Typically known for its cannabis-friendly “coffeeshops” and Red Light District, many of Amsterdam’s tourists may be surprised to learn there are more cultural attractions per capita in Amsterdam than any other major city in the world. There are 75 museums across the city, many with recognizable names like the Van Gogh Museum or Anne Frank House and many others that are less well-known but equally fascinating.
With so many cultural attractions, a museum pass is usually the way to go. Which museum pass to choose is a little more difficult to figure out and often depends on your length of visit and how many museums you plan to visit.
In this post I will give an overview of the four museum pass options: Museumkaart, Holland Pass, and I Amsterdam Card. I will also give my own personal recommendations for which is the best option for your trip.
Don’t miss my handy comparison chart at the end of the post!
Museumkaart
First up is my personal favorite, the Museumkaart. This is the card for museum lovers! The Museumkaart is really intended for residents of the Netherlands, since the card is valid for a full year, but there’s nothing stopping visitors from purchasing the card. This card gives you access to a massive number of museums not only in Amsterdam, but in museums all across the Netherlands.
The Museumkaart is good for those who plan to be in the Netherlands for a longer visit (5+ days) or plan to visit more than once a year. It’s also great for those who like to explore museums in smaller stints in order to avoid museum fatigue; big museums like the Rijksmuseum are often more enjoyable when spread over several shorter visits.
The Museumkaart costs €59.90 per adult or €32.45 per child (up to age 18) and can be purchased at any museum that accepts the card. Your best bet is to choose a smaller museum to avoid having to wait in a long line. The pass will be valid for 31 days from purchase. If you want to convert your pass into an official card that will be valid for a full year, you can do so by registering on the Museumkaart website (you must register while the temporary card is still valid). You’ll need to upload a photo and provide a Dutch mailing address to send the card to.
Note: As of 2018, the temporary Museumkaart card can only be used at 5 museums. The official card as no restrictions.
What’s included:
Nearly every museum in Amsterdam and other cities across the Netherlands, including the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Rembrandt House, and Van Gogh Museum.
Click here for a full list of museums that allow free admission with the Museumkaart.
Pros:
- Almost every museum in the city is included as well as many other across the Netherlands
- Any 5 museums included with temporary card; official card includes unlimited visits to all museums
- Only museum pass that includes free admission to the Anne Frank House (value €9.10)
- Valid for 31 days (or a year if you register your card)
- Only museum pass to offer a discounted rate for children
Cons:
- Slightly more expensive than other museum passes
- Doesn’t include any non-museum tourist attractions, airport transfers, or public transportation
- Doesn’t include any additional discounts
Holland Pass
The Holland Pass is a decent option for those who already know which museums and attractions they want to visit and would like the option to use the pass in other Dutch cities outside of Amsterdam.
There are three pricing options for the Holland Pass:
Small (3 entry credits): €40
Medium (4 entry credits): €55
Large (6 entry credits): €75
The Holland Pass also categorizes museums and attractions as gold or silver and dictates the number of credits that can be used on each, which varies between the S/M/L packages. Please note, the packages can only be used by the pass holder, meaning the tickets from one package cannot be shared between multiple people.
What’s included:
Most of the city’s top museums are on the list of participating attractions, including the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Rembrandt House, and Stedelijk. The pass also includes airport train tickets and a free ticket to either the Hop On Hop Off Bus (value €18) or an Amsterdam Canal Cruise (value €19.50). The Holland Pass will get you discounts between 10 and 50% at most attractions in the city.
Click here for a full list of participating museums and attractions.
Pros:
- Includes museums and attractions outside of Amsterdam, such as Keukenhof and the Frans Hals Museum
- Tiered pricing structure; only pay for the places you want to visit
- Discounts between 10 and 50% to select attractions
- Pass never expires
- Free canal cruise included
Cons:
- The Holland Pass cannot be arranged online before your trip and must be picked up on arrival at the airport terminal
- More complicated pricing structure (small/medium/large and gold/silver); requires more up front research to determine which package is right for you based on potential discounts and savings
- Can be more expensive than other passes, particularly the Large package.
I Amsterdam Card
The I Amsterdam Card includes unlimited access to many of the top museums in the city but is priced based on the number of days you’ll be using the card. The card also allows you to use public transportation for each day it’s active, so it may be worth considering if you plan to use the city’s buses and trams to get around (an unlimited day pass would otherwise cost you €7.50). Please note that this does not include the train to/from the airport.
The price of the I Amsterdam Card is structured based on the number of days you plan to use the card:
24 hours: €55
48 hours: €65
72 hours: €75
96 hours: €85
For most people, this card doesn’t make financial sense, especially if you will be in the city more than a day since the passes for 48 hours+ cost more than the Museumkaart.
What’s Included:
Free admission to 44 museums and attractions in Amsterdam, including the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Artis Zoo, Stedelijk Museum, Rembrandt House, and Hortus Botanicus. Also includes some smaller museums in other cities across the Netherlands (such as the Frans Hals museum in Haarlem), a free canal cruise, and a 25% discount at some attractions.
Click here for a full list of museums that allow free admission with the I Amsterdam Card and here for a list of discounted attractions.
Pros:
- Only card to include free, unlimited use of public transportation
- Only card to include free admission to Artis Zoo and Hortus Botanicus
- Most of the city’s museums are included
- No limit on the number of museums/attractions during the chosen time frame
- Free canal cruise included
Cons:
- The I Amsterdam Card cannot be arranged online before your trip and must be picked up on arrival at one of the city’s Tourist Information Offices
- Cards have time restrictions, resulting in less flexibility in length of stay at each attraction
Comparison Chart
| Museum | Holland Pass | I Amsterdam Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | |
| Price | €59.90 (€32.45 for <18 years) | €40-75 | €55-85 |
| Card Validity Period | 31 days with temporary card; 1 year if registered with NL address | Never expires | 1-4 days |
| Museum and Attraction Access in Amsterdam | Any 5 museums with temporary card; Unlimited access to over 400 museums with registered card | 19 museums and 13 attractions; quantity of entry credits varies | Unlimited access to 77 museums and attractions |
| Coverage Outside Amsterdam | Unlimited access to most major museums outside Amsterdam; limit of 5 museums with temporary pass still applies | Includes many museums and attractions outside Amsterdam | Limited participating museums and attractions outside Amsterdam |
| Transportation Coverage | None | Airport transfer | Unlimited travel on public transportation (airport transfer not included) |
| Canal Cruise | None | Complimentary Canal Cruise | Complimentary Canal Cruise |
| Additional Discounts | None | 10-50% at participating locations | 25% at participating attractions |
The Bottom Line
- If you love museums and have a lot of time (or plan to visit Amsterdam more than once a year), the Museumkaart is definitely the way to go.
- If you love museums but only have a day to fit in as much sightseeing as you can, then the I Amsterdam Card is your best option.
- If you’re an over-planner like myself and have time to crunch the numbers, then Holland Pass might be a good choice.
If you have any questions, leave them down in the comment section below or send me a message on my contact page. Happy traveling!
Recommended Reading:
It has an excellent overview on the most popular museums and attractions as well as many of the other, less well-known museums in Amsterdam. There’s also a great section on Day Trips from Amsterdam with info on some not-to-miss museums in other Dutch towns. Rick’s guides are always kept up-to-date with accurate info on opening times, admission costs, and which places are covered by the various museum passes.
Click here to purchase Rick Steves Amsterdam & the Netherlands travel guide.
