Amsterdam's history museum is a spiffy place to learn about what makes the city tick. Start with the multimedia DNA exhibit, which breaks down Amsterdam's 1000-year history into seven whiz-bang time periods. Afterward, plunge into the maze-like lower floors to see troves of religious artefacts, porcelains and paintings. Bonus points for finding Rembrandt's macabre Anatomy Lesson of Dr Deijman . The museum is a good choice during soggy weather, as there's rarely a queue.
The museum building used to be Amsterdam's civic orphanage. While you're in the courtyard, note the cupboards in which the orphans stored their possessions (now filled with art).
