergasfabriek from the Museumplein area. |
AddressAmsterdam in Motion, Pazzanistraat 19-23, 1014 DB Amsterdam |
First published 14 November 2025.
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