Towering over Museumsplatz, the Rijksmuseum is a top-rated Amsterdam museum attraction—and for good reason. While most visitors head straight to the Golden Age art exhibition to see the likes of Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, the rest of the museum has plenty of treasures, too. Other highlights include the Asian Pavilion, the dollhouses, the library, and the Michelin-starred on-site restaurant, RIJKS.

First opened in 1973, the Van Gogh Museum now attracts millions of visitors each year. The museum features more than 200 of Van Gogh's paintings, along with letters and other insights into the troubled artist's life. Here, you can also see works by other artists who inspired—and were inspired by—Van Gogh, including Gaugin and Monet. Skip the famously long line by joining a guided tour and/or prebooking your Amsterdam museum tickets ahead of time.

One of the city’s most moving historical museums, Amsterdam’s Anne Frank House opened its doors as a museum 15 years after the return of Anne’s father, Otto—the only member of the Frank family who survived Auschwitz. Dedicated to the memory of the diarist and her family who spent two years living in a secret annex of a house during World War II, the museum brings the past to life with photographs, personal objects, and, of course, excerpts from the now world-famous diary.

Gerard Adriaan Heineken first started his family-run brewery back in 1873, and began supplying beer to restaurants in the Eiffel Tower after winning the Grand Prix at the 1899 Paris World Fair. The Heineken Experience offers a fascinating insight into the innovation and history behind the beer brand. Observe the brewing process, including sampling the final product, and choose between VIP or self-guided tours, all of which are held in the canalside brewhouse—easily combined with a canal cruise.

Located in Damrak in the heart of Amsterdam, the Venustempel Sex Museum flouts itself as the first—and the oldest—sex museum in the world. Inside, you'll find exhibits as entertaining as they are informative (although you must be 16 or older to enter), including ancient artworks and curiosities, life-size wax figures of Marilyn Monroe and Mata Hari, and an array of interactive exhibitions—not to mention some of the city’s most entertaining photo ops, such as oversize phallic furniture.

One of the best art galleries in Amsterdam, the Stedelijk Museum is a not-to-be-missed spot for art lovers visiting the city. Inside the museum, which includes a newer bathtub-shaped extension, you’ll find a treasure trove of modern art and contemporary design dating back to 1870. A museum admission ticket includes access to masterpieces by Picasso, Yayoi Kusama, Pollock, Lichtenstein, Van Gogh, and Andy Warhol.

Rising up out of the waters of the IJ River, Amsterdam’s National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) is as imposing as it is impressive. While the majority of the museum’s exhibits are ensconced within the walls of the 17th-century naval arsenal (the glass-roofed courtyard inside is a real highlight), the museum also features a life-size replica of a Dutch East Indiaman ship, Amsterdam, which reveals sailing life in the 18th century.

This funky Amsterdam museum highlights all things film, cinema, and visual art. Dedicated to national and international films alike, the EYE Film Institute (EYE Filmmuseum) is housed in a striking, spaceship-esque building in northern Amsterdam. Tour temporary and permanent exhibitions, catch film screenings, and enjoy the picturesque views from the glass-walled bar and restaurant—the perfect spot for a rainy Amsterdam day.

Great for families visiting museums in Amsterdam, the NEMO Science Museum—which is as quirky inside as it is out—sits right at the waterside edge of the IJ-tunnel. It's also chock full of interactive exhibitions, experiments, and activities where you can learn about humanity; space and the universe; and the past, present, and future of science. Admission to the museum includes a children’s play area, a café, and a public viewing deck offering great views over the city.