Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder

One of my favourite museums that I visited in Amsterdam was Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder or in English, Our Lord in the Attic, a 17th century canal house that has a hidden church built into the top three floors. The Catholic Church was built during the 1660s when Catholics were unable to worship in public so held services in this hidden church. I found the audioguide that was free with admission to be very interesting.

The museum is open seven days a week but I suggest checking their website here to check for hours if you intend to visit. It costs €9.00 for adults but is free with the I amsterdam card if you do end up getting it.

You also get to wear these super fun slippers over your shoes to walk on the straw mats. 

Dining with the Tsars at the Hermitage

Dining with the Tsars at the Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam was an exciting event to attend. It's running from the 6 September 2014 to 1 March 2015. The exhibit costs €15 but with the I amsterdam card I think I had to pay an additional €3.50 to enter.  

The exhibition displays eight maginificent porcelain and creamware services from the collection of the Hermitage in St Petersburg. I enjoyed the rules of etiquette displayed upon one of the walls as you wandered through the exhibit.  The exhibit shows how lavish the banqueting culture used to be under the reigns of different Tsar's. The detailed dishes carefully placed on display so beautiful and unique to each different place setting. It was very interesting to visit and see. I did not mind paying the extra euros to enter the exhibit.

Museum Willet-Holthuysen

On the Tuesday that I visited a lot of attractions in Amsterdam I stopped at the Museum Willet-Holthuysen which is the only fully furnished canalside patrician house in Amsterdam that is open to the public. The museum has a large collection of items from the Dutch Golden Age including silverware, plates and books. It also has a large collection of art.

The house was built for Jacob Hop, mayor of Amsterdam in 1685. In 1739 the outside of the museum was redesigned to look as it does today in Louis XIV style. The last private owner, Mrs. Willet-Holthuysen, bequeathed the entire house to the city of Amsterdam on the condition that it became a museum in 1895.

Three floors are open to the public, the souterrain, with the kitchen and garden, the first floor and the top floor, with one bedroom on display and rooms for exhibitions.

My favourite part of the house was the garden with its large fountain and flowers.

The museum is open Monday to Friday: 10.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m. Weekends and national holidays: 11.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m. Admission for adults is €8,50 but is free with the I amsterdam card.

Museum Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis

Museum Geelvinck-Hinlopen is a canal-side mansion in Amsterdam that I visited with the I amsterdam card. The house was built for Albert Geelvinck (1647-1693) and Sara Hinlopen (1660-1749). Albert Geelvinck came from an upperclass family, who had gained their wealth through merchant shipping. He married in 1680 to Sara Hinlopen, who came from a family of Flemish cloth merchants.

There are many gardens on the estate, the back garden is in the Renaissance style and the front garden is formal and symmetrical in the French style with a large pond and fountain.

Entering the museum to the main floor there are four rooms open to the public. On my visit I was guided around by one of the lovely women that work at the museum. She gave me a nice tour of the rooms, telling me about their interesting history and decorations.

At the time of my visit the museum was hosting a piano festival and there was some beautiful playing going on as I wandered through the rooms.

The museum is free with the I amsterdam card or €9.00 for adults. It is open everyday except for Tuesday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. 
Closed on Tuesdays