Stedelijk: the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum
Hightlight
-
English-Speaking
-
Group-Friendly
-
Local guide
-
Reservations
History
Founded in 1874 as a showcase for contemporary art, the Stedelijk Museum moved to its Museumplein location in 1895, designed by Adriaan Weissman in neo-Renaissance style. Nicknamed “the bathtub” after its 2012 futuristic wing by Benthem Crouwel Architects, it survived WWII closures and postwar rebuilds to become a global modern art beacon.
Reopened post-renovation, it now blends 19th-century grandeur with sleek modernism, housing over 90,000 works from 1870 onward. It pioneered design collections and continues championing bold, boundary-pushing exhibitions.
Highlights
- Admire icons by Matisse, Picasso, Chagall, Malevich, and Mondrian
- Explore Warhol pop art, Dumas portraits, and Rietveld furniture
- Discover emerging talents in cutting-edge temporary shows
- Experience immersive installations, like past Marina Abramović retrospectives
- Use the bilingual audio guide for deeper insights into movements
- Skip the line and access all permanent and rotating exhibits
Full Description
Enter the Stedelijk Museum on Amsterdam’s vibrant Museumplein, where historic brick meets a gleaming white “bathtub” extension. This premier hub for modern and contemporary art and design boasts a collection of 90,000+ pieces, from De Stijl abstractions to postmodern provocations.
Enjoy Your Event Stress-Free with Euro Travelo
Planning a trip to attend a festival, concert, or business event in Europe can be overwhelming—tickets, travel, accommodation, and local logistics all take time and effort. Euro Travelo makes it simple by providing everything you need through one trusted company. You save time, avoid stress, and enjoy a seamless experience from start to finish.
Why Choose Euro Travelo:
- Secure and easy ticket booking for concerts, festivals, theaters, and business events.
- Complete travel planning including flights, trains, and local transportation.
- Accommodation arrangements near event venues, tailored to your needs.
- Convenient local transfers, from airport pickups to private shuttles.
- On-site concierge support to help you navigate venues and schedules.
- Custom itineraries and experience packages combining multiple events, tours, and activities.
- Secure payment process, making it safe and convenient to book all services online.
- Flexibility: even if you need only one service, we can assist individually.
Thematically arranged galleries trace art’s evolution: early 20th-century pioneers like Kandinsky give way to postwar abstracts, pop explosions, and today’s digital experiments. Highlights include van Gogh’s early works, Mondrian’s grids, and immersive rooms—like Abramović’s performance relics—that challenge perceptions. Temporary exhibits spotlight breakthroughs, from AI-generated art to social commentary.
With skip-the-line mobile tickets and an English/Dutch audio guide, dive in at your pace. Wheelchair-friendly and family-oriented, it’s a dialogue between eras, inviting you to question, feel, and rethink the world through art’s lens.
Why Choose This Attraction?
The Stedelijk stands out for its fearless curation—mixing masterpieces with tomorrow’s stars in a space that’s as innovative as the art. Unlike traditional museums, it pulses with debate, from colorful Matisse cutouts to confrontational contemporary pieces.
Perfectly positioned for a Museumplein triple-header (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh), it’s essential for anyone craving art that provokes thought and sparks conversation.
What’s Included
- Skip-the-line mobile admission to the Stedelijk Museum
- Entry to permanent collection and all temporary exhibitions
- Bilingual audio guide (English and Dutch) via app
- Access to interactive displays and multimedia stations
- Wheelchair and stroller accessibility throughout
- Free Wi-Fi and cloakroom service
- Digital map and event calendar
- Combo potential with nearby museums (separate tickets)
Pricing
From $26 per person
Meeting Point
Entrance hall of the Stedelijk Museum, Museumplein 10, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, Netherlands. Present your mobile voucher for scanning.
How to Get There
- By Tram: Lines 2, 5, 12 to Van Baerlestraat (1-min walk)
- By Metro: Line 52 to De Pijp, then 10-min walk
- By Bus: Lines 170, 172, 197 to Museumplein
- By Bike: 10 min from Centraal; secure parking at Q-Park underneath
- By Foot: 20 min from Dam Square via Leidseplein
Good to Know
What to Bring
- Headphones (for audio guide)
- Smartphone (mobile ticket and app)
- Comfortable shoes (expansive galleries)
- Notebook (for inspired sketches)
Know Before You Go
- Open daily 10 AM–6 PM (Fri until 10 PM)
- No printing needed—show mobile barcode
- Temporary exhibits change often; check for Abramović-style immersives
- Photography allowed (no flash)
- Café serves art-inspired snacks with Museumplein views
Reviews
- Interesting modern art—you’ll love it or debate it. Wish I’d had time for the Marina Abramović show!
- Traveled from Poland just for the Abramović exhibition—creative, fresh, and 100% recommended.
- Excellent collection overall, but no access to the Abramović section during my visit. Still worth it.
Maps
Video
FAQ's
What artists and movements are featured in the permanent collection?
The Stedelijk's 90,000-piece collection spans 1870 to now, spotlighting modern pioneers like Matisse's vibrant fauvism, Picasso's cubist experiments, Chagall's dreamlike narratives, and Malevich's suprematist squares. Dutch stars shine: Mondrian's geometric De Stijl, van Gogh's expressive brushwork, and Appel’s CoBrA energy. Design icons include Rietveld's red-blue chair. Postwar highlights feature Warhol's silk-screens, Lichtenstein pops, and Dumas' raw portraits. Thematic rooms connect art to society—feminism, migration, technology—revealing how creators respond to change.
Are temporary exhibitions included, and what's currently showing?
Yes—all temporary shows are fully included with your ticket. These rotate 4–6 times yearly, featuring solo retrospectives (like past Marina Abramović immersives with performance reenactments) or themed group exhibits on topics like digital art or sustainability. Current or upcoming: check the app for real-time details, but expect emerging talents alongside established names. Exhibits often include interactive elements—VR tours, soundscapes, or workshops. Past hits drew crowds for their boldness; plan extra time as they can be as captivating as the permanent wings.
How does the audio guide work, and is it worth using?
The free audio guide app (download via QR code) offers English or Dutch narration for 50+ highlights, lasting 60–90 minutes if followed fully. It layers context—artist bios, technique breakdowns, historical ties—without overwhelming. Headphones are essential for immersion amid gallery buzz. You control pacing: pause for close looks or skip to favorites. It's multimedia-rich with zoomable images and interviews. First-timers love the guidance; experts use it for fresh insights. No extra cost, and it elevates a casual visit into a curated journey.
Is the museum family-friendly, and are there activities for kids?
Yes—kids under 18 enter free. The Stedelijk balances bold art with accessibility: family audio tours use fun storytelling, and "BASE" kids' zones offer hands-on workshops like collage-making or chair-building inspired by Rietveld. Scavenger hunts spot colors in Matisse or shapes in Mondrian. Strollers navigate easily via elevators, and the café has kid menus. Some abstracts spark imagination; sensitive pieces are labeled. Weekend family programs include drawing sessions or VR previews. It's educational without being stuffy—perfect for sparking young creativity.
Can I combine this with other Museumplein attractions?
Absolutely—Museumplein clusters the Stedelijk, Van Gogh, and Rijksmuseum within 5 minutes' walk. Buy separate tickets, but the I Amsterdam City Card bundles entry (with slots). Start at Stedelijk for modern vibes, then contrast with van Gogh's colors or Rijksmuseum classics. Concertgebouw hall nearby adds music. Trams loop the square; Q-Park underground parks all day. Allow 2 hours per museum for a full day—grab lunch at the plaza food trucks. The trio forms Amsterdam's art heart, blending eras seamlessly.
