Discover the agenda of Museum of the Canals
View the planned activities in the museum below
Mirrored floor
Step into an enchanting world! In the monumental period room of the Museum of the Canals, a special mirrored floor can be experienced until March 1st, 2026. The floor of the “Andriessen Room” on the bel-etage of our 17th-century canal house is temporarily completely covered with mirrors.
Reflective Andriessen Room
Combined with the rich wall and ceiling paintings, it feels as if you’re standing in the middle of a visual illusion. The mirror floor enhances the interplay between the 18th-century wall paintings by Jurriaan Andriessen and the modern ceiling painting by Pascal Amblard.
Find yourself in the middle of a space that invites you to look, reflect, and take photographs. With an audio guide, you can also listen to the story behind the wall and ceiling paintings, told by Faye Feller, known for her educational TikTok and Instagram channels.
Herengracht 10-18 corner Keizersgracht before and after restoration Amsterdam City Archives
Trail of destruction through the Nieuwmarkt neighborhood: route of the four-lane motorway and of the East Line of the metro, aerial photo of the municipality of Amsterdam from 1977, photo by G. Jaeger,
Collection Nieuwe Instituut/ BOSC, f69
Building plan Herenstraat 10-18c, 1967/69, Stadsherstel, Property Archive
Exhibition Amsterdam, Almost Demolished
Why was Amsterdam’s canal district once on the verge of being demolished? The exhibition Amsterdam, Almost Demolished takes you through the various plans that were drawn up for the city, see never-before-shown archival photographs, you’ll learn how the people of Amsterdam saved their city. The exhibition is on view from 28 November 2025 to 29 March 2026.
A modern city of glass and steel
Just imagine: the canal houses, narrow streets and squares of Amsterdam’s city centre replaced by a modern city of glass and steel. In the 20th century, this scenario very nearly became reality. And not without reason: the city centre was in a state of decay at that time. There were plans to replace old neighbourhoods with modern districts, complete with wide motorways and large office buildings. The Grachtenmuseum at Herengracht 386, for instance, would not exist today if all proposed traffic breakthroughs had gone ahead.
Taking action
Fortunately, things turned out differently. The people of Amsterdam took action; local residents, artists and heritage enthusiasts fought throughout the 20th century to preserve their city. This exhibition guides you through the story of imminent demolition, fierce protests and, ultimately, complete restoration. Discover how Amsterdammers saved their city, and why we can still enjoy it every day. The exhibition also presents never-before-seen archival photos, special drawings, maps and protest posters.
In-depth story
The exhibition was created in collaboration with the Vereniging Vrienden van de Amsterdamse Binnenstad. A book of the same name will be published in early 2026 and offers an expanded exploration of the stories featured in the exhibition.