Hermitage Amsterdam

The Hermitage Amsterdam stands on the bank of the Amstel river, in a long brick building that was once an almshouse. It was built in the seventeenth century as the Amstelhof, a home for elderly women, and stayed in that use for more than three hundred years, with courtyards, gardens and many rooms around them. In 2009 it opened as a branch of the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, which had long had links with Amsterdam through the Russian tsar Peter the Great's interest in the Dutch Republic. For some years it presented exhibitions drawn from the vast collections of the Russian museum, including paintings, jewellery, costumes and decorative arts from the imperial court.

The situation changed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Amsterdam museum broke its ties with the Hermitage in Russia, and it has since operated under a new name, the H'ART Museum, which stands for the combination of heart and art. It now organises its exhibitions from other sources, often in partnership with museums elsewhere in Europe and with private collections, so what is on show varies considerably from one visit to the next. Past programmes have covered fashion, photography, painting and the history of design, and the museum is known for large, carefully staged shows with a strong visual appeal, aimed at a wide public.

The building is a draw in its own right. The Amstelhof is a fine example of seventeenth-century institutional architecture, and its long facade faces the water, with a gate leading to a green interior courtyard. The old rooms have been converted into galleries, with modern halls added, and a cafe and shop make the visit comfortable. The setting beside the Amstel, close to the Magere Brug, the famous Skinny Bridge, is attractive, and a walk along the river is a pleasure before or after.

The museum is open daily, and tickets are usually bought online for a particular time, which can save waiting. Prices depend on the exhibition. Check the programme before planning the visit, since this decides what you will see. A visit typically takes between one and three hours, depending on the exhibition.

The area has other sights close by. The Rembrandt House, the Hortus Botanicus, the Waterlooplein market and the Royal Theatre Carre are all within walking distance, and the canal ring is nearby. The museum suits art lovers, those interested in fashion and design and visitors who like large exhibitions. Tram and metro stops are close.