The Netherlands has a lot of unpredictable weather. It could be rainy (which happens a lot!) or cold or you could just have gale force winds. Irrespective of what the reason is, you will find that the indoor activities in Amsterdam are a true lifesaver. This way you can be nice, warm and dry indoors while you wait for the storm.
Some of the indoor activities in Amsterdam are meant for all ages. A fact that I am insanely grateful for because I generally visit with my toddlers in tow. Somehow I very rarely land up in the city when the sun is bright and shinning. Its just luck I guess but knowing the Dutch weather, I would not be surprised if I was not the only person who grumbled about it.
So no matter whether you are in Amsterdam for a week or for a day, its always good to know where to seek shelter and what are things that you can do to make the best of a rainy day in Amsterdam. This list of indoor things to do in Amsterdam helps me every time we head to the city. Hopefully it helps you with your trips too!
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Table of Contents
Where To Stay In Amsterdam
Everyone keeps asking me where to stay in Amsterdam and honestly the answer is different for everyone because it depends on what you want to do. These hotels however are pretty amazing because they are central and you can pick them depending on what you want to spend. Just a side note, make sure you book your accommodation in advance because the prices go up quickly especially in peak season.
- The Flying Pig Downtown Amsterdam (Budget)
- Amsterdam Marriott Hotel (Mid-Range)
- Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam (Luxury)
Indoor Things To Do In Amsterdam: Museums
Anyone who has spent time in Amsterdam will tell you that the museums here are legendary. There are loads of them too. I would know. I’ve made a multitude of trips to the city but I’ve still not managed to cover all of them.
I still make sure to schedule a visit to at least one of them while I’m in the city.
Now I know that I’ve talked about the museums in Amsterdam in detail but I’m still going to touch base on some of my favorite ones in this post.
1. The Rijksmuseum
⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5 (18,261 Reviews) Price: $26.55 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: Rijksmuseum Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
The RIjksmuseum is to Amsterdam what the Louvre is to Paris. It is one of those quintessential experiences that most travelers will put on their bucket list especially if they love art. This museum has consistently been one of my top picks when it comes to indoor activities in Amsterdam because there is just so much to do and see here.
In fact, just recently, I also learnt that they have a whole trail for kids to follow. So it really does not matter how young your children are when they visit, there will be something for them to enjoy too. My kids were two and four when we visited and they had a ball.
“My only disappointment is that our time in Amsterdam was too short to go back a couple more times. The collection is amazing! The presentation is stunning.”
Thomas (read more reviews now!)
The only issue with the Rijksmuseum is that since it is extremely popular, you need to book your tickets in advance. Luckily this can be done online.
2. The Van Gogh Museum
⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5 (29,788 Reviews) Price: $26 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: Van Gogh Museum Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Another really popular museum is the Van Gogh Museum. This museum is even more popular than the Rijksmuseum and hosts a lot of the original paintings of none other than Vincent Van Gogh.
I tried to book these slots a week in advance during the low season and came up empty handed. You need to check them out at least 3 weeks before. Mind you, I said at least!
During the peak summer season these tickets are sold out weeks in advance.
“Booking the tickets and visiting the museum went smoothly. The museum is definitely a must for art lovers. I would definitely go again.”
Stephanie (read more reviews now!)
So don’t make the same mistakes that I made. Plan your trip to the Van Gogh museum well in advance.
3. The Nemo Science Museum
⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5 (1,575 Reviews) Price: $19 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: NEMO Science Museum Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
If you are traveling with kids then one of the best museums to head to is the NEMO museum. This museum is always bustling during the weekends and holidays but generally speaking you don’t have to book your slot weeks in advance.
Fair warning its quite crazy because this is one of the most kid centric places in the city. The big advantage is that there is something for kids of all ages.
“Lots of experiments to try and a pretty cool show.”
Alexander (read more reviews now!)
I love how all the scientific principles have been translated into actual visual learning. If you love science, you will find that the experiments are pretty cool to see and do. This is why it ranks as one of my top indoor activities in Amsterdam.
Oh and if you have a little older kid, there are some lab experiments that they can conduct under supervision. Science is truly made fun here.
Indoor Things To Do In Amsterdam: Food
4. Visit De Hallen
One of the best places to catch a bite to eat is in De Hallen. This indoor food court is always bustling in the evenings. There are loads of different stores where you can get different types of cuisines and the variety is staggering.
From fully loaded vegan fries to chicken dumplings and everything in between, this place will fill you up quickly. Everyone gets to choose whatever they want and meet up at a single place. Plus, you can always get yourself a drink. Both alcoholic and non alcoholic options are available.
The downside is that it can get difficult to find a table so try to head here a little before peak times in the evening.
5. Craft Your Own Cocktail
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 (489 Reviews) Price: $19 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: House of Bols Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
If you love to be creative where alcohol is concerned, why not head to the House of Bols. Here you can learn about alcohol. How it is created and even about the history of different types of alcohol.
One of the iconic indoor activities in Amsterdam is located here. This is a cocktail making course where you will learn how to pair different types of alcohol together. You will also learn how to make popular cocktails.
“It was very informative and we got a lovely cocktail at the end.”
Jenny (read more reviews now!)
All this occurs under the supervision of an inhouse expert. I think this is pretty cool because it certainly levels up your party skills. And if you already think that you know all there is about the basics of cocktail making, you will find that there are some cool advanced cocktail making courses.
6. Enjoy Pannenkoeken At De Carrousel Pannenkoeken
The quintessential Dutch experience is to eat some Dutch pancakes. Now if you are looking for an uber cool and pretty unique experience then you really should head to De Carrousel Pannekoeken. What makes the place unique is not the pancakes. Its the restaurant! The restaurant is located in a renovated carrousel. Don’t worry, it is fully covered and warm which makes it one of the great indoor activities in Amsterdam that involves food.
It is also very popular because it is also one of the most instagrammable places in the city. I know that its a great place to take kids to. Mine loved the décor. The downside however is that it is super crowded so you could land up waiting in line for a very very long time. My best tip is to visit it outside the peak hour times so definitely avoid lunch hours.
7. Check Out The Brown Bars
Known as bruin café in Dutch, brown bars are typical Dutch pubs that have an very unique atmosphere. The brown comes from all the brown color in the decor. This includes the brown bricks and the warm brown wood paneling that is seen throughout the interior. Even the seating is all in wooden tones. These traditional pubs are excellent places to kickback and relax with a beer or ten.
The atmosphere is generally very lively. Don’t expect to be served a three course meal here. Generally speaking the usual fare is snacks like bitterballen, frites aka fries and a variety of other small finger food. Brown bars are usually crowded, filled with a lot of noise and open till the wee hours of the morning.
8. Visit A Coffee Shop
Coffee shops in Amsterdam aren’t just your regular coffee shops. Well if you go in and order coffee, you will get coffee. There’s no doubt about that BUT Amsterdam’s coffee shops are also licensed cannabis dealers. So you actually sit in one of them and have a joint legally.
This is one of the reasons why many people travel to the city and is legit one of the most popular indoor things to do in Amsterdam. Though on a sunny day you will find that loads of people sit outside in the sun too!
9. Catch A Drink Made By A Robot At The RoboCafe
During one of the nights that we were in Amsterdam, we found ourselves in the middle of a huge downpour. I’ve been through list after list of indoor activities in Amsterdam. I wanted something different. That’s how I stumbled across the RoboCafe. Here the cocktails ae made by robot hands. Its pretty cool to watch. You don’t have to order a cocktail to watch though.
It also has some of the best sushi I’ve had in the country. The chef is very friendly and since we visited on a not so busy day, we had a chance to chat with him. The RoboCafe gets very crowded in peak season or on public holidays so be forewarned.
10. Boederij Meerzicht
Boederij in Dutch means farm. Boederij Meerzicht lies just on the outskirts of the Amsterdam Bos. This is on the outside of the city and is a nice quiet spot in the city. Now this one isn’t exactly on of the indoor activities in Amsterdam but it is a little secret spot that I absolutely love. Why? Because even though it has a petting zoo and loads of outdoor spaces for both adults and kids to enjoy, the farm has a lovely restaurant.
Now this restaurant is famous for its pancakes. Its all self service so you head in, find a seat, order your pancakes and then get them stacked up on these unique trays. This itself is an experience. The pancakes are delicious and are something that everyone enjoyed. Did I mention that one pancake is enough to fill a hungry adults stomach?
11. Chill At An Ice Bar
⭐️ Rating: 4.2/5 (6914 Reviews) Price: $27 per person Duration: 45 min 📍Meeting Point: Amsterdam Icebar Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Another pretty novel experience is the Ice bar. This is exactly what it sounds like. Everything inside the bar is frozen. The walls, counters and everything around is made of ice. As can be imagined, this is a pretty frigid experience. Don’t worry though, you can rent a jacket from the bar itself so you don’t have to come prepared in advance. Though in winter, you can just waltz in.
The entrance fee involves three tokens which can redeem for three drinks which means that it is pretty much free to enter as long as you drink. The best part is that one of the drinks can be had at the heated lounge. So if the cold is getting to you, just meander over to the warmer section. Sounds like one of the cool unique indoor activities in Amsterdam right?
“Really good experience and we had a bit of a giggle with some of the other visitors. The whole experience didn’t last much longer than 45 minutes, but the atmosphere was good, the drinks were good and it was a nice way to start the night 😁”
Paule (read more reviews now!)
Indoor Activities In Amsterdam: History
Amsterdam is one of those places in the world that is steeped in history. It’s history as one of the important financial hubs has placed it in a pretty central spot in the Dutch economy. As you walk through the streets, you can see the century old brick houses, the iconic canals and more but there are also some interesting indoor activities in Amsterdam that revolve around learning about the history of the Dutch capital.
12. Royal Palace Of Amsterdam
⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (4,125 Reviews) Price: $13.55 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: Royal Palace of Amsterdam Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is located right in the heart of the city. Most people stop by it and click a couple of photographs and walk on. Not everyone realizes that you can actually walk in. Generally speaking the palace is not too crowded when you compare it to places like the Rijksmuseum. But if you don’t book your tickets in advance, you will have to stand in a line which is pretty annoying if you ask me.
If you are a local and have the museumkaart like us, you can just scan your card and enter. No lines which is perfect! We visited with my mum and had not booked her ticket in advance because we weren’t sure if she wanted to see the palace. So we spent about 20 minutes in line.
“I couldn’t recommend this enough! The audio guide is easy to follow and detailed, you can also go at your own pace and take all the time you like to stroll between rooms. Great experience”
Eabha (read more reviews now!)
The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is still in use. The King and Queen of the Netherlands will visit it on important occasions and it is also a place where important documents are signed. The interiors are pretty gorgeous but in true Dutch style, I found them less flashy than many of the baroque palaces that you see in Europe.
13. Oude Kerk
The Oude Kerk is one of my absolute favorite buildings in the city. It is the oldest existing building in Amsterdam. Oude in Dutch means old and kerk means church. So the name literally translates into old church which is pretty on point. The church is very pretty from the outside. The inside of the church however is sparsely furnished. When you pay to enter, you get an audio guide which takes you through the salient features of the structure.
The church also hosts different exhibits so if you’ve visited it before and you head back again, you will find that the exhibit has changed. Art isn’t the only thing that is on display in this church. Given the amazing acoustics of the church, it should not surprise you that it also hosts a lot of musical recitals and concerts. If you are in town during one of these, make sure to check it out because it is totally worth it.
14. Our Lord In The Attic Museum
One of the indoor activities in Amsterdam that I found very interesting was visiting the Our Lord in the Attic museum.
The name itself sounded so strange and the reviews were so good that on one rainy day I dragged Shawn and the girls to it. This unique museum is actually a church that is housed inside houses.
This church was built by Jan Hartman who was a wealthy business man. This was ay back in 1663 when it was forbidden to practices the Catholic faith in public spaces.
The 17th century brick house was converted into a church in a rather brilliant way. When you enter you have to pass through a series of corridors and steps, make your way down to the basement before making your way up to the attic where the church is. You wouldn’t know that it existed from the outside which is just as they wanted it.
The church is well preserved and there is a lot to see. You can breeze through it of course, but ideally I would recommend spending at least an hour and a half here to see it properly.
15. The Anne Frank House
⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (31 Reviews) Price: $97 per person Duration: 3 hours 📍Meeting Point: Jewish museum Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
The Anne Frank museum is one of the most noteworthy buildings in the city. Visiting it is one of the top indoor activities in Amsterdam and it isn’t just because it’s a museum but because it is a very important piece of Dutch history.
Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who hid out in the attic of this building. Her Diary has been read by millions. It chronicles her life during World War II and how her family lived hidden here. The museum allows you to walk through the very quarters.
“Manuel was an excellent tour guide! Such a powerful tour. Highly highly recommend.”
Chelsea (read more reviews now!)
I highly recommend reading her book before you visit though. That way you will feel and understand the experience better.
Like all the popular museums, book your ticket in advance or you won’t get to enter. Many people choose to combine the visit to Anne Frank house with a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter.
Indoor Activities In Amsterdam: Fun Things To Do
Aside from the museums, old buildings, history and the food, there are still a couple of different indoor activities in Amsterdam that will get your adrenaline pumping or make you chuckle. Or just exercise your brain cells. I think that is part of the beauty of the city. There is always so much to do.
16. Take Part In A Diamond Heist
⭐️ Rating: 3.9/5 (319 Reviews) Price: $13.55 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: Diamant museum Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Now if you want something different and fun when it comes to indoor activities in Amsterdam, why not take part in a diamond heist? Not a real one mind you. The Diamant museum is dedicated to diamonds. Here you can learn all about the sparkly rock and its formation. You can also see all different types of cuts and valuable pieces here.
Now one of the highlights of the museum is the diamond heist that you can take part in. Its a pretty cool activity.
Try to dodge the security measures in place by jumping over laser beams and unlocking the gem. Sounds like something straight out of a movie right?
“Its cute and a bit small but overall great. The best thing in it was the part where you had to steal a diamond but when we did it it didn’t print out the thing that it was supposed to print out. Great staff and nice neighborhood – close to Van Gogh.”
Anonymous (read more reviews now!)
If you are traveling with kids, you will find that there is even a scavenger trail for kids in the museum. It is one of the cool things to do in the museum square.
17. Enjoy A 5D Tour Of The Netherlands
⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 (1,923 Reviews) Price: $25.47 per person Duration: 1 hour 📍Meeting Point: This is Holland Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Don’t have time to see a lot of the Netherlands but still want to catch a bit of the country. Is the weather playing spoil sport and ruining your plans?
One of the coolest indoor activities in Amsterdam is the 5D tour of the Netherlands. Here you can glide across the country virtually and see all the iconic parts of the country.
One of the reasons why I like this is not only does it give you a chance to see the ends of the country, it also helps you decide which places you would like to visit in person.
“We experienced This is Holland with our 11 and 12 year old boys. The school English was largely sufficient for the first two stations and the well-made videos were pretty self-explanatory. The boys learned a lot about the Netherlands and we adults were entertained by the shows. The most important thing: the 5 flight was incredibly beautiful and exhilarating! It was really a lot of fun.”
Eva (read more reviews now!)
18. Don’t Forget About The Sex Museum
The Sex museum in Amsterdam is one of the unique things to do in the city. It is the first and the oldest sex museum in the world and as can be imagined, everything in it is dedicated to educating people about sex. That’s the reason why the minimum age for entry is 16 years. So this is definitely not something that you can take young children to.
The museum has a huge collection of images, paintings and other objects that fit the theme. They span across different cultures from across the world and it is interesting to see how people’s views change based on geography and across time.
19. Take A Canal Cruise
⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5 (13,231 Reviews) Price: $18 per person Duration: 75 minutes📍Meeting Point: Depends on option chosen Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
For most people canal cruises are something that they do in goo weather. You think of nice open boats, loads of sun and spectacular views. BUT these tours can also be done with a covered boat. This is exactly what we did in winter. The boat is heated inside so you can stay warm. If you are trying to avoid the rain for an hour but still want to catch the views, choose one of the covered boats.
It is a good way to see the sights round the city and is definitely one of the most popular indoor activities in Amsterdam. Well its technically outdoors but your remain nice and warm.
“Friendly staff, comfortable ship, long ride and complete audio guide.”
Roberta (read more reviews now!)
Another cool point to note is that there are many different kinds of canal cruises. You can even have a meal onboard the boat. Each one is a totally unique experience.
20. The WONDR Experience
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 (1,689 Reviews) Price: $29 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: WONDR Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
If you love clicking photographs and are looking for a very sensory experience the WONDR will tick all the boxes. There are different things that you can do. The whole place is a maze with interactive spaces. Each place has lots of colors. This makes them the perfect backdrop for photographs.
A couple of things that people love here include the confetti showers (looks extremely pretty and is so much fun to play with!) and the tub of teddy bears. But these aren’t the only attractions. The marshmallow pit is fun for all ages and who doesn’t love rainbow balls? Kids do need to be supervised so keep that in mind when visiting.
“Would 100% recommend to all the big kids out there! Staff were attentive and went out of their way to take pictures for the group, they also helped to find a lost phone. We couldn’t have asked for more and even got a free cupcake as it was my friends birthday.”
Johnross (read more reviews now!)
And there you have it. This is my rather long list of all the indoor activities in Amsterdam. If I’m honest, the list keeps growing. Somehow I never manage to visit Amsterdam in good weather. That’s the reason I’m always on the lookout for something that is sheltered and fun in the city. So expect this list to grow over time.
Have I missed some of of your favorite indoor things to do in Amsterdam? Let me know in the comments below because I would really love suggestions for my next trip!
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- Amsterdam’s famous tulip tours
- Places to eat in Amsterdam like a local
- Dutch souvenirs from Amsterdam
- Pretty towns in the Dutch countryside
- What is Amsterdam famous for?
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