The house occupies a unique position on the small bend of the Herengracht canal. You can see its curved façade which follows the line of the canal.

Huis Bartolotti was originally commissioned by the wealthy merchant Willem Bartolotti and was designed by prominent Dutch architect Hendrick de Keyser.

Construction was completed in 1620 and it became one of the grandest merchant houses in Amsterdam during the so-called Golden Age. It is built from distinctive orange bricks in Dutch Renaissance style with ornate stone carvings and a stepped gable.

Three generations of the Bartolotti family lived in the house although the house was split into 2 sections in the late 17th century. An entire rear house was added during the 18th century.

Both parts of the house were effectively acquired in the 20th century by Hendrick de Keyser Monumenten, a charitable organisation which oversees around 480 historic buildings throughout the Netherlands.

It has carried out a number of extensive restorations on the building over the years. It was the organisations’s headquarters for some time and in 2018 the Huis Bartolotti was opened as a museum.

The museum is spread across 3 floors. Much of the house is furnished from the 18th and 19th centuries and features Louis XIV and Louis XV decoration with extensive use of mahogany.

On the ground floor is the beautiful front room which hosts the museum reception desk. The room is adorned with landscape wall paintings by Isaac de Moucheron and two grisaille paintings by Jacob de Wit.

Side note: de Wit paintings can be seen in other canal houses in Amsterdam: Art Zoo, Huis Marseille and Willet-Holthuysen House

A detailed scale model of the house in the front room shows the layout of the building.

Step through to the classy and exquisite back room which has some Bartolotti family portraits hanging on the wall.

Heading further on to the rear, the attractive Garden Room (tuinkamer) has a centrepiece indoor marble wall fountain. Try to find the concealed hand pump which operates the water.

Downstairs is the large period kitchen where complimentary tea and coffee are available for visitors to enjoy around the kitchen table.

From here you can access the enclosed garden, where the resident cat is often found relaxing in the shade of ancient trees. Unlike the Museum Van Loon, there is no coach house at Huis Bartolotti.

The upper floor contains the elegant reception room which was used for entertaining guests and the more sparse servants’ quarters.

A handheld audio tour is included in both Dutch and English. Volunteers are also available throughout the house to answer questions and provide additional information about its history and former residents.

Families can pick up a children’s scavenger hunt (speurtocht) from reception which encourages younger visitors to explore the rooms.

The house can also be hired for private events and functions. Note, being a 17th century house with steep staircases means the building is not wheelchair accessible.

Huis Bartolotti offers one of the more informal canal house visits in Amsterdam. With its impressive architecture, richly decorated interiors and hands-on approach it makes for an enjoyable alternative to some of the city’s larger museums.

Hus Bartolotti Amsterdam Essential Info

This article was first published on 13 July 2026.

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Spread across three attractions – a modern museum, a working historic shipyard and the impressive replica of the 17th-century VOC ship Batavia – it offers one of the Netherlands’ most unique maritime experiences.

It makes an excellent day trip from Amsterdam and can easily be combined with Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet.

Batavialand Museum was founded in 2017 as a merger between the Batavia Yard (Batavia werf) which reconstructed historic ships and the Nieuw Land Erfgoedcentrum, a former museum about the origins of the Flevoland province.

Batavialand Museum also manages the Dutch National Ship Archaeological Depot including many shipwrecks.

Batavialand Museum building

Start your visit at the museum building which focuses on the history of Flevoland and maritime archaeology – before continuing outside to the working shipyard and the Batavia replica.

The modern museum building has 3 floors spread over 4,000m².

Perhaps the highlight of the collection is the Flevowand, a magnificent 60m long tapestry which tells the complete history of Zuider Zee region in pictures – from the ice ages to the creation of Flevoland.

Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry in France, it was embroidered over 14 years by some 25 women using a variety of stitching. The work shows the struggle between man and water over the centuries in the Netherlands.

On the reverse side of the Flevowand is a photo exhibition Land in Water. This covers the Zuider Zee works, a construction of dams and dikes under the direction of Cornelis Lely (1854-1929).

The Old Land exhibition shows how the area developed in prehistoric times under the Swifterbant people.

Because Flevoland was reclaimed from the former Zuiderzee, archaeologists have uncovered around 450 shipwrecks dating from the Middle Ages and the Dutch Golden Age through to the 20th century.

The museum displays many of these finds alongside exhibits explaining how the wrecks were excavated and preserved.

There is a hands-on exhibit (good for kids) demonstrating the principles of water management.

Note, the Binocular panoramic room on the 2nd floor is currently not open to museum visitors. It is used for functions and offers good views over the water towards Antony Gormey’s Exposure sculpture.

Batavialand Shipyard

Adjacent to the main museum just across the road is the Batavialand shipyard.

This is an active heritage site dedicated to preserving traditional Dutch shipbuilding skills. You can see sail and rope making, blacksmithing, wood carving and ship model building.

The entrance building includes some ship models with a 1:10 scale model of The Seven Provinces (Zeven Provinciën), the flagship of Dutch naval hero Michiel de Ruyter.

The back wall has a full-size replica of the ship’s stern carvings.

Climb up to take a look at the Watership, a reconstruction of a ship based on a 15th century wreck. The ‘water ships’ could carry fresh and salt water as well as live fish on board.

There is an onsite restaurant De Taveerne and a museum shop at the shipyard location. Note, the Batavia Stad outlet also has a good number of restaurant options.

Batavia Ship

Exit the shipyard and walk down to the waterfront. Enter the museum jetty through the turnstile and step aboard the Batavia ship reconstruction.

The original ship Batavia was built for the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) – or Dutch East Indies Company. The ship departed Texel on its maiden voyage in October 1628 – however the ship struck a reef and was wrecked off the coast of western Australia in June 1629.

Although only around 40 people died in the wreck itself, the disaster became infamous after a brutal mutiny among the survivors left around 120 more people dead.

The Batavia reconstruction was started in 1985 to recreate an East Indiaman, the largest merchant ship of the 17th century. Hundreds of young people were involved in the process using traditional skills.

The construction took 10 years and the ship was officially named by Queen Beatrix in a ceremony in 1995. It is one of the finest ship reconstructions in Europe and to this day many volunteers maintain the ship.

Climb up the steep steps and have a wander on board the ship – taking in the decks, the great cabin, the hold and the gun room. Mind your head!

Walking around the ship gives an insight into life aboard a VOC merchant vessel and the cramped conditions experienced by most of the crew.

While Amsterdam’s National Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum) has the replica Amsterdam East Indiaman, Batavialand offers a broader experience with a working shipyard and exhibitions on Dutch land reclamation and archaeology.

An online audio tour (here) is available in Dutch, English and German and covers highlights of all 3 venues.

Note, the ship and shipyard are not fully accessible.

Whether you’re interested in Dutch maritime history, engineering or simply looking for an interesting day trip from Amsterdam, Batavialand is one of the country’s most underrated museums.

Allow at least half a day to explore the museum, shipyard and Batavia replica at a relaxed pace.

Looking for other things to do in Lelystad? The Aviodrome aviation museum at the city’s airport has an excellent collection of planes and offers many activities for children.

Batavialand Lelystad Essential Info

How To Get to Batavialand Museum by Public Transport

Intercity trains from NS Dutch Railways run half-hourly between Amsterdam Central station and Lelystad Centrum. The journey takes 38 minutes with a change at Almere Centrum.

Alternatively, from Amsterdam Zuid you can take the comfortable Eurocity Direct/Intercity Direct services to Leystad Centrum.

From Lelystad Centrum station you can take EBS RRReis bus 3 (half-hourly) which reaches Batavia Stad in 11 minutes. Pay €2.27 for a single trip or check-in and out with a contactless debit/credit card or OV-chip card.

The 1-3 day Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket (€23/€34/€44) is valid on all regional transport – it includes the Amsterdam-Lelystad train but NOT bus 3 to Batavia Stad. Book Amsterdam & Region Travel Tickets online here

On the train journey between Almere and Lelystad you will pass the large (and controversial) nature reserve Oostvaardersplassen. It is an amazing sight, looking something like an African savannah – the 5,600 hectare park contains wild horses, deer and migratory birds.

Because of a lack of natural predators, a proportion of the herbivore animals were known in the past to starve to death in the winter. The population is currently managed by culling.

If you wish to drive, you can book a rental car with Discover Cars here which checks all the main rental firms. Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet has a large parking facility.

This article was first published 10 July 2026.

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MOCO features around 100 works from major protagonists and pioneers of the modern art world. Its walls are adorned with art from the likes of Banksy, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and many more – from pop-art to more subversive and humorous works.

MOCO Museum has established itself as one of the most-visited museums in Amsterdam with over 600,000 annual visitors.

MOCO Museum Tickets

Due to its popularity and relatively small size, it is highly recommended to pre-book your ticket in advance with a specific entry time. Book your MOCO Museum ticket here

Check availability here:

Entry timeslots for a specific date are offered in 15 minute increments. You might find slightly reduced admission prices available online.

Book MOCO Museum tickets here

MOCO Museum Opening Hours

Open daily 09:00-18:00 (Sun-Thu) and 09:00-20:00 (Fri-Sat).

MOCO Museum Address/Location

The MOCO Museum is located on Museumplein Square in Amsterdam. This is about 2.6km from Amsterdam Central station.

The official street address is: MOCO Museum, Honthorststraat 20, 1071 DE Amsterdam

It is easily reachable by public transport with the ‘Museumplein’ stop closest to the museum:

• From Amsterdam Central take trams 2/12 to Museumplein; or take metro line 52 to Vijzelgracht station which is about 5-7 mins walk away.
• From Amsterdam Zuid take tram 5 to Museumplein.
• From Amsterdam Sloterdijk take tram 19 to Rijksmusuem-Spiegelgracht.
• From Schiphol airport take bus 397 to Museumplein.

If you are driving then there is an underground Q-Park car parking facility on Museumplein. The entrance is next to the Albert Heijn supermarket.

Address: Q-Park Museumplein, Van Baerlestraat 33B, 1071 AP Amsterdam

MOCO Museum Map

Our map of the Museumplein area shows the location of the MOCO museum.

The tram stops are marked as well as the walking direction to the nearest metro station.

Museumplein Square is home to some of Amsterdam’s most prominent museums. From the neo-Gothic Rijksmuseum with its 17th century collection, the ever-popular Van Gogh Museum and more modern art at the Stedelijk.

MOCO Museum Building & History

The MOCO Museum is located in the Villa Alsberg townhouse on Museumplein.

It was built for the German banker Siegmund Alsberg in English country house-style between 1904-1906.

It was designed by Dutch architect Eduard Cuypers who was the nephew of the iconic Pierre Cuypers – designer of the nearby Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Central Station.

The Villa Alsberg features decorative stained glass windows, some ornate stone work and wood carvings.

The detached building has a floor space of 1,245m² and has 4 main floors. It is owned by a private individual who leases the building to MOCO.

The house was a family home until 1939, was then used by priests teaching at the Saint Nicolas school and subsequently became the offices of a law firm.

MOCO Museum opened in April 2016 and was founded by Lionel and Kim Logchies, owners of the Lionel Gallery in the Spiegel quarter of Amsterdam.

MOCO has since opened sister museum branches in Barcelona (2021) and London (2024).

MOCO Museum Collection

The museum collection is housed over 4 floors:

Banksy is a major feature at the MOCO Museum in Amsterdam with its Banksy Laugh Now permanent exhibition on the ground floor.

The world-renowned anonymous British street artist is well known for his socio-political and cultural commentary tackling themes from poverty, celebrity, consumerism, environment and war.

The museum presents a diverse selection of works including the Flower Thrower, Girl with Balloon, Laugh Now, Smiling Copper and the Crude Oil series.

The 2.5m x 3.5m Beanfield work is perhaps the centrepiece of the exhibition.

The exhibition is not authorised by the artist but has been certified by Pest Control, Banksy’s own authentication body.

In 2025 the Banksy Museum Amsterdam opened in the Westerpark area with around 160 of the artist’s pieces. This Banksy collection is more comprehensive than the one at MOCO.

In addition to Banksy, MOCO presents a rotating exhibition of Contemporary Masters from its collection on floors 1 and 2. This has both major icons from the modern and contemporary art world as well as rising stars.

Works in the collection include those from Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Marina Abramović, Tracey Emin, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Icy & Sot, KAWS, Hayden Kays, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama and Mungo Thomson.

MOCO also has digital and immersive art with a permanent exhibition Reflecting Forward from Studio Irma at the lower ground floor (-1).

The popular Diamond Matrix room is where you can ‘step into a galaxy of infinite reflections’.

MOCO Museum Temporary Exhibitions

In addition to the core permanent collection, MOCO hosts long-term temporary exhibitions which can last up to 1-2 years.

For example Robbie Williams made his debut solo art exhibition Pride and Self Prejudice at MOCO Amsterdam in 2024-25.

MOCO Museum Facilities & Accessibility

There are no café facilities on site.

The museum has a small gift shop on the lower ground floor (-1).

The MOCO Garden outside displays various sculptures – which can also be glimpsed over the fence from outside the museum grounds.

The Villa Alsberg is a listed building and the museum does not have permission to install lifts. There are only stairs so the MOCO Museum is not wheelchair accessible, nor can you bring in strollers/buggies.

However, wheelchair users are admitted to the ground floor for free.

There are no left luggage or locker facilities at MOCO Amsterdam – so don’t bring large items with you.

MOCO Museum Tips for Visitors

• Do arrive in time for your designated timeslot entrance. Late arrivals are not guaranteed entry.
• Due to the relatively small size of the building and the popularity of the museum, it can get quite crowded at times. Choose an early morning or late afternoon/evening timeslot for a quieter experience.
• A visit to MOCO Museum takes between 60 and 90 minutes.
• There is a short audio tour (with your own device only – bring headphones) which complements the exhibitions and is available in 6 languages – Dutch, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
• Admission is occasionally discounted on third-party platforms.

With its classy, small-scale setting that hosts cutting-edge modern art, the MOCO Museum is a fun place to visit. It is certainly a contrasting and complementary addition to the other museums in the Museumplein area.

References
Top Amsterdam Museums by Visitor Numbers (AmsterdamTips.com)
About (MOCO official site)

This article was first published in 2016. Last checked and updated 23 June 2026.

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The church originally dates from the 14th century when the growing city of Amsterdam needed a second church from the Oude Kerk (Old Church).

The Nieuwe Kerk was subsequently damaged by fire a number of times – in 1645 it was rebuilt in Gothic style after almost being destroyed – and this is what can be seen today along with some renovations from the 19th and 20th century.

The Nieuwe Kerk is used for royal weddings and inaugurations. On April 30th 2013 it was the site of the investiture of Dutch King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima, who were also married in the church in 2002.

Highlights inside the church include:

• the magnificent Great Organ from 1655
• the grand brass choir screen
• stained glass windows dating as far back as the mid-17th century
• the hundreds of grave slabs on the floor (some 10,000 corpses are buried below the church)
• the tomb/crypt of distinguished Dutch admiral Michiel De Ruyter (1607-1676) who amongst many notable achievements managed to free 26 Hungarian slaves.

The annual timetable of the Nieuwe Kerk looks generally like this:

World Press Photo – World Premiere at Nieuwe Kerk

The annual exhibition contest of international photojournalism. The World Press Photo foundation (founded in 1955) is based in Amsterdam and has held the exhibition at the Nieuwe Kerk from 1982-1999 and 2014-present. It normally runs from mid-April to mid-September.

World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 runs 24 Apr to 27 Sep 2026.

Remembrance Day Service

The Netherlands observes Remembrance Day each May 4th to commemorate the victims of World War 2. There is a televised service held at Nieuwe Kerk followed by a ceremony on Dam Square with a nationwide two minute silence at 8pm.

Major Nieuwe Kerk exhibition

Autumn sees the Nieuwe Kerk put on a major themed exhibition usually about a culture or a noted individual. This normally runs October to early April.

Past exhibits have included Ming. Emperors, Artists and Merchants in Ancient China (2013-14), Magical Africa (2014-15), Rome. Emperor Constantine’s Dream (2015-16), Marilyn: 90 Years Miss Monroe (2016-17), We Have a Dream: Gandhi, Luther-King, Mandela (2017-18), The Life of Buddha, the Path to the Present (2018-19), The Great Suriname Exhibition (2019-20), Maison Amsterdam (2021-22), The Century of Juliana, a Queen and her Ideals (2022-23), The Great Indonesia Exhibition (2023-24), Mokum, the biography of Jewish Amsterdam (2025-26).

In 2026-27 the exhibition is Queer Amsterdam, the Pink City major LGBT-themed exhibition. Runs 9 Jul 2026 to 4 Apr 2027.

Evening organ concerts are held monthly (or twice monthly) on Tuesday evenings.

In terms of facilities, there is a small museum shop in the church selling books, cards and gifts.

There is the popular ‘t Nieuwe Cafe next door with a large outer terrace on Dam Square.

The Nieuwe Kerk is a beautiful historic building located in the very heart of Amsterdam and worth visiting in its own right. It hosts various exhibitions during the year which may be of further interest to the visitor.

Nieuwe Kerk Essential Info

This article was first published in 2010. Last checked and updated 23 June 2026.

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