Teylers Museum is the Netherland’s oldest museum, open to the public since 1784. This collection of art, science, history and oddities is fascinating. Inspect the structure, worth visiting for the stunning architecture alone. The façade’s beautiful neoclassical style, with columns and statuary, is echoed by the understated elegance of its interior.
Light streams into the Oval Room onto hexagonal glass cases of precious gems and minerals. The second story is completely lined with books. Another room features an inset marble floor, and ornately carved wood-and-marble panels on the walls.
The museum is the private collection of Pieter Teyler van der Hulst, an amateur collector and arts and sciences enthusiast typical of the Enlightenment. Teyler was an 18th-century cloth merchant and banker, who, after his death, directed that his wealth be used to increase and house his collection.
Enjoy a multimedia presentation on the exhibits of the Teylers museum or take the audio-guide tour to learn as you go. You’ll find display cases full of fossils, historic instruments used for scientific experiments and coins and medals which have remained unchanged since the 18th century. Wander through rooms filled with paintings and sketches by greats such as Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Raphael, and see the Dutch landscape through the eyes of painters from the Hague School. Discover the ingenuity of the scientific tools used throughout the ages.
The museum also has changing exhibitions related to the arts and sciences, so you’ll always have something new to see. Previous exhibits have featured Andy Warhol, Rembrandt, Dutch Masters and Raphael.
Browse the museum shop to find a huge range of unusual souvenirs, from fossils and precious gems to ceramics, illustrations and even telescopes.
Teylers Museum entry is moderately priced and comes with a free audio guide. You can also enter without charge with a Museum Card or I Amsterdam Card. The museum is located next to the River Spaarne, a short walk from the Grote Markt, and is closed on Mondays.
