Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art

The Stedelijk Museum is the Netherlands' best collection of modern and contemporary art and one of the best anywhere. Stedelijk means "municipal," and its home on Museumplein, a few steps from the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, first opened in 1895. It's one of the most popular museums in Amsterdam, and unlike when we first wrote this page, it's open.

The long renovation is long over

When this page first ran, the Stedelijk was in limbo. The old building closed in 2004, the collection moved into a temporary home in the former Post CS building by Centraal Station until 2008, and the promised reopening kept slipping. It finally reopened on Museumplein on 23 September 2012, years later than planned, according to Wikipedia. That means the Post CS building, and the 11th-floor Club 11 with its city views that we used to rave about, are part of the museum's past, not something you can visit.

The reopening came with a new wing by Benthem Crouwel Architects: a smooth white addition quickly nicknamed "the Bathtub." Critics weren't kind. The New York Times' Michael Kimmelman said he couldn't recall a more ridiculous-looking building. Love it or hate it, it's hard to miss, and it houses the main entrance.

What's in the collection

The Stedelijk covers art and design from the 1870s to now. The permanent collection display runs to more than 500 works, and highlights include:

• The largest collection of Kazimir Malevich outside Russia.
• Works by Van Gogh, Kandinsky, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and Andy Warhol.
• A Keith Haring mural from 1986.
• A strong design and photography collection. Under director Willem Sandberg, from 1945 to 1963, it became the first modern art museum in Western Europe to collect photography.

If you only have an hour, walk the collection galleries. If you have more, the temporary shows are often the main event.

What's on in 2026

The big one right now is a Yayoi Kusama exhibition, running from 11 September 2026 to 17 January 2027, per the museum's program. Expect crowds and book ahead. On some days during the show the museum opens at 9:00 instead of 10:00, and on the first Saturday of each month during the show there's a "Stedelijk in Silence" early visit from 8:00 to 9:15. Also on the schedule are Adam Pendleton (10 October 2026 to 17 January 2027) and Luc Tuymans (6 March to 11 July 2027).

Tickets and hours

As of September 2026, per the Stedelijk's visitor page:

• Hours: daily, 10:00 to 18:00.
• Adults: €22.50.
• Students and CJP card holders: €12.50.
• Under 19: free.
• Free with the Museumkaart or the I amsterdam City Card.

The old half-price deal for seniors is gone, so over-65s pay the adult rate. If you plan to see the Stedelijk plus a couple of other big museums, do the math on a museum card before you buy single tickets.

Getting there

The address is Museumplein 10, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, on the edge of the big lawn at the heart of the Museum Quarter. Several trams stop close by, and it's an easy walk from Leidseplein or Vondelpark. See Amsterdam public transportation explained for routes.

FAQ

Can I see the Stedelijk, Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum in one day?

You can, since they're all on Museumplein, but you'll be exhausted. Two is a more realistic day. See what to do when you're museum'd out.

Do I need to book ahead?

For big shows like Kusama, yes. The rest of the year, same-day tickets are usually fine.

Is the Stedelijk worth it if I'm not into modern art?

The building and the design galleries win over a lot of skeptics. If you're still unsure, a free entry with a museum card takes the risk out of it.