Museum of the Canals, the building on the Herengracht
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Practical information for your visit

Prepare for your visit

What to expect during your visit

Prepare for your museum visit and see what our museum has to offer. You will also discover great tips for the surrounding area. During your visit, you will encounter the history of our 17th-century canal house, from the seventeenth century to the present.

Permanent exhibition

Our permanent exhibition is a multimedia presentation about the creation of the Amsterdam canal belt. An audio guide leads you through five rooms where you can see the city emerge around you. The audio guide is included in the admission price and is available in nine languages. The multimedia tour takes approximately 40 minutes.

A new round of the permanent exhibition starts every 10 minutes, with a maximum of 12 people per round. The final round starts at 4:30 PM. It is not possible to visit the exhibition at an accelerated pace or without an audio guide.

Permanent exhibition ›

In the period rooms

After visiting the permanent exhibition, there is much more to discover at the Museum of the Canals. Visit the temporary exhibitions in the period rooms on the first floor. View the current exhibitions here.

Then take a look at the monumental Andriessen Room and admire the 18th-century wall paintings by Jurriaan Andriessen and a modern ceiling painting by the French artist Pascal Amblard.

Families

The Museum of the Canals is a must-see during a day out in Amsterdam. There is plenty to experience for both young and old. And with the Activity and Coloring Sheet, the exhibition 'Amsterdam, almost demolished' is also fun for the youngest visitors. From designing facades to recognizing World Heritage, go on a journey of discovery together.

Suitable for children aged 6 to 14, but fun for all ages. The Activity and Coloring Sheet is available for free at the desk.

Guided tours at the Museum of the Canals

We do not offer guided tours with live guides in our museum. As a visitor, you will be guided through our permanent and temporary exhibitions using an audio guide.

Museum shop

Small but charming, that is our museum shop. The museum has a small selection of books, jewelry, and gift items available for purchase at the museum ticket desk.

Coffee or lunch

The Museum of the Canals does not have a museum café, but there are many great places nearby where you can have lunch or a cup of coffee.

Accessibility

The entire museum is wheelchair accessible. Would you like to know more about the accessibility and all the facilities of the Museum of the Canals? View all information on the accessibility page.

More about accessibility ›
Nine streets Amsterdam IAmsterdam photo

In the neighborhood

The Museum of the Canals is located next to the picturesque shopping streets The 9 Streets. These charming streets offer specialty shops, eateries, hotels, and galleries.

There are also many other interesting institutions and museums to visit nearby, such as Huis Marseille and the Art Zoo Museum. View the full list of canal museums in Amsterdam here.

See also

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Opening hours and prices

Plan your visit to the museum

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Address and directions

Herengracht 386, in the heart of Amsterdam

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Accessibility

The museum is wheelchair accessible