Best for
Modern art and design fans
Time needed
1.5–2.5 hours
Worth it?
Yes for modern art lovers — skippable if you're only interested in Old Masters
Skip if
You're only doing one Museumplein museum and prefer Golden Age painting
About Stedelijk Museum
Founded in 1874 and moved to its current Museumplein building in 1895, the Stedelijk ('municipal') Museum is the Netherlands' primary institution for modern and contemporary art and design — the natural third stop, after the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, for anyone spending a full day on Museumplein without repeating centuries already covered next door.
The collection runs from late-19th-century roots through the towering names of 20th-century modernism: Kazimir Malevich's Suprematist compositions, an extensive Piet Mondrian holding tracing his evolution toward pure abstraction, Chagall, Kandinsky and a deep collection of American postwar art including Willem de Kooning (Dutch-born) and Andy Warhol. Design is treated with equal weight to fine art — furniture, graphic design and industrial design sit alongside paintings, reflecting the Netherlands' particular strength in that field.
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The building itself splits opinion: the original 1895 neo-Renaissance structure by A.W. Weissman was joined in 2012 by a striking white composite extension, nicknamed 'the bathtub' by Amsterdammers for its curved, seamless form, which more than doubled the museum's exhibition space and gave it a genuinely striking modern facade to match its modern collection.
Because it sits directly across Museumplein from the Rijksmuseum and next to the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk is easy to underrate as an afterthought — but its collection of Mondrian alone justifies a dedicated visit for anyone interested in how abstraction developed.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Extensive Piet Mondrian collection tracing his path to abstraction
- 2Malevich, Chagall, Kandinsky and Willem de Kooning
- 3Strong Dutch and international design collection
- 4The 2012 'bathtub' extension by Benthem Crouwel Architects
- 5Rotating contemporary exhibitions
- 6Free included audio guide
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Insider Tips
Book online — walk-in tickets are not guaranteed on busy days
Pair with the Van Gogh Museum next door for a full modern-art afternoon
The permanent collection rotates, so check the website for what's on display
Less crowded than its Museumplein neighbours in the late afternoon
The museum shop is one of the better design-focused gift shops in the city
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Getting There
Museumplein 10, 1071 DJ Amsterdam
Open in Google Maps →- 1Tram 2 or 12 to Van Baerlestraat/Museumplein, 2-minute walk.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're interested in Mondrian, abstraction or 20th-century art movements
- Design as well as fine art appeals to you
- You want a modern counterpoint after the Rijksmuseum's Old Masters
- You appreciate striking contemporary museum architecture
Skip if...
- Modern and contemporary art isn't your interest
- You only have time for one Museumplein museum and want Van Gogh or Rembrandt instead
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum
The Netherlands' national museum — Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer's Milkmaid and eight centuries of Dutch art and history under one roof on Museumplein.
Van Gogh Museum
The world's largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's paintings and letters, tracing his short, intense career from dark Dutch beginnings to Sunflowers and Provence.
Moco Museum
A crowd-pleasing modern and contemporary art museum in a Museumplein villa — Banksy, street art and immersive works aimed squarely at a younger, Instagram-savvy audience.