Hermitage Amsterdam

Few people know that the famous Hermitage in St. Petersburg has a branch in Amsterdam that was opened in 2009 where temporary thematic exhibitions are organised. The museum known as the Hermitage in Amsterdam is located in the former Amstelhof, a neoclassical building constructed in 1681 that was for centuries a nursing home for the elderly. In the 1990s, the managers of the nursing home decided to move to a more modern facility so the building was given to the city of Amsterdam which turned it into a museum.

In June 2009, the museum was opened in the presence of the Dutch Queen Beatrix and the then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The exhibition area covers 2172 square metres and is only inside some of the halls of the complex while the remaining space houses a restaurant, private rooms and offices. The building overlooks the Amstel canal and is built around a large inner courtyard.

Things to do at the Hermitage in Amsterdam

The Hermitage in Amsterdam boasts two permanent exhibitions: one tells the story of the long relationship between Russia and the Netherlands while the other describes the history of the Amstelhof building. Temporary exhibitions are also usually organised and last around six months with collections directly from Russia. Thanks to an elaborate organisation inside the museum, it is possible to admire works from theHermitage Museum in St. Petersburg by famous artists such as Caravaggio, Canova, Cézanne, Leonardo da Vinci, Gauguin, Monet, Renoir, Rubens, Titian and Velázquez.

Among the most famous exhibitions organised here was undoubtedly the one on Alexander the Great, entitled ‘Alexander the Great, the Myth, the Truth, His Story, His Legacy’ and the one ‘From Matisse to Malevich. The Pioneers of Modern Art’.

Tickets for the Hermitage Amsterdam

The museum is one of the most visited museum sites in the city, so it is recommended to book tickets online or alternatively plan your visit on weekdays, preferring early mornings or late afternoons. It currently houses the collections of the Amsterdam Historical Museum due to renovations.

Opening hours of the Amsterdam Hermitage

The Hermitage Amsterdam is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

How to get to the Hermitage Amsterdam

The Hermitage in Amsterdam can be easily reached by public transport using tram 14 to the Waterlooplein stop or Metro lines 51, 53 and 54 to the Waterlooplein stop. From Waterlooplein it is necessary to walk along the river Amstel for 200 metres if you want to reach the Museum. Alternatively, the site is easily accessible by bicycle.