Affiliated with the University of Amsterdam, this museum offers a glimpse into the life and culture of the ancient world. From the Egyptian to the Roman period, and including the Greeks and the Etruscans, the institution puts forth exhibits featuring mummies, textiles, pottery, sculpture, domestic goods, and decorative objects. The influence of particular cultures on successive generations is addressed, and the models and artifacts representing various time periods prove enlightening. Traveling exhibits can also be viewed.

Via a host of artifacts and interactive exhibits, this terrific museum documents Amsterdam's growth and development from the medieval era to the present. Within the walls of the city's former orphanage, the museum delivers artwork, archaeology, porcelain, silver, and illustrative models. Although the content may seem a bit staid at first glance, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how engaging this journey through the centuries can be. The lovely courtyard makes a wonderful place to catch your breath.

Seeking to expand the biblical knowledge of visitors and to illustrate the influence of the age-old text on the people of the Netherlands, this informative museum is a must for religious scholars and those who delight in their faith and in history. Set in two remarkable, 17th century buildings, the museum helps flesh out the world of the Bible and of the Levant and boasts period artifacts, temple models, significant printings of the Bible, and the artistic works of Dutch believers. Built from the collection of Leendert Schouten, the museum also offers lovely ceiling paintings and a private garden complete with plants known to the ancients.

Although its mission is to document Jewish history, experience, and culture, this museum is a worthwhile stop for all visitors. Originally opened in 1932, JHM closed during the German invasion of the 1940s, when the Nazis confiscated much of the collection. It reopened in 1955, bolstered by donated materials, and now occupies a complex of four former synagogues dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The architecture itself is amazing, especially when coupled with artwork, religious artifacts, and exhibits. Temporary exhibitions also pass through regularly.

If the allure of the sea runs strong in your veins, don't miss this expansive museum, with its bountiful holdings of nautical artifacts and memorabilia. Housed in a 17th century military storehouse, the place features maps, paintings, model ships, navigational equipment, and other seafaring goods. On the property, life-sized replicas of ships offer visitors the chance to experience briefly the sort of life that established Amsterdam as a world power. On the recreated Dutch East Indiaman Amsterdam, actor-sailors bring history to life with performances and ship-related duties.