Museumplein is the open green square in Amsterdam-Zuid where the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Moco Museum and the Concertgebouw all stand within three minutes’ walk of one another. Trams 2, 5 and 12 stop at the square, about fifteen minutes from Centraal Station. Walking on the square costs nothing; a Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum ticket costs € 25.00.
Museumplein at a glance
| Where | Amsterdam-Zuid, between the Stadhouderskade and the Van Baerlestraat, immediately north of the Vondelpark |
| From Centraal Station | About 15 minutes by tram 2, 5 or 12, stop Museumplein |
| Nearest metro | Vijzelgracht on line 52, about 10 minutes on foot — there is no metro station on the square itself |
| Museums on the square | Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum and Moco Museum, plus the Concertgebouw |
| What it costs | Nothing to walk on. Museum tickets from € 22.50 |
| Best time to go | At opening time, 09:00, for the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, or after 15:00 when the tour groups thin out |
| Time needed | Half a day for one museum and the square; a full day for two |
The square was laid out in the 1880s on the edge of what was then the new city, which is why the four museums face each other across so much open grass. That layout is the reason a museum day here works: you can see the Night Watch in the morning, cross a lawn, and be in front of the Sunflowers ten minutes later.
The museums on the square
| Museum | What you see | Adult ticket | Open | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rijksmuseum | Rembrandt’s Night Watch, four Vermeers and eight hundred years of Dutch art | € 25.00 | Daily 09:00–17:00 | Book |
| Van Gogh Museum | The largest collection of Van Gogh paintings, drawings and letters in the world | € 25.00 | Daily from 09:00 | Book |
| Stedelijk Museum | Modern and contemporary art and design, in the white building Amsterdam calls the bathtub | € 22.50 | Daily 10:00–18:00 | — |
| Moco Museum | Banksy, Basquiat and immersive digital art in a townhouse on the corner of the square | Varies by time slot | Daily 09:00–20:00 | Book |
| Concertgebouw | One of the finest concert halls in the world, at the south end of the square | Free lunchtime concert | Concerts most days | — |
The free things most visitors miss
- The Wednesday lunchtime concert at the Concertgebouw — usually Wednesdays at 12:30, half an hour, free of charge. You do need a free ticket, which you can order online up to a week in advance, two per person. There are no lunchtime concerts in July and August.
- The Rijksmuseum passage — the tunnel under the museum is a public right of way, open to anyone on foot or on a bike, and street musicians play there all day.
- The Vondelpark — the main entrance is a five-minute walk west of the square.
- The ice rink — from late October to early February the pond in front of the Rijksmuseum becomes an outdoor skating rink with skate hire.
What to book from Museumplein
Three of the four museums sell out their morning slots in high season, so a timed ticket bought in advance is the difference between walking in and queueing. If you plan on three or more museums in a few days, a city card usually works out cheaper than separate tickets.
- Rijksmuseum tickets — timed entry to the Night Watch and the Gallery of Honour, € 25.00.
- Van Gogh Museum tickets — timed entry, € 25.00. This is the museum that sells out first.
- Moco Museum tickets — Banksy and digital art, and cheaper if you take an early or late slot.
- I amsterdam City Card — free entry to most museums on the square plus unlimited GVB tram, bus and metro.
Staying here
Booking.com currently lists 59 places to stay in this district. Staying inside the neighbourhood you came for saves you the two tram rides a day that eat into a short trip.
- Browse hotels in this district — Count from Booking.com, August 2026. The link carries our partner code and costs you nothing extra.
Four museums stand on the square: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Moco Museum. The Concertgebouw concert hall is at the south end. All of them are within a three-minute walk of each other.
Take tram 2, 5 or 12 from the stop in front of Centraal Station and get off at Museumplein. The ride takes about fifteen minutes. Walking takes about forty minutes along the canals.
A Rijksmuseum ticket costs €25.00 for adults. Everyone up to and including 18 enters free but still needs a timed ticket. The museum is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.
No. The nearest metro station is Vijzelgracht on line 52, about ten minutes on foot. Trams 2, 5 and 12 stop on the square itself, which is why the tram is the better choice.
The letters were removed from the Museumplein on 3 December 2018 because the square could no longer cope with the crowds they drew. They have not come back. A set still stands at Schiphol Airport, and a smaller travelling set appears at events around the city.
Yes. There is a free lunchtime concert of about half an hour, usually on Wednesdays at 12:30, every week except in July and August. Admission is free but you need to reserve a free ticket online, with a maximum of two per person.
Allow two to three hours for a single museum plus time on the square. Two museums in one day is comfortable; three is a lot. Most visitors underestimate the Rijksmuseum, which is big enough to fill an entire day on its own.
Around Museumplein
- The canal district — the square sits just outside the UNESCO canal belt, a fifteen-minute walk from the Prinsengracht.
- Tram line 2 — the tram that connects Centraal Station, the canal belt and this square in one ride.
- The Nine Streets — the shopping quarter halfway between the square and Centraal Station.
- Map of the canal district — where Museumplein sits in relation to the canals.
- The Kalverstraat — the main shopping street from Dam Square to the Munt, with the Begijnhof and a free hidden church opening off it.
- Metro line 52 — the Noord/Zuidlijn, under the old city in fifteen minutes, with a free archaeological display inside Rokin station.
Read more: our full guide to hotels in this district.
