Museum Square in Amsterdam

The Museumplein (Museum Square) makes a beautiful contrast between the old historical buildings and the neighbouring modern districts. The square is a masterpiece of the Danish landscape architect Sven Ingvar Andersson and represents one of the places that are worth visiting because of its cultural sites and interesting events. One can find underground garages, supermarkets, pavilions and kiosks in the area. Walking through a vast lawn you can enter the large underground garage with places for 600 cars and a huge hypermarket where the selection of products is so varied that everyone can find something to suit their needs. The architecture of the building was different in the past but thanks to the renovation in 1999, the facades and whole appearance have changed to give the square a new modern outlook. Mass events are held at Museumplein, such as festivals, demonstrations, and celebrations.

In this district the visitor will be mostly attracted by four museums that surround the square: the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Diamond Museum (with permanent collection of diamond jewellery and detailed information about diamonds). The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam or Rijksmuseum (State Museum) was founded in 1800 in The Hague and was moved to Amsterdam afterwards. It offers great collections of arts, crafts and historical exhibits. Last but not least, the museum includes impressive collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a great collection of Asian art. Gradually, various wings and fragment buildings were renovated, including the Cuypers' building, the hall for Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’, also several new exhibition rooms were built. The Rijksmuseum hosts the Research Library, which is the largest public art library for history research in the Netherlands. The paintings collection is impressive and includes some of the best works by artists such as Rembrandt and his pupils – Frans Hals, Jacob van Ruysdael and Johannes Vermeer. Connoisseurs of art will recognise the exquisite talent of Rembrandt in his paintings ‘The Night Watch’, ‘The Jewish Bride’, ‘Saskia with a Veil’ and others.

The Van Gogh Museum is another cultural site that visitors should include in their tourist trip in Amsterdam. Everyone who is keen on the art and interested in the life of this prominent artist should visit the facility. The museum boasts the largest collection of the Van Gogh’s drawings and paintings in the whole world. One can follow the chronicles of the artist’s life stages, from his childhood until his death. Some of the highlights include ‘Bedroom in Arles’, ‘The Potato Eaters’ and one of the three versions of ‘Sunflowers’.

The Stedelijk Museum aims at another kind of art displaying modernism and contemporary trends. There is a room painted by Karel Appel and significant collection of paintings by Kazimir Malevich. Besides the museum, the building also has an administrative character as it hosts the offices of numerous media and art companies. From the top floor you can enjoy the marvellous panorama of the city – one of the best in Amsterdam, giving an overall impression of the metropolis and its diverse architecture. After a visit to the museum treat yourself to a nice meal at one of Amsterdam's many fine restaurants.