museum
Verzetsmuseum
The Dutch Resistance Museum tells how the Netherlands lived under WWII occupation.
Photo: Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam | Dutch Resistance Museum / Google
In the Plantage district, opposite the entrance to the Artis zoo, the Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum) tells the story of the Netherlands under German occupation in the Second World War, from May 1940 to May 1945. Voted the country's best historical museum, it focuses not on heroes and villains but on ordinary people and the difficult choices they faced.
Its award-winning permanent exhibition recreates the atmosphere of wartime Amsterdam with replica streets, large photographs, posters, authentic objects, film and recorded sound.
What you'll see
Around a hundred personal stories invite you to consider what you might have done in the same circumstances — to adapt, to collaborate, or to resist. The exhibition also covers the persecution of the Jews and a separate section on the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia, before and after the war. The Verzetsmuseum Junior tells the war through the eyes of four Dutch children, making the history accessible to younger visitors.
Good to know
A free audio guide is available in several languages, and there's a café on site. Allow a couple of hours, and consider pairing it with the nearby Jewish Cultural Quarter for a fuller picture of these years.
Tips from locals
Allow at least a couple of hours — there's a lot of personal detail to take in.
Pick up the free audio guide; it adds context to many of the objects.
It pairs naturally with the nearby Jewish Cultural Quarter and the Anne Frank House for a fuller picture of the war years.
Visiting with kids? The Verzetsmuseum Junior tells the story through four children's eyes.
It's right across from Artis, so it's easy to combine with a day in the Plantage.
Did you know?
The museum was voted the best historical museum in the Netherlands.
Its permanent exhibition recreates wartime Amsterdam with full replica streets.
It was established in 1984, growing out of a 1980 exhibition created by former members of the resistance.
Around a hundred personal stories anchor the exhibition, each posing the question of what you would have done.
A dedicated section covers the wartime history of the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia.
FAQ
- What is the Verzetsmuseum?
- The Dutch Resistance Museum, telling the story of the Netherlands under German occupation in the Second World War.
- Where is it?
- At Plantage Kerklaan 61, opposite the entrance to the Artis zoo.
- How long should I plan?
- At least a couple of hours to take in the personal stories and exhibits.
- Is there an audio guide?
- Yes — a free audio guide in several languages.
- Is it suitable for children?
- Yes — the Verzetsmuseum Junior tells the war through the eyes of four Dutch children.
Dutch Resistance Museum, Amsterdam
Plantage Kerklaan 61, 1018 CX, Amsterdam