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.