Madame Tussauds Amsterdam

Medieval Centre & Red Light District


Sure, Madame Tussauds wax museum is overpriced and cheesy, but its focus on local culture makes it fun: 'meet' the Dutch royals, politicians, painters and pop stars, along with global icons (Rafael Nadal, George Clooney, Barack Obama, Marvel superheros et al). Kids love it. Buying tickets online will save you a few euros and get you into the fast-track queue. Hours can vary; check the calendar online.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Medieval Centre & Red Light District attractions

1. Dam

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This square is the very spot where Amsterdam was founded around 1270. Today pigeons, tourists, buskers and the occasional funfair (complete with Ferris…

2. Nationaal Monument

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The obelisk on the Dam's eastern side was built in 1956 to commemorate WWII's fallen. Fronted by two lions, its pedestal has a number of symbolic statues:…

3. Royal Palace

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Opened as a town hall in 1655, this resplendent building became a palace in the 19th century. The interiors gleam, especially the marble work – at its…

4. Kalverstraat

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You're sure to end up on this crowded street at some point. Named after the livestock markets held here in the 17th century, Kalverstraat is now a place…

5. Below the Surface

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During the construction of Amsterdam's 2018-opened Noord/Zuidlijn (North–South metro line), more than 134,000 archaeological finds were unearthed from…

6. Papegaai

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An unexpected oasis in the sea of consumerism on Kalverstraat, the curious Petrus en Pauluskerk, aka Papegaai, is a Catholic church from the 17th century…

7. Rokin

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South of the Dam, this street is part of the route most visitors take from Centraal Station into town, the name being a corruption of rak-in (inward reach…

8. Nieuwe Kerk

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This 15th-century late-Gothic basilica is only ‘new’ in relation to the Oude Kerk – the city's Old Church, dating from 1306. A few monumental items…