Local museums in North Holland

The Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen brings stories of the people who once lived on the shores of the Zuiderzee to life. Discover the everyday life round the Zuiderzee as it was before the Afsluitdijk (the great IJsselmeer Barrier Dam) turned the former inland sea into what we now know as the IJsselmee

At the Houseboat Museum, you get the chance to experience first-hand what it’s like to live in a houseboat on an Amsterdam canal. The museum is located in the “Hendrika Maria”, a former cargo ship built in 1914. The cargo hold is now a cosy living space featuring all the conveniences and a surprisin

The Amsterdam Museum presents exhibitions on a wide range of urban issues. We share knowledge, show art and heritage, and tell relevant stories - past, present and future. Historical and contemporary stories that make the city what it is, in all its forms. We do this at our museum locations in the h

The Westfries Museum is closed due to a long-term and extensive renovation. The renewed museum will reopen in mid-2027. You can follow the progress of the renovation at westfriesmuseum.nl. The Westfries Museum offers a special attraction at the Statenpoort at Nieuwstraat 23 in Hoorn: ‘Discover the

The Zaans museum is housed in a modern building on the Zaanse Schans. The museum illustrates the cultural and industrial heritage of Zaandam. It exhibits paintings, films, photographs, objects and painted furniture. The Verkade Pavilion is part of the museum, a chocolate and biscuit factory from the

Museum of the Canals is housed in a monumental seventeenth-century canal house. The museum illustrates the Amsterdam city expansion that was caused by the construction of canals. In addition to an interactive tour, there is a temporary exhibition in our period rooms.

Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar is dedicated to the history and cultural heritage of Alkmaar and its surroundings. It covers five centuries of history. The collection includes historical objects from the Alkmaar region, a photo collection of Alkmaar, a toy theatre including toys from the past, paintings fr

Museum Kaap Skil is housed in a modern glass building with a shell of wooden beams. The museum is dedicated to Texel and the sea. The collection includes beachcombing objects and dive finds, as well as paintings and prints. In addition, the museum has the largest maritime model in the world.

The Dutch Cheese Museum is housed in the weigh house of Alkmaar. The museum illustrates the past and present of the manufacturing of dairy products on the farm and in the factory. The whole process is covered, from the milking of the cow to cheesemaking itself. The museum also illustrates trade and

The Willet-Holthuysen House is housed in a double mansion from 1687. In the 19th century it was the house of Abraham Willet and his wife Louisa Willet-Holthuysen. The museum consists of a dining room, a ballroom, a garden room and a corridor on the first floor that illustrate how wealthy people from

Museum Haarlem illustrates the history of Haarlem and surroundings. It is a city that is often praised for its beauty and has inspired many painters. Dutch painters such as Frans Hals and Jan van Scorel painted the city. The collection consists of objects of historical value from the South ‘Kennemer

Museummolen Schermerhorn is a mill from 1634 that was used to drain the water from the Schermerpolder. It is one of the eleven remaining mills of the former Schermerpolder mill complex. The mill can be visited from top to bottom, which lets the visitor properly see the operation of the mill. The mus

The Broekerveiling is the oldest ‘doorvaar-groentenveiling’ in the world. The auctioning started in 1887 at the same spot the museum is situated now. The museum exhibits punts (boats) and tools. Auctions are held with the punts, which illustrate how the auction worked. Important in the museum is the

Museum Kranenburgh is housed in ‘Huis Kranenburgh’ from 1882. It is a museum of visual arts. The collection consists of paintings and graphic art by artists from the so-called Bergen School. The collection includes works by Else Berg, Henri Le Fauconnier, Dirk Filarski, Leo Gestel, Mommie Schwarz an

Kasteel Radboud is a castle that dates back to 1288. It is the only remaining West Frisian ‘dwangburcht’ of Floris the Fifth. The collection consists of objects that illustrate the history of the building. The permanent exhibition shows life in the Middle Ages and the history of Medemblik. For child

Located in Amsterdam's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Canal District, Huis Marseille is the first museum in the Netherlands entirely dedicated to photography as an art form. Housed in two monumental 17th-century canal houses at Keizersgracht 401 and 399, the museum offers a welcoming atmosphere with f

The Molen van Sloten – Kuiperijmuseum includes an original ‘poldermolen’ and a museum where visitors learn how barrels are made. The Molen van Sloten is a functioning ‘poldermolen’ and is the only mill in Amsterdam that is daily open to the public. It is a ‘stellingmolen’ with a backside that was re

Natuurmuseum E. Heimans focuses on the nature in the area. The museum shows the nature that is present in the Zaans urban environment. The museum has a permanent exhibition ‘Nature in the City’ and a temporary exhibition hall. About three times a year the museum organizes temporary exhibitions on a

The Huis van Hilde is an archaeology center of the province of North Holland and is named after a skeletal find known as Hilde. The House of HIlde has a permanent exhibition of soil finds from the time of the Neanderthals. Showpieces are the sarcophagi, historic canoes and statues or dolls made base

Learn all about the Nazi persecution of the Jews in the Netherlands. The National Holocaust Museum tells the story of the Nazi persecution and murder of the Jews of the Netherlands. Before the Second World War, Jews and non-Jews lived side by side. They had the same rights. But during the war, the

The Honig Breethuis is a house where a merchant family from the Zaan district lived around 1830. The house dates from the early 18th century and was built by Cornelis Jacobsz. Honig, owner of a ‘witpapiermolen’. Visitors learn about the history and the lives of families who lived here. The collectio

The Volendams Museum illustrates how people lived and worked in Volendam in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The collection of the museum includes Volendam (and national) costumes and jewellery, photographs, literary and musical art forms, paintings, drawings, sculptures, pottery, old i

The Amsterdam City Archive is the historical documentation centre of Amsterdam. It has a total of 35 kilometers of archives. The core of the archives are the archives of the city and the city’s government institutions, businesses and services. In addition to archives of the government, the Amsterdam

Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren illustrates the history of Monnickendam and Waterland. The museum shows the origins of a classical Dutch landscape. Topics that are covered include monasteries and monks, fisheries and ship transport over sea. The highlight of the museum is the completely new built Car

The IJmuider Zee- en Havenmuseum illustrates the history and development of IJmuiden. This history begins with the digging of the North Sea in the 1870s, the construction of the piers and the locks. The museum has exhibition halls in which visitors learn about towing, fishing and offshore activities

Huizer Museum Het Schoutenhuis is housed in a historical building from the 17th century. It is a cultural history museum on Huizen. The museum exhibits costumes from the period 1850-1950. In showcases women's, men's and children's wear are exhibited. In the basement the lives of farmers and fisherme

Edams Museum is housed in a merchant's house from 1540. The museum illustrates the rich history of Edam and illustrates how a merchant in the 16th century lived. Leading families, architecture, shipbuilding, the ceramic industry and everyday life are covered in this museum. The collection includes p

The Zandvoorts Museum is dedicated to the history and art of Zandvoort. The diverse collection includes paintings, furniture, old tools, glassware, pottery, costumes and old beachwear. The museum illustrates the development of Zandvoort from a poor fishing village to a posh seaside resort. The colle

Museumboerderij Westfrisia is located on a farmyard. The museum exhibits objects from farmers mainly from the 19th and 20th century that were collected by the last occupant of the farm, Adriaan Donker (1916-1984). The collection includes prehistoric objects, peasant furniture, tableware and textiles

The Marker Museum is housed in six historical houses. The museum organises changing exhibitions that illustrate the history of Marken. Part of the museum is decorated as how it was decorated by the family that lived there until 1932. It is characterised by the typical ‘pronkbed’, the white walls dec

Always wanted to know why Edam is so famous? Henri Willig has built an experience in Edam where the glorious history of Edam cheese is told and where you can learn everything about Edam cheese from the past and also today. A nice outing for all ages. The experience is wheelchair accessible. Edam

The Molenmuseum is dedicated to windmills and the history of mills in Zaandam. The museum preserves objects that are related to the mill era. The collection mainly consists of models and consumer goods from the mills. In addition, the museum illustrates the customs around the mills, the local langua

The Gemeentemuseum Weesp is housed in the town hall, located on the entire second floor of the building. Between 1759 and 1768 the first porcelain in the Netherlands was produced in Weesp. The main part of the museum’s collection consists of this 18th century Dutch porcelain. Besides porcelain, Wees

Museum Betje Wolff is housed in a former rectory. The name of the museum is derived from the 18th century Dutch writer Elizabeth (Betje) Wolff, who lived in the house during her marriage. The ‘style rooms’ illustrate three centuries of working and living in the Beemster area. The library contains ne

The Archeologisch Museum Haarlem is located in the basement of the Vleeshal. The museum is dedicated to the cultural heritage of Kennermerland. It illustrates how in four thousand years Haarlem has become what it is today. In showcases archaeological finds are displayed, including earthenware pots,

Museum van Egmond is the cultural history museum of Egmond. Life of people around 1900 near the sea. Beautiful paintings.

CRASH Luchtoorlog- en Verzetsmuseum '40-'45 illustrates the story of aircraft crews in the war and their mission. The collection includes documents, photographs, old newspapers, and personal items. The remains of the aircraft are also exhibited. Important in the museum is the wreck of a Dutch fight

Museum Kennemerland is housed in the former town hall from the early 20th century. The regional museum has a historical collection, that focuses on the history of Central Kennemerland. It includes children's toys, various tools, rhetoricians coats of arms, objects related to the industry and househo

Gemeentemuseum Het Sterkenhuis is located in a 17th century longhouse farm. It is a historical museum that is dedicated to the cultural history of Bergen. The farm is reminiscent of rural life in the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum exhibits furniture, costumes and household items from that time,

Texel Heritage Museum Waelstee gives a comprehensive picture of life in the past on Texel. The museum features various authentic agricultural machines, sledges, and farm wagons and carriages that were used on Texel in the past. In addition, the museum displays several machines and objects for milk p

Agrarisch Museum Westerhem is housed in a farmhouse from 1877. The museum illustrates working and living in the region around 1900. The collection of the museum includes tools, cars and images. The North Holland Haubarg is characterized by its pyramid shape and placement of the ‘dars’, stable and li

Boerderij- en Rijtuigmuseum Vreeburg Schagen is a regional museum that is partially housed in a restored old style 17th century farmhouse. The museum features a section dedicated to farm life and a section dedicated to carriages. The rooms in the farm feature authentic utensils and furniture. In the

Museumwinkel Albert Heijn is an old grocery store. The museum exhibits the original furnishings and inventory. It illustrates grocery shopping in more than a century ago. Among other things, the museum exhibits jars with white and black candy, licorice, ‘suikerbrood’, rennet used for cheese and pepp

The Zijper Museum is the very starting point where the history of polder the Zijpe comes alive. Visitors learn many remarkable facts about one of Hollands oldest polders in a modern, interactive manner. In the permanent exposition history is presented through objects, maps, movies and animations. Pa

Museum In 't Houten Huis is housed in a wooden structured house from the 18th century. The museum illustrates the rich history of the Schermereiland and its seafaring residents. It exhibits a diverse collection on the history of De Rijp and Schermereiland. Topics that are covered in the museum inclu

The Polder Museum is housed in the former pumping station ‘Het Grootslag’, with the National Saet and Cruyt Museum. The museum organizes exhibitions on 5000 years living and working in the polder 'Het Grootslag’. The collection of the museum includes archaeological finds, tools, photographs and vari

The Aviation and War Museum Texel focuses on the history of aviation and events during the Second World War on and around the island of Texel. A Kolibrie ('Hummingbird') helicopter, a replica of a Scheldemusch and a Fokker Spin, and a Saab Safir are some of the aircraft on display. The part about

Museum Hilversum is the photography museum of Central Netherlands, specializes in showing photography and explores the boundaries of photography by combining it with other art forms. Museum Hilversum amazes, touches and connects. The museum has a wide range of changing exhibitions and is a lively pl

The Purmerend Museum is housed in the former town hall from 1912. The museum is dedicated to the history of Purmerend, which grew from fishing village to medieval market town. By displaying images, objects, architectural models and postcards, visitors learn about the development of the city. Importa

Museum 't Kromhout Kromhout is a ‘working museum’ that features a collection of engines that are manufactured by Firma Kromhout. All engines that are on display are still functional and will be demonstrated. The museum also features an original forge from the nineteenth century and a film room with

Oudheidkamer Kaaphoornvaarders seeks to keep alive the memory of the search for the third route to India. Among other things, the museum displays antique nautical instruments and models of the historic sailing ships Netherlands, Europa, Pamir and Potosi.

Poldermuseum Heerhugowaard is located in the former pumping station on the southern ring dike. The museum displays cultural-historical objects related to the Heerhugowaard polder. Among other things, there is a permanent collection of two archaeological finds from the polder as well as jewelry, maps

Stoomgemaal Halfweg is the oldest steam pumping station in the world. It was built as a basin pumping station, to discharge the water pumped out by the Haarlemmermeer Lake to the sea. The pumping station still operates several days a year.

Museum Amsterdam Noord is located in the former Municipal Bathhouse of Vogeldorp, the first characteristic 'tuindorp' of Amsterdam. The museum illustrates the history of the north of Amsterdam.

The Nationaal Saet & Cruytmuseum is housed in the former pumping station "Grootslag", along with the Poldermuseum. It is dedicated to the cultivation, processing, packaging and sale of horticultural seeds and propagating plant material. It covers both the importance of propagating material as an (ex

The Grietje Tump Museum bears the name of its last occupant, Grietje Tump. She was the daughter of rentenier Cornelis Tump. His ancestors operated the ferry ferries across the IJ to Amsterdam. The museum's permanent collection consists of furniture, utensils, jewelry and old textiles.

The Enkhuizer Almanac Museum displays the centuries-old headings of the famous almanac. The museum pays attention to such headings as timekeeping, the position of celestial bodies, the water tides, the departure times of diligences to Haarlem or Leiden and the ringing of the gate bells of Amsterdam.

In a Victorian living room, host Martin Oudbier tells the story of the teapots that are exhibited in the museum.

The Jordaanmuseum organizes exhibitions, walks and themed days.