Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam - Museum of WWII Resistance

This museum is brilliant. It's gives a really detailed account of what the Netherlands and its people faced in the WW2 but more interesting what resistance they gave. Audio guides were great, lots of videos, photos etc. We spent over 2 hours and could have spent more time. We especially liked the exhibits on the Dutch colonies and what happened during and after the war and the fight for independence. This is a must visit for anyone interested in WW2 history.

Really incredible museum experience. I 100% recommend. Do not miss out on this one if you’re interested in history specifically during WWII. Free audio guide detailing different perspectives of what it was like for the Dutch living through this time period. It kept my attention and interest throughout. Each room starts with a short video and the exhibits expand on that. They even had an area for kids, which I did not look at since I was solo. Purchase your tickets online so you can go straight to check in and not wait in the queue.

It was clear the museum put significant care to make the entire experience cohesive and accessible! As a Canadian with a brother on the autism spectrum, the options to read or listen to exhibits in English was very helpful. The choice to tell the Resistance story through 100 voices helped me connect more with the Dutch and Jewish experiences. Would definitely recommend this experience for lovers of history and casual travellers!

very heavy on the heart. really accessible for everyone. the man at the front desk was sound. the cinema aspects were great, a good form of expression. I'd recommend giving yourself a lot of time to go through it- there's a lot to take in. don't bring your children if they aren't well behaved - there was a loud child who showed no respect...

Really moving museum. It skillfully combines many personal accounts, and the dilemmas they faced, with a clear overview of the main events of the war and occupation. I was absorbed for over five hours, but you could do it faster if you want. The coffee in the cafe was lovely, not so much the cake.

I learned so much in this Museu! If you enjoy history, don’t miss this very interesting and so well put together museum. I learned a lot about the Dutch people and how they dealt with German occupation.

What a fabulous experience ! If you have any interest in WW2 or the Resistance you are in for a treat. Exceptionally good displays with sections for children (which are excellent) and about Indonesia. Make sure to pick up the audio device after paying as it gives you the audio for the multiple videos; in addition it allows you to hear instead of reading the explanation of the numerous exhibits. A great way to spend 2-3 hours. In addition to historical information, there are numerous personal stories which makes the history come to life.

The Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum) is an incredibly moving and educational experience, offering deep insight into one of the most challenging periods of Dutch history during World War II. The museum takes you on a journey through the lives of ordinary people who were forced to make extraordinary decisions as they faced occupation, persecution, and war. The exhibits are well-organized and presented in a way that balances historical facts with personal stories, making it easy to connect emotionally with the people who lived through that time. The displays include everything from authentic artifacts and documents to interactive exhibits, making the experience both informative and engaging. One of the highlights for families is the Junior Tour, which is perfect for children. The tour is designed to be interactive and accessible, making complex historical topics easier for younger audiences to understand. My son loved it and gave it a solid 9.3 out of 10! One of the most compelling parts of the museum is how it showcases the moral dilemmas faced by individuals and families during the occupation. People had to decide whether to collaborate, resist, or remain passive, and the museum presents these choices without judgment, allowing visitors to form their own understanding of what it meant to live under such circumstances. Tip: I recommend allowing at least two hours to fully explore the museum. It can be quite busy, especially on weekends, so consider visiting during a quieter time if possible. Additionally, there is an excellent audio guide available in multiple languages, which adds an extra layer of depth to the experience. Whether you are a history enthusiast or looking to understand more about the Dutch resistance during WWII, the Verzetsmuseum is a must-visit in Amsterdam, especially for families with kids!

"Don't be intimidated, commit sabotage!" - Ernst Sillem I visited the Verzetsmuseum (Resistance Museum) in May 2024. I used the I Amsterdam card to purchase a ticket. Scheduling a time slot in advance wasn't necessary. I'm a history buff, but I don't remember learning much about the Resistance movement in history class. Watching "Swing Kids" in 8th grade is about all I can recall. The museum is divided into six areas and takes you through life in The Netherlands from 1940-1945. The first hand accounts of ordinary people living in The Netherlands during WWII are very moving. The permanent exhibit (The Netherlands in WWII) explains the German invasion, occupation, and the rise of the Resistance movement. The exhibit also explains the various ways that the Dutch resisted. Some tactics were passive while others were not. I wasn't aware of the violent aspects of the movement. One of the themes that I noticed throughout the museum is choice. There were a few sections in the museum that really make you think about the life altering choices that Jewish people had to face during the Nazi occupation. Adapt or resist? Register, flee, or go into hiding? I found myself thinking about what I would do if I were in that situation. I visited the museum for about two hours and it wasn't enough time. I had an audio guide which in hindsight, slowed me down. I wasn't able to spend much time in the temporary exhibit "Resistance Against Slavery." If you're short on time, consider skipping the audio guide, or maybe select a few accounts to listen to. I am so glad that I made time to visit Verzetsmuseum. It was an interesting and enriching experience and I highly recommend visiting, especially if you enjoy history.

I've been fascinated with history, war, and pretty much everything along those lines since I was a kid and if I have the chance to visit a museum dedicated to both of them, I'm absolutely going to jump on that. The Verzetsmuseum is a very large museum dedicated to the Netherlands fight against the Nazis in World War 2. From the moment I walked in to the moment I left I was blown away by the stories, the artifacts, the photos, the movies, and the amount of detail that went into the design of this incredible museum. This place is basically set up for you to go in order and that makes it really easy not to miss anything, and trust me, you won't want to miss anything. My personal favourite parts included the videos detailing what happened when Germany invaded and how much resilience the Dutch people had in fighting back, as well as what happened in the end when this beautiful country was independent once again. Overall, the Verzetsmuseum was such an amazing experience and I couldn't be happier with coming. If you enjoy history, this place is an absolute must and definitely worth hitting up. I also hope to hit up a few more world war 2 museums over the next few weeks

We were able to purchase our tickets in advance, on line. Admission is $15 for adults & reduced for children & students. Verzetsmuseum keeps alive the memory of WW II's dictatorship, war, persecution & resistance in the Netherlands, Indonesia, Surinam & Caribbean former colonies. The museum also covers anti-colonial resistance to the Netherlands & connects the past to the present. The museum highlights over 100 personal stories from different perspectives, thereby prompting reflection and providing insight into the value of tolerance, freedom & democracy. I was intrigued because controversies regarding the Resistance Museum recently made the news. Exhibits portray the lives of victims & perpetrators, bystanders & resisters; it tells stories of all the Dutch people. Few vignettes focuse on Nazi's, there is not black-and-white thinking about the way individuals responded to life under occupation. The museum presented information that challenges us to think about this time period in Amsterdam.

We visited the Verzetsmuseum, or Museum of the Resistance, with our I AMsterdam cards recently when traveling in The Netherlands. Although the building seems small outside, the museum is packed with history of the World War II resistance toward the Nazi regime. As someone who learned history from an American perspective, I really enjoyed seeing it from the Dutch point of view. You'll also see how the Nazis rose to power and the propaganda used, which keeps this alive for future generations. There is an audio-guided option, but we prefered to walk around and read the information instead. Be prepared to do some self-exploration here. When walking around the museum and reading stories, I found myself asking what I'd do in that situation. So many Europeans were brave in standing up to the Nazis and German occupation, and I hope I could replicate that courage if I am ever in such a situation. The museum is very much for adults, but I saw a side exhibit for children. The content is appropriate- and important- for teens high school age and up. I highly recommend visiting, although it was our last stop of the day, and it was a rather sad walk back and public transit ride to the hotel.

Excellent museum to visit when in Amsterdam. Excellent narration as you pass through the many exhibits. A great experience.

Had a great experience at this museum. This is not one of the museums people may think of going to when they go to Amsterdam but I highly recommend it. It explores the experience the Netherlands had during World War II. They even have a small side exhibit that is geared towards younger kids.

A must see - everyone should learn how people tried to help their fellow Jews. We all must learn that this should not happen again!

One of my favorite museums in Amsterdam. The Dutch Resistance museum is a must visit and very impact You could easily spend a few hours to cover all areas of the museum. Highlights: +Packed with photos, films, and objects that try and transport you back to the time of German Occupation +Make sure to get the audio guide, it's free. Though, it can be wordy. If you are short on time, you may find reading the exhibit cards ( Dutch and English) . + Free entrance with the Iamsterdam city card, else expect to pay € 12 for adults + Layout is a bit quirky, but they manage to cram a lot in the space that they have + AC works, is great escape during heatwaves or trying to escape the rain + Closet Tram stop is Plantage Kerklaan if coming from Central Amsterdam station. Else there are addition tram stops relatively close depending on where you are coming from. + Gift shop has a variety of select of books, postcards, and more + There is a restaurant right next door where you can sit back and grab a quick lunch and enjoy the patio on nicer days. They do offer dinner service as well, with the option to reserve your seating online

Great history of German occupied Amsterdam and their resistance to occupation. We spent a couple hours taking this self-guided, indoor tour, with audio guide. Our tour began in an auditorium with a modern short video about about the plight if the citizens of Amsterdam and what few options they had with respect to occupation. There are many artifacts and stories on display. Some displays were letters, ID cards, propaganda, tools and weapons. There were a number of audio displays as well as video displays. In all, we left with a good understanding of German occupation of Amsterdam and the struggle of the people up to their liberation by the allied forces in 1945.

A unique collection for a museum and one that sticks with you after your visit is over. The Verzetsmuseum, or Museum of the Resistance, tells the story of those who stood up to the Nazi Regime and Fascism, both within and without the Netherlands, and often lost their lives for the cause. The free audio tour helps to tell this story, sometimes in their own words and voices even. Yet, if you have visited other museums of WWII in Germany, it is hard to compare this museum. It's interesting, but doesn't carry the same weight of emotion. The museum set-up itself is a bit of a maze, making use of every square foot of space in the building to, sometimes, a cramped effect. I did notice that quite a few of the technological enhancements of the exhibits (screens, speakers, buttons) are no longer working, which detracts a bit from the experience. Overall, an educational experience that tells a new story of the tragic events of the war and its effects on the Netherlands.

This is just across from the zoo and is basically a museum of the Netherland's experiences during World War II. The museum isn't all that large, but it is quite enlightening and sobering. There is one interesting exhibit about a group of people who were children at the time of the occupation and where they are now (they would actually be quite old since the war is starting to become something of a distant memory). However, this museum is great because it does work to keep the memories alive and reminds us what it was like to live under such an occupation. The museum also included an incredibly powerful photographic exhibition on modern war and its effects, and it works to continue to remind us that there was a reason that we went to war all those years ago, and this reason is something that we shouldn't easily forget.

Pretty cool museum. You can see all that happened during the Dutch resistance agains the Nazis during World War II. I think what was really memorable was seeing the spy gear. They had special devices to hide literature and materials. It was a great place to learn about Dutch history. I highly recommend coming here.

I thought this museum was extremely well presented. The facility was quite nice and the availability of an audio guide was a big plus. This interpretive tour takes one through the complex and difficult war years, highlighting the roller coaster of emotions experienced by the Dutch as the Nazis revealed their true character over time. The plight of Dutch Jews was well handled. The rise and fall of the NSB (Dutch Nazi Party) was an interesting story. I liked the emphasis of the quandary of the average citizen who was confronted with the choice of cooperation, resistance or going with the flow, i.e., trying to survive. It allows one to easily put oneself in their shoes. The role of the active Dutch Resistance movement and their difficult choice to occasionally have to eliminate Nazi collaborators was a rather fascinating in the light of Dutch culture. Overall, I learned quite a lot and I would say that this museum is well worthwhile for anyone who is interested in WWII history.

A museum filled to the brim with information about the Dutch resistance during WWII. It's almost too much - you'll have to easily spend over three hours inside to read everything and hear all info blurbs. It's dark and moody - suitable for the subject matter - but after a while inside you'll come out feeling like a bear who has slept through winter. The museum has a weird layout and there's no obvious path to walk to make sure you don't miss anything - every nook and cranny has a glass case with memorabilia or a button to push to hear old radio recordings. Very fascinating, but a little bit of moderation would do the place good. Less could be more.

The space may be on the small side, but WOW - they pack in the information. If you're coming with the Museumkaart (I can't recommend this enough), your admission and audio guide will be free. If you don't have the card, go ahead and purchase the audio guide if it's not included in your ticket price - it's very well worth it, as there is an incredible amount of information to take in. So, what should you expect? You'll be transported back to Amsterdam in the years leading up to WWII - students, housewives, broadcasters... you'll learn so much about all the different people who helped to form the Dutch resistance movement. Look down as you walk, as they project certain words and phrases onto the floor in light - it helps to provide some perspective about what you're looking at, and the questions you're pondering. For those of you who appreciate WWII history, this museum will offer insights that you don't get from memorial museums. How was propaganda used? How were transistors made, and how were they used? What became of the students who didn't toe the line? You'll learn about all of those things here, and so much more. I really can't recommend this museum highly enough. Please make a point of adding it to your itinerary, and budget at least a couple hours. It's worth it!

Great place to learn a bit more of the history of Dutch resistance of the Nazis in WW2, with lots of historical artifacts, video, and audio recordings to serve as data points to document the chronology of the war. I wanted to rate it higher, but thought it could have been managed tighter than it was. For instance, there are postcard just before you enter, with a different child and therefore story that I thought you'd follow through the tour. Turns out that there really wasn't a tie in anywhere, so I hung onto the card throughout with it actually being an integral part of the tour. Likewise, you didn't necessarily follow a chronological series of listening stations as you meandered through the tour, unlike say the Alcatraz walking tour in San Francisco, so it was far too easy to get out of order. Still, I appreciated the experience and did still manage to walkway with new learning points, particularly the Dutch history with Indonesia.

Probably good for locals but not enough in English for Brits or Yanks. The new Gulag exhibit all in Dutch. The layout of the museum is complicated and hard to follow. Place is very clean and there are many actual artifacts. The small blue cards have captions but they are often poorly placed and the type is too small to read, given the lighting. The device they give you to listen to exhibits doesn't always line up with the exhibits.

Fabulous museum dedicated to honor the Dutch Resistance who fought the Nazis during WWII!! I've been here 5 times and every time I learn something fascinating! I'm a teacher and I've taken 3 school groups here and all of the students enjoyed it immensely. I think it's because the exhibit they call the Jr exhibit is interactive with doors to open, four true stories to follow about four kids in Amsterdam during WWII. You find out at the end what happened to each kid. Each house follows a kid and you walk through with each personal story. You scan the audio guide and it gives you another piece of each story. There are opportunities to listen in English as well as Dutch. Truly a fabulous museum!! Ask for the guide Bonnie if you have the time/money to gain a more thorough understanding of the Dutch Resistance!! Love this museum!!

Be sure to get the free audio tour headset. Museum is a detailed history of the Nazi invasion and Dutch resistance of the Netherlands during WWII. Very factually detailed with a lot of pictures, video and objects from WWll time period in The Netherlands. Their currently is an incredible exhibit of photographs by Roger Cremers. These pictures are historic, current and reenactments of the time and history during WWII. This museum is a MUST SEE for anyone interested or interested in learning WWII history.

Amazing museum. I'm so thankful my son talked me into going. I learned so much about the Dutch citizen's experience in WWII and also I found out more about the Dutch Jews who were killed by the Nazis. A must see.

Good information presented in an interesting manner, although sometimes hard to read. There are visual aids and actual media clips, recordings, and movies from the time. Alot of posters help illustrate the atmosphere. There is a hand-held listening device in English that is essential. It took about two hours to go through just the part on the Resistance. There is another part about Dutch colonialism and a special section for kids.

I visited this museum with my 70 yo mother, partner, and our two 14 yo boys. We stayed a little over one hour but I could have stayed for at least 2 hours. There was so much information - I appreciated the complimentary audio tour - a must. And the junior museum was intriguing even for an adult. I was moved reading the personal quotes. The 3 adults felt emotionally heavy after leaving. Definitely worth a visit.

My 15 year old daughter and I (Canadians) were in the heart of the tourist madness surrounding The Ann Frank house when we decided to take another path. In the Ann Frank gift shop (for 0.50€) you can purchase a walking tour to the Dutch resistance museum. We self guided ourselves (walking) along the route which contained 32 points of interest. This culminated at the Dutch resistance museum which is filled with many great articles, artifacts and even a "junior" interactive exhibit which was as much fun for the adult as it was the teen! This museum is a must see and was a much greater use of time than spending hours and hours waiting in line at the Ann Frank house and gave far greater results and knowledge!

I keep reading that this is a "small" museum, but I couldn't disagree more. Not only does it tackle a huge issue--how the Dutch people responded to occupation in WWII--but it does so with incredible amounts of information, layered to show a full picture of life at all levels. The story begins well before the beginning of the war, so that you understand the context. Union leaders, mayors, newspaper editors, doctors, and others in the public arena increasingly struggled with their responsibilities. The personal interviews clearly show how conflicted and fractured the populace was. It also demonstrates what a significant role the royal family (in exile in England) played. As the occupation worsened, the Dutch response became more daring and widespread. The artifacts display a seriousness of purpose: a clandestine printing press, complete with a clattering soundtrack; unlikely spy equipment designed to hide messages; a baby carriage used to transport weapons. Many Dutch people who lived through this period have donated letters, photos, and objects to the museum. Just as significantly, they've given the stories of their experiences, some quotidian, some profound. What I admired most about the Verzetsmuseum is that it felt honest. People did not always think selflessly or behave heroically. They were ordinary people faced with an extraordinary situation. What actions do you take, and when do you remain silent? How much will you compromise in order to protect yourself and your loved ones? This honesty made it even more moving to read about those who did take action, large and small. I greatly admire this museum for honoring the memory of the war years in such a comprehensive way.

We stumbled upon this museum after going to Artis (the zoo) and couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised by this hidden gem. The museum is beautifully done - it is thorough, interactive and inspiring. Learning about the Dutch resistance during WWII was so interesting and makes you really think about the everyday victories that happened throughout the war. My husband and I really enjoy museums in general and I am especially interested in anything related to WWII, so we are definitely this museum's target audience. But we do feel like it is an approachable and thought-provoking experience for anyone who wants a little snapshot of what the Dutch went through during the war.

We've made many visits to Amsterdam and have been to the major museums several times, so we wanted to visit some smaller museums the last time. This museum has quite an interesting permanent exhibit and we thought it was very informative & well-done. I also recommend a (smallish) book about the museum that's sold in the bookstore; it's beautifully-illustrated.

What a great stop to make to learn a little more about history. Not far from downtown and a quick tram ride away, it was a nice reprieve from the hustle and bustle of central Amsterdam to take time to appreciate freedom and the struggles that people faced not so many years ago.

This is an excellent museum that is loaded with resistance artifacts. It is also curated in a very unique way. It does also have a children's area which I thought was one of the coolest parts. Definitely recommend!!

Smaller than you expect but full of great dual language items. For those unaware of the Dutch World War 2 struggles it is a great introduction. I was very curious as an amateur historian the slant or view the museum would take. It takes a very pragmatic view of the period and the struggles within the country. In addition when we went they had the Indonesian colonial period on exhibit which made for a unique segue from struggle of a country to struggled of an empire. As an American it was an eye opening review of a time we are taught little about.

Verzetsmuseum = The Resistance Museum, across from the zoo and not too far from Centraal Station. I made a day of visiting this museum, the Jewish Historical Museum (Joods Historisch Museum) , the Portuguese Synagogue and Rembrandt House Museum. Having taken the canal tour past the Ann Frank House a couple of times and seeing the line of tourists waiting to see where Ann Frank hid for two years before a neighbor turned the hiding family in to the Nazis, I wondered exactly how much 'resistance' may have been going on in Amsterdam during the German occupation. According to the stats in the exhibit, 78% of the Jews living in Amsterdam were exterminated during the war. That is a pretty staggering figure. I wondered how much revisionist history might be going on before visiting. I realize after walking through that I am not in a position to judge that period of time. Everyone suffered and over 20,000 Dutch citizens died of starvation during one particularly brutal winter during the war. A new mother was arrested for giving her baby a "too orange" (referring to the displaced royal family) name and running the announcement in the local newspaper birth announcements. A worker who was not scheduled to work on a day that also became a strike day was taken away and killed because he was absent from work and therefore seen as a striker or sympathizer. It is hard to fathom what life must have been like trying to survive and maintain your sanity and family. Visiting this museum will put your current circumstances in a different perspective. What I really respected about this museum is that in the back of the exhibit focusing on WWII, they have an extended exhibit of the Dutch conflict in Asia. They have a lot of photos of the brutality that was censored and never seen by the public. These photos appear in the exhibit along side the photos that ran in the local media and magazines, mostly propaganda of how the Dutch were saving the world. I think that was just as impacting as an exhibit because the museum is putting the censorship and the sugar coating under the microscope and the culture is questioning itself and how they chose to portray a bloody conflict. Interesting to go from oppressed to oppressor in the same exhibit space. I would encourage anyone visiting Amsterdam to check out this museum. If you are in Amsterdam for more than a few days, get the annual Museum card. Admission to this museum would then be free with the card. It is about 60 euros and gets you in free to museums and exhibits not just in Amsterdam but all over Holland. Even if you visit only 4 or 5 museums while you are in town, the card is worth getting. The Van Gogh Museum alone is 17 euros. When you have the card you are also more prone to check out some of the smaller venues like the Resistance Museum and the Portuguese Synagogue. You can buy the Museum card at any of the participating museums.

I really love this museum - it might be my favorite in Amsterdam actually. Full disclosure: I do have an unnatural obsession with anything related to WWII. That said, it's a nice look at what happened to the Dutch during the war and what they did about it. When I went it wasn't very busy which is how I like my museums. Lots of pictures. Check it out.

As an American born in the 60's its difficult to understand what it must have been like in Nazi occupied Europe during world war II. This museum takes the visitor on an end to end journey of the dutch experience and for me it was very emotional, educational, and has given me a great deal of insight into what it must have been like at the beginning through the ever increasing German brutality and the resulting resistance movement, the hunger winter, and the eventual arrival of the allies and the process of regaining freedom. Then add to this narrative the story of the Dutch East Indies and the battle against the Japanese and the difficult transition to Independence and you cannot help but to be overwhelmed with the impact of these events. Go see it, you will be glad you did.

One of my favorite museums in Amsterdam, but if you plan to listen to the entire audio tour be prepared for the long haul. If you only have about an hour, you may want to opt to just read the the descriptions in the museum, much of the audio tour regurgitates all the written boards, as well as substantial supplementary info. I think I got through about 2/3 of the museum before running out of gas, but I was also listening to all the extra audio commentary. I need to go back and listen to the rest, which I will be happy to do as I loved the first bit.

Incredibly detailed account of a complex time and the choices made. Don't miss the intro video up the stairs to the left before you begin. Very well done!

This was the best museum that I visited while in Amsterdam. I have family history rooted in the Dutch Resistance & this amazing wealth of artifacts put a lot of that in perspective. You can really imagine yourself in some of these horrific instances. Knowing the high (mostly stubborn) level of conviction ingrained in the Dutch from firsthand experience, I can imagine how important and natural the Resistance was to their society. If you can't read Dutch, get the audio guide, it's fantastic. This place is an important & poignant stop for everyone, especially relating to our own current state of things. Incredible respect to these brave rebels.

Located just across the street from the zoo, this museum cleverly tells the story of how the Dutch collaborated and resisted German occupation during World War II and has a small supplemental section on the history of Indonesian transition to independence (although democracy took longer). Lots of interesting artifacts and stories about heroism in really tough circumstances that helped me think about what I would do if confronted by a situation in which doing the moral thing would come at great personal risk.

Really a great little museum. Very interactive and well done. Covered everything from before the war until after the war. It even covered the impact of the war in the Dutch East Indies and the Japanese attacks there shortly after their attack of Pearl Harbor. Really thorough, educational and well laid out museum. If WWII stuff interests you then plan on it taking several hours to get through it all. As someone said in their tip, they have portable stools for those who can't stand for that long. Might be worth it to grab one on your way in!!

A must see for Amsterdam visitors and residents alike. Everyone should know about Holocaust history, now fading rapidly from memory. This museum does a comprehensive, poignant job of telling the story of the brutality of the Nazis to Dutch Jews and their efforts at resistance. We spent over 5 hours there -- and we're not Jewish. What I learned at the museum makes me appreciate the insistent slogan, "Never forget!