Willet-Holthuysen Museum

Located in a terrace of sprawling 17th-century mansions along Herengracht in Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed Canal Ring, the Willet-Holthuysen Museum forms the elegant backdrop to a wonderful collection of fine paintings, antique furnishings and decorative pieces. Owned in the 19th century by the wealthy Willet family of avid art collectors, the house and its contents were later donated to the city. Today it forms the best example of 19th-century style and decoration in the city. 
The carefully restored interior, decorated in rich blues, gold and greens, is typical of the indulgent lifestyle of Amsterdam’s prosperous merchant classes. Above stairs there’s a ballroom, library, dining room, salons and a bedroom complete with an ornately carved four-poster bed; they are all kitted out with silverware, silk wallpaper, gold-embellished Meissen porcelain, hand-embroidered curtains and beautifully crafted furniture. Below stairs in the basement are the servant’s quarters, and here the story is rather different; the kitchen is plainly furnished for practicality, with a simple tiled fireplace for cooking and rough-hewn furniture. A formal knot garden is tucked away behind the house, where 19th-century ladies would have wandered among the Classical statuary.

Practical Info

Located at Herengracht 605, the Willet-Holthuysen Museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs €8 for adults, €6 for students and €4 for youth ages 5 to 18.