Museum Catharijneconvent

First, the permanent exhibition does not have any written explanation in English, only Dutch. If you understand Dutch, the museum is very insightful. Alternatively ask for an audio guide. The very large collection is of outstanding religious art and artifacts with good explanations. The treasure room and medieval art hall have many wonderful religious objects and art. The department where the history of Christianity in the Netherlands is showed and explained from the arrival of Saint Willibrordus in the Netherlands in 690 AD till today is very interesting.

Incredible history with a touch of spirituality and ambition a fine line delicate to balance… what remains are symbolic artifact the sends a strong message of excellence from the past..

Stunning items. Very interesting history of Roman Catholic in The Netherlands...

The building was very beautiful from the outside, because it was located in a medieval monastery. You could look into the small garden for free. The holiday exhibit was engaging and inclusive, comparing Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions with fun interactive elements. The treasury room was stunning, though the audio tour was a bit loud even on the lowest setting. I appreciated the museum’s effort to address historical controversies, such as depictions of Jesus and diverse interpretations of religious stories. However, navigation was tricky, and aside from the holiday exhibit, there wasn’t much for kids or teens. Overall, a solid visit for those interested in Christianity or history.

The convent has a two courtyards where you can sit and enjoy a peaceful moment. There is a chapel and church. The museum has three floors and there is an auditorium for lectures. The cafe serves brunch and sweets. You can purchase books and other items at the museum store. The museum has changing exhibitions and a permanent collection. This latter includes relics from the church.

Amazing museum. The staff is very helpful and kind. The only downside is that nothing is translate : you have the audio-guide, but it only translate some part of it. However, the art pieces are amazing, the history behind them incredible, and it's very nicely presented. Definitely a place to check out if around and if you have an interest in Christianity (not in a religious way, more in a cultural one).

We grossly underestimated the size of the exhibitions. If you are planning on visiting, make sure you allow yourself a few hours to go through it. Although the pieces in their collection are exceptional this museum is definitely aimed at a specific audience.

Very nice museum with some sections having an audio guided tour. I saw some Rembrandt in there which was nice. I like the elevator feature (takes you to 3 floors of the museum) though I noticed most people still chose to go by the stairs. The gold and silverware (chalices, altar decorations, and candle holders, etc.) were amazing. I’m glad I stumbled upon the museum first before attending the [English] mass at 12:30 at the Catharijne Cathedral.

What a fantastic museum. It's free with the museum card. I was amazed at the quantity and quality of art here. There's really too much to mention- suffice it to say there are paintings, reliquaries, precious objects, textiles, statues, altar screens, movies of historic catholic celebrations- and so much more. It's a tremendous pleasure to visit a gem like this. My favorite pieces? The amazing Monstrans by the local Utrecht silversmiths and the wonderful portrait of Erasmus.

The current exhibit, MARIA, is well advertised but it's not terribly interesting. It's a bit confusing to find the starting point, and the curation is clearly from a religious rather than an artistic perspective. But the buildings are very much worth seeing. The serenity in busy Utrecht is wonderful. I would like to see more of the gardens in better weather. The neighborhood is worth exploring further, Vaartsje Rijn with a new train station. Lots of vintage shops and small cafes.