Art & design school trips to Amsterdam

Take in the sights of incredible Amsterdam from the water with a cruise on the city’s canals. From its gabled houses to monumental bridges, we can suggest several things for students to look out for as they travel through Amsterdam’s iconic 17th century waterways.

Pay a visit to this biographical museum and you’ll uncover the sobering tale of Anne Frank – a Jewish girl who went into hiding during the Second World War to escape the Nazis. While visiting the house, we recommend seeking out the original copy of Frank’s diary, which she kept while in hiding at Prinsengracht.

We’re thrilled to invite school groups to Amsterdam to the Van Gogh Museum, which allows students to view the artist’s life and artistic development via 200 canvases, 500 drawings and around 700 handwritten letters – the largest Van Gogh collection in the world. The museum also houses artworks by other artists of Van Gogh’s era, providing students with the opportunity to compare his style with other works from the 19th century.

Students can learn all about Dutch art and history at the Rijksmuseum, which is located within the Museumplein in Amsterdam. With a generous showcase of art and historical pieces from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century, the Rijksmuseum gives students the opportunity to fully absorb Dutch heritage, and view famous Dutch artworks such as Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’, Vermeer’s ‘The Milkmaid’, and ‘The Threatened Swan’ by Jan Asselijn.

Students can explore five floors of hands-on science exhibitions at this museum, which is the largest science centre and one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands. Here, they’ll expand their learning on DNA and chain reactions, the human mind, electric circuits and more through interactive exhibits and live experiments which will motivate and inspire them to get involved. An excellent excursion for all ages.

Our team loves the Zaanse Schans, and we consider it an essential visit when travelling to the Dutch Coast. Here, students can explore 18th and 19th century architecture styles and crafts, from old-fashioned windmills and unique buildings to clog and cheese making. As well as plenty to look at, there’s also a delightful scent of cookies that wafts through the area, courtesy of the region’s bakery museum.

Take in unparalleled views of Amsterdam from the top of this observation deck, where your student group can see the entirety of the city’s historical centre – UNESCO-listed canals and all. As well as an interactive exhibition about the Dutch capital, A’DAM Lookout is home to Europe’s highest swing, where more thrill-seeking students can experience the view while dangling 100 metres above the ground.

A must-visit for sport students, the Johan Cruijff ArenA offers school groups the opportunity to learn all about Ajax – Amsterdam’s premier football club – and its greatest players. Students will tour the arena’s Gallery of Fame, press room and locker rooms, and even get to walk through the players’ tunnel like a real professional footballer.

Give your school group the opportunity to delve into Amsterdam’s photography culture at the FOAM Museum, which presents four exhibitions across genres such as documentary, art and fashion at any given time. An excellent opportunity for your students to examine the works of young, up-and-coming photographers alongside established artists.

One of the world’s oldest botanical gardens, Hortus Botanicus was founded in 1638 as a herb garden for doctors and apothecaries, amassing a large part of its collection from traders of the Dutch East India Company throughout the 17th century. It also has a huge collection of unique plant and pond life, which we think provides the perfect opportunity for sketching and photography.

Home to the world’s second-largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, the Kröller-Müller Museum is an excellent choice for students, whether they’re studying art or merely interested in Dutch culture. We also recommend wandering around the museum’s unique garden, where students can view sculptures by Augustine Rodin, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, to name a few.

Located close to Amsterdam’s Chinatown district, the remarkable Rembrandt House Museum is both a gallery of Rembrandt’s work and a museum dedicated to the artist. The 17th-century interior has been reconstructed to reflect its time as Rembrandt’s home and workshop, which we think will fascinate students as they glimpse into the more unknown aspects of the painter’s life.

Explore over 150 years of contemporary art at the Stedelijk Museum, collected by postwar curator Willem Sandberg. With a wide selection of contemporary artworks by Pablo Picasso, Roy Liechtenstein, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol and Barnett Newman Cathedra – plus excellent temporary exhibitions – we think the Stedelijk Museum will prove a great inspiration for your students.

As much a part of the Netherlands’ cultural heritage as it is a thriving amusement park, Efteling is the perfect place to reward your students after a set of educational excursions. We’ve seen school groups fully immersed in the park’s fairytale, fable and Dutch folklore elements, reflected through Efteling’s exhilarating steel rollercoasters, water rides and more.

Dedicated to the Golden Age of Dutch art, the remarkable Portrait Gallery of the 17th Century holds an amazing 30 enormous group portraits for your school group to study. These incredible artworks are rarely seen due to their size, and encompass individuals from different socioeconomic classes, backgrounds and religions, presenting the perfect opportunity for an open discussion with your students about diversity in Dutch history and culture.

With its exhibits which encompass Amsterdam’s influence on the world, the Amsterdam Museum is a great place for students to discover the significance of the Dutch capital as a world city through the ages. With everything from the Dutch East India Company to the artistic legacy of Rembrandt, this museum will boost the curiosity of your students as they learn about one of Europe’s most fascinating cities.