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Groote Museum ARTIS Amsterdam

The Groote Museum at ARTIS is a fascinating new museum (opened in 2022) which asks fundamental questions about life and the connection between humans, animals, plants and microbes. Book your Groote Museum tickets here

The Groote Museum is located on Artisplein in a monumental building which was built between 1852 and 1855 – making it the oldest museum building in Amsterdam.

It housed the original museum for the Natura Artis Magistra Society with a large collection of stuffed animals, skeletons, insects, fossils and rocks. The museum shut down in 1947 and it remained closed to the public for 75 years.

The building underwent a complete “sustainable” renovation between 2017 and 2021 and was reopened as the Groote Museum in May 2022. The museum is a collaboration between a team of 50 scientists, experts and artists and is closely linked to the other ARTIS museum Micropia.

You enter the museum by ascending a butterfly staircase and arrive at a large question mark sculpture in the central hall.

groote museum amsterdam staircase
Groote Museum Amsterdam – staircase and ?

The museum is divided into 2 main rooms off the central hall. The Westzaal (West wing) is the main exhibition space which also includes an upper gallery level.

groote museum artis amsterdam
Groote Museum Amsterdam – Westzaal

The Groote Museum has 14 interlocking zones, with each theme highlighting a part of the body. In the Westzaal this includes the brain (IQ is for the stupid), the skin (packed in), the heart (round and round and round), the bones (go or stay?), the feet (taking steps) and the hands (handmade).

On the upper level you will find zones about the ear (a world full of sounds) and the fetus (the meaning of life).

groote museum amsterdam
Groote Museum Amsterdam – Westzaal

The exhibits are superbly curated and presented with plenty of hands-on features. All labelling is in Dutch and English. We will not describe the individual exhibits in detail here as that should be for the visitor to discover.

groote museum amsterdam
Groote Museum Amsterdam – Westzaal gallery

On the opposite side, the exhibition continues in the Oostzaal (East wing) and this space is also used for workshops.

groote museum oostzaal
Groote Museum Amsterdam – Oostzaal

There is plenty of seating available here to take a break. Upstairs you will find the Follow Your Nose exhibit which is a scent tunnel allowing you to walk through and discover different smells.

groote msuem amsterdam oostzaal
Groote Museum Amsterdam – Oostzaal

At each end of the Westzaal and Oostzaal rooms are panoramic windows with views of the surrounding Artisplein area.

If you wish to step into the oldest museum building in Amsterdam for a modern, cutting-edge presentation of the world through your senses, then a visit to the Groote Museum will certainly make for an interesting couple of hours.

How To Book ARTIS Groote Museum Tickets

To visit the ARTIS-Groote Museum it is recommended to book a ticket and an entry timeslot online in advance. There are currently no issues with timeslot availability – you should have no problems even if booking on-the-day.

ARTIS Groote Museum Essential Info

Opening TimesDaily 1000-1700, 1000-2200 on Thursdays.
Admission Prices (2024)€17.50 for adults (age 13+), €10.00 for students, free for children 0-12, Museumkaart and I amsterdam City Card holders.

Book your Groote Museum tickets here

Alternatively, order the I amsterdam City Card online here which includes free entrance to Groote Museum, Micropia and Artis Zoo.

Getting ThereArtis can easily be reached from the centre of Amsterdam on foot – head towards Waterlooplein and continue further east along the Plantage Middenlaan. From Amsterdam Central take tram 14 to the ARTIS stop. Metro lines 51, 53 and 54 serve Waterlooplein.

ARTIS Groote Museum, Artisplein, Plantage Middenlaan 41, 1018 CZ Amsterdam

Last update 15 January 2024. This article was originally published in 2022.

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