Amsterdam Jodenbuurt And Plantage

Jodenbuurt and Plantage are filled with some of the city's lesser-known but no less interesting museums. Due to its history as the Jewish Quarter, Jodenbuurt has its share of museums focusing on Jewish culture and history. Spacious Plantage offers the open spaces of the Botanical Gardens and Artis Zoo. The phenomenal Brouwerij 't IJ can be found north, by the water.

Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum), Plantage Kerklaan 61 (☎062 025 35; www.verzetsmuseum.org), Nazi Germany occupied the Netherlands for five years during WWII, and this museum is designed to present the various responses of Dutch people during that time to the question “What do we do?” The permanent exhibition begins in the 1930s, painting a picture of what life was like during that time and building a backdrop to the traditions and conflicts within Dutch society. In the early days of the occupation, many struggled with the decision of whether to adapt to their relatively unchanged life under Nazi rule or to openly resist the occupiers. As time went on, the persecution of Jews, gypsies, and gays intensified, and numerous political and social regulations were put into place; as a result, the forces of the resistance grew. This museum does a masterful job of combining the ordinary and the extraordinary by placing visitors in the shoes of average Dutch citizens and also sharing the stories of individuals who risked (and often lost) their lives to publish illegal newspapers, hide J Tram #9 or 14 to Plantage Kerklaan. Across from Artis Zoo. €7.50, ages 7-15 €4, under 7 and with Museumjaarkaart free. Open M 11am-5pm, Tu-F 10am-5pm, Sa-Su 11am-5pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Joods Historisch Museum (Jewish Historical Museum), Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1 (☎053 103 10; www.jhm.nl), Four 17th- and 18th-century Ashkenazi synagogues were incorporated to form this museum dedicated to the history and culture of the Jews of the Netherlands. One part of the museum highlights the religious life of the community using artifacts (including a number of beautifully decorated Torahs), explanations of Jewish traditions, and videos that recount personal anecdotes. Above this section, an exhibit details the history of the community from 1600-1900, from the first settlements in Amsterdam under the city's unusually early religious tolerance to the struggles Jews faced in gaining full civil and political liberties. Paintings and documents detail different aspects of Dutch Jewish life. Particularly noteworthy is the small display on Spinoza, including an early copy of the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. The next part of the museum chronicles 1900 to the present, showing the growth of the Jewish community up until WWII, the persecution and devastation of the war peri Trams #9 or 14 or Waterlooplein. €9, students and seniors €6, ages 13-17 €4.50, under 13 and with Museumjaarkaart free. Open daily 11am-5pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Tropenmuseum, Linnaeusstraat 2 (☎056 882 00; www.tropenmuseum.nl), In a palatial building that is part of the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (Dutch Royal Institute of the Tropics), this museum provides an anthropological look at disparate “tropical” regions from the distant past to today. A running theme throughout the exhibits is the complicated relationship between Europe and these areas during the rise and fall of Western imperialism. Starting on the second floor, you can explore Central and South America, Africa, and the Middle East; the first floor exhibits India, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. From Thai bridal jewelry to African presidential folk cloths, an astounding collection of cultural artifacts is on display, while videos give a sense of what current life is like in the different regions. An extensive portion of the first floor is devoted to the Dutch colonial experience in Indonesia (from the perspective of both colonizers and colonized), from which a large part of the museum's collection was initially drawn. For the other side of the Tram #9, 10, or 14 to Alexanderplein. Cross the canal and walk left along Mauritskade. €9, students €5, under 18 and with Museumjaarkaart free. Open daily 10am-5pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Brouwerij 't IJ, Funenkade 7 (☎062 283 25; www.brouwerijhetij.nl), What could be more Dutch than drinking beer at the base of a windmill? What's even better is that the beer brewed and served here is much, much tastier than more internationally famous Dutch brands (we won't name any names). Once a bathhouse, this building was taken over as a squat in the 1980s. Today, its brewers craft 10 different beers, some seasonal but all organic, unfiltered, and non-pasteurized. You can try a glass or three of their wares at the massive outdoor terrace of the on-site pub or at a few cafes and bars in the city. Brews range from the Zatte, a golden triple beer, to the Plzen, their pilsner, to a variety of bocks and a delicious wheat beer. If you're at the bar, make sure to notice the long collection of bottles on the shelves—it's one of Europe's largest. Tram #10 to Hoogte Kadijk or #14 to Pontanusstraat. Head toward the windmill. Beer €1.90-2.30. Pub open daily 3-8pm. Free tours of the brewery F 4pm, Su 4pm. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Museum Het Rembrandt, Jodenbreestraat 4 (☎052 004 00; www.rembrandthuis.nl), Flush with success at the height of his popularity, Rembrandt van Rijn bought this massively expensive house in 1639. Twenty years later, after a decline in sales and failure to pay his mortgage, he sold the house along with his possessions. It probably sucked to be him, but his misfortune turned out to be a great boon for historians—the inventory of Rembrandt's worldly goods taken at the time of sale meant that hundreds of years later curators were able to reconstruct his house almost exactly as it was when he lived there. Now visitors can see where Rembrandt slept, entertained guests, sold paintings, made paintings, and got attacked by his mistress after a fight over alimony (that would be in the kitchen). The most interesting rooms are those on the top floor: Rembrandt's massive studio (with many of his original tools still there) and the room where he stored his objets d'art—armor, armadillos, and everything in between. Throughout the house paintings by many of Rem Tram #9 or 14 or Waterlooplein. €9, ages 6-17 €2.50, under 6 and with Museumjaarkaart free, with ISIC card €6. Open daily 10am-5pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Artis Zoo, Plantage Kerklaan 38-40 (☎0900 278 4796; www.artis.nl), If all of Amsterdam's culture is blowing your brain, join the animals at this zoo, one of Europe's oldest. The sprawling complex includes an aquarium, a planetarium, and a geological museum in addition to the critters themselves. Areas are devoted to regions like the South American Pampas and the African Savannah, and all the classics like elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, and a variety of monkeys can be found among the hundreds of species living here. Some of our favorites include the teeny black-footed penguins, playful sea lions, and Lemurland, a special island where visitors can get up close and personal with the fuzzy beasts. Watch for zookeepers giving presentations about the animals throughout the day, as they often end with an opportunity to see the animals being fed. Tram #9 or 14 to Plantage Kerklaan. €18.50, ages 3-9 €15, seniors €17. Detailed guidebook €3. Open daily Apr-Oct 9am-6pm; Nov-Mar 9am-5pm. Zookeeper presentations daily from 11am-3:30pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has outdoor seating.
Portugees-Israelietische SynagogUe, Mr. Visserplein 1-3 (☎062 453 51; www.esnoga.com), This beautiful synagogue has remained largely unchanged since the local community of Sephardic Jews constructed it in 1671. Most of them had fled persecution in the Iberian peninsula—hence the common practice of calling the synagogue an Esnoga, the Portuguese word for synagogue. The building's large vaulted interior is dominated by massive stone pillars and hung with brass candelabra. Sand is scattered on the floor in the Dutch tradition to absorb dirt and muffle the noise of footsteps. Information and artifacts from the Dutch Jewish community's past 300 years are on display, but this is still very much a space of worship—services are held on Sabbaths and holidays. The highly informative and free audio tour describes the construction and architecture of the synagogue in addition to recounting stories of important figures and events in the community's history. Trams #9 or 14 or Waterlooplein. €6.50; students, seniors, and with Museumjaarkaart €5; ages 13-17 €4. Open M-F 10am-4pm, Su 10am-4pm. Closed on Jewish holidays. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Hortus Botanicus, Plantage Middenlaan 2A (☎063 816 70; www.dehortus.nl), These botanical gardens started out as a place for medicinal herbs (no, not that kind) in 1638 and have now grown to include over 4000 species of leafy plant life. Thanks to the Dutch East India Company, exotic species began arriving here over 300 years ago, and some of those original plants (such as the Eastern Cape giant cycad) are still around today. The gardens and greenhouses are arranged by climate and class, allowing you to find everything from algae to palm trees to carnivorous plants with relative ease. The “crown jewels” section is the place to go to catch a glimpse of extremely rare species such as the Victoria amazonica, a water lily that only opens at dusk. Well-landscaped ponds and paths make this a pleasant place for a wander. The cafe, located in the Orangery, is a stunning spot to munch on organic snacks. Tram #9 or 14 to Waterlooplein. €7.50, seniors and ages 5-14 €3.50. Su tours €1. Open July-Aug M-F 9am-7pm, Sa-Su 10am-7pm; Sept-Nov 9am-5pm, Sa-Su 10am-5pm; Dec-Jan 9am-4pm, Sa-Su 10am-4pm; Feb-June 9am-5pm, Sa-Su 10am-5pm. Tours Su 2pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has outdoor seating.