Three of the most searched phrases in Amsterdam tourism are "Van Gogh Museum tickets", "Rijksmuseum tickets" and "Anne Frank House tickets". Together these museums welcome millions of visitors a year. Every week, at the doors of all three, we meet travellers who flew halfway around the world and then found out that the tickets were sold out.
This guide will make sure that does not happen to you. You will learn how tickets work at each museum, when to book, how long to plan for, the best times to visit, and how to fit all three into one trip without spending your holiday in queues. At the end I will show you the easiest option of all: letting us handle the planning for you.
Want the planning done for you? Our Concierge Day in Amsterdam books your timed museum entries, arranges the canal cruise and reserves dinner. Private half days start at €295 excl. VAT for your whole group. Call Erik on +31 684 616 362.
The golden rule: book online, and book early
All three museums use timed-entry tickets sold online. You choose a date and a time slot, and you arrive within that window. In practice, walking up to the door and buying a ticket on the day is no longer a realistic plan, and at the Anne Frank House it is not possible at all.
Please check the official museum websites for current prices, opening hours and release dates before you travel, because they change. Here is what we have learned from fourteen years of booking these museums for guests.
The Van Gogh Museum
Why it is worth it
The Van Gogh Museum holds the largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's work in the world: paintings, drawings and letters. You can follow his life from the dark early paintings of Dutch peasants, through the bright colours of Paris, to the swirling skies of his final years in the south of France. Seeing Sunflowers, The Bedroom and Almond Blossom in person is something even non-art lovers remember.
How to get Van Gogh Museum tickets
- Tickets are sold online only, for a specific date and time slot.
- Children and teenagers under 18 enter free, but they still need a ticket with a time slot.
- Weekend, holiday and summer slots sell out first. Book as soon as your travel dates are fixed.
- The Museumkaart (the Dutch museum pass) is accepted, but you still need to reserve a time slot.
How long to plan
Most visitors spend one and a half to two hours inside. Art lovers can easily spend three.
Best time to visit
The first slot of the morning and the last slots of the day are the calmest. Midday on weekends is busiest. Some evenings have special late openings with music and drinks, so check the museum calendar.
Insider tips
- Start on the top floor and work down if the ground floor is crowded.
- Use the multimedia guide or read Vincent's letters on the walls. They make the paintings come alive.
- The museum shop is excellent but busy; visit it at the end.
The Rijksmuseum
Why it is worth it
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands and one of the great museums of the world. It tells the story of eight hundred years of Dutch history and art. The highlight is the Gallery of Honour, where you will find Rembrandt's The Night Watch, Vermeer's The Milkmaid and masterpieces by Frans Hals and Jan Steen.
If you join our Golden Age City Center walking tour first, you will walk through the very streets and canal houses where these paintings were commissioned. Suddenly the merchants in the portraits are people you know. Read our guide to the Dutch Golden Age for the full story.
How to get Rijksmuseum tickets
- Book a timed ticket online in advance.
- Visitors under 18 enter free but should still reserve a time slot.
- The Museumkaart is accepted.
- The gardens around the museum are free and open to everyone, and the famous bicycle tunnel runs right through the building.
How long to plan
Plan for two to three hours to see the highlights without rushing. You could spend a full day and still not see everything.
Best time to visit
Early morning, right at opening, or late afternoon. Go straight to the Gallery of Honour first, before the tour groups arrive, then explore the rest at your own pace.
Insider tips
- Download the free Rijksmuseum app for self-guided routes.
- Do not miss the dolls' houses, the ship models and the library, one of the most beautiful rooms in Amsterdam.
- The Night Watch has been the focus of a long research and restoration project, so check the museum website for how it is currently displayed.
The Anne Frank House
Why it is worth it
At Prinsengracht 263, Anne Frank, her family and four others hid from the Nazis for more than two years in the secret annex behind a bookcase. Anne's diary became one of the most read books in the world. Walking through the narrow rooms where she wrote it is a quiet, powerful experience that stays with you long after you leave.
How to get Anne Frank House tickets
This is the most important section of the whole guide.
- Tickets are sold only online on the official Anne Frank House website. There is no ticket desk at the door.
- Tickets are released in batches several weeks ahead. Check the official site for the exact release schedule and book the moment your dates open.
- Every visitor needs a ticket for a specific time slot, including children.
- Be wary of resellers offering "Anne Frank House tickets" with a city tour. Many of these do not include entry to the house at all, only a walk past the outside.
- If tickets are sold out, check the official website again early in the morning. A small number sometimes become available.
How long to plan
About one hour. There is a lot of walking up steep, narrow stairs, as in many old Amsterdam canal houses.
Insider tips
- Arrive on time. Time slots are strict.
- Large bags are not allowed in the building.
- Take a quiet moment afterwards at the Westerkerk next door, where Anne could hear the church bells from the annex. The Homomonument is just across the road.
- For more context, visit the Jewish Cultural Quarter on another day. Our Amsterdam history guide explains the background.
Can you visit all three in one day?
Yes, but we only recommend it if you are very short on time. The Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum both sit on Museumplein, a few minutes' walk apart. The Anne Frank House is about twenty-five minutes' walk away in the canal ring, at the edge of the Jordaan.
Here is a realistic one-day museum plan:
- 9:00 Rijksmuseum at opening. Gallery of Honour first.
- 11:30 Coffee and a stroopwafel on Museumplein.
- 12:30 Van Gogh Museum.
- 14:30 Walk or take a canal boat through the canal belt to the Prinsengracht, with lunch on the way.
- 16:00 or later Anne Frank House, with a ticket booked weeks in advance.
- Evening Dinner in the Jordaan. Our Jordaan neighbourhood guide has our favourite spots.
It is a full day, and it works best with comfortable shoes and someone who knows the shortcuts. For a calmer trip, split the museums over two days and add a walking tour in between.
Museum tickets vs. a guided museum tour
Self-guided ticket: Cheapest and most flexible. You decide where to go and how long to stay. It is ideal if you already know the art or you love audio guides.
Guided museum tour: A guide brings the paintings to life, takes you straight to the highlights and answers your questions. It is ideal for first-timers, families with teenagers and anyone short on time.
A private concierge day: The best of both. Your host books every timed entry, gets you from museum to museum without wasted time, gives you the historical context between visits, and fits in a canal cruise, lunch and dinner. No queues, no planning and no stress.
Why plan your museum day with Oranje Umbrella?
Booking tickets is not hard. Getting the timing right across three museums, a canal cruise, lunch and dinner reservations, on a busy weekend, with children or jet lag, is a different story. That is what we do every day.
On a Concierge Day in Amsterdam you get:
- A planning conversation before you arrive to shape the day around your interests.
- Museum timed-entry booking and canal cruise coordination, so you never queue.
- Door-to-door pickup from your hotel, apartment, Schiphol Airport or the cruise terminal.
- A private host with you all day, in English, Spanish, German or Dutch.
- Restaurant, café and bar reservations made in your name.
- Live changes on the day for weather, energy levels or a change of mind.
Tickets, transport and reservations are arranged at cost and confirmed in writing before the day. You simply show up and enjoy it.
We have looked after guests in Amsterdam for fourteen years and have more than 4,000 verified reviews across GetYourGuide, Tripadvisor and Google. We know which time slots sell out first, which entrance is quieter, and which café near Museumplein makes the best apple pie.
More museums worth your time
If you love the big three, consider adding:
- Stedelijk Museum, modern and contemporary art and design, right on Museumplein.
- Rembrandt House Museum, the home and studio where Rembrandt lived and worked.
- Our Lord in the Attic, a complete secret church hidden in the attic of a canal house. Read about it in our guide to hidden churches in Amsterdam.
- Moco Museum, Banksy and modern street art, also on Museumplein.
On a rainy day, a museum morning is the perfect plan. See our rainy day Amsterdam itinerary for more ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy Anne Frank House tickets at the door?
No. Tickets are sold only online through the official Anne Frank House website, for a specific time slot.
How far in advance should I book Van Gogh Museum tickets?
As soon as your travel dates are fixed. For weekends, holidays and summer, book at least one to two weeks ahead, and earlier if you can.
Are the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum close to each other?
Yes. Both are on Museumplein, only a few minutes' walk apart. The Stedelijk and Moco museums are on the same square.
Is there a pass that covers all three museums?
The Dutch Museumkaart covers the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, but you must still reserve time slots. The Anne Frank House requires its own timed ticket. Check each official website for current rules.
Can Oranje Umbrella book museum tickets for me?
Yes. On a Concierge Day in Amsterdam we reserve your timed entries, coordinate your canal cruise and plan the route between them.
Do not risk a sold-out museum. Book your day with us today
The biggest regret we hear from visitors is "we did not know we had to book." Do not let that be you. Museum time slots, especially at the Anne Frank House, disappear weeks ahead. The earlier you plan, the better your choice of times.
Take the stress out of it today:
- Book your Concierge Day in Amsterdam. We handle the museum tickets, the canal cruise, the route and dinner.
- Add the Golden Age story. Book our Golden Age City Center walking tour, from €27 per person, to see the world behind the Rijksmuseum paintings.
- Call or WhatsApp Erik on +31 684 616 362 for a personal plan, or email Erik@oranjeumbrella.com with your dates.
Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Anne Frank are waiting. Book your Amsterdam museum day with Oranje Umbrella today.
