“Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum — all on one square. Yes they are touristy, yes they are worth it. My friend's dad cried at the Night Watch.”
I am going to say something that sounds contradictory for a local tips guide: go to the Rijksmuseum. Go to the Van Gogh Museum. They are famous for a reason, and that reason is they are genuinely world-class incredible. My friend's dad stood in front of the Night Watch for twenty minutes and got emotional. All three museums sit on Museumplein in Oud-Zuid. Rijksmuseum = Dutch masters, Night Watch. Van Gogh = largest collection in the world, walking through his career chronologically is powerful. Stedelijk = modern and contemporary art. Crucial advice: BUY TICKETS ONLINE IN ADVANCE. If you show up without tickets you will either not get in (Van Gogh sells out) or wait 90 minutes. My neighbor's parents ignored this and still bring it up at Christmas. Go weekday mornings when doors open. Do not try all three in one day. Tickets around 22-23 euros per museum. The Museumkaart (65 euros) gives free entry to 400 Dutch museums for a year.
Book this one ahead of time — trust me, it sells out.
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