Apart from the world-famous Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh museum, there are quieter and quirkier museums in Amsterdam. They can be made part of unique private museum tours of Amsterdam. Some of the unusual exhibits found in them are self-playing pianos, human-sized cats, and other such weird stuff. These museums are difficult to find because they are hidden or located in secluded places. So, the purpose of this article is to help you find them and give you a brief introduction about them; read ahead to know more about them.
Kattenkabinet
Kattenkabinet is a special museum dedicated to the moggy or wild cat. This museum was established in 1990 by William Meijer as a tribute to his deceased cat. It is located inside a building on the side of Herengracht which is one of the main canals in the city. Inside this unusual museum, you can find the portrait of Lenin with his pet, along with a wide variety of other feline sculptures. Besides, there is a life-sized sculpture of Grizabella, the main character, and the glamorous cat from the musical Cats. So, make Kattenkabinet part of your Amsterdam private tours.
Bags And Purses Museum
Another unusual place that you must include in your private museum tours of Amsterdam is the museum of bags and purses. The museum was established in 1996 by Amstelveen-based antique dealer Hendrikje Ivo, and most of the exhibits here belong to her. It is obvious from the name that this museum is dedicated to bags and purses; it has the world’s biggest collection. This museum is in the direction of Amstel further along the Herengracht. There are over 5,000 exhibits, many of which were once used by celebrities, and some are as old as 1600 A.D.
Willet-Holthuysen Museum
You can arrive at the Willet-Holthuysen museum by walking east from the Museum of Bags and Purses along the Herengracht. This museum is a 17th-century canal house that is named after its last private owner Mrs. Willet-Holthuysen. In her will, she donated this property along with its furniture and other articles to the city. Inside this place, you can find a huge collection of 18th– and 19th-century furnishings; this gives you an idea of life during the golden age of Amsterdam. There is a grand dining room, ornate ballroom, French-inspired garden, and an excellent conservatory. This makes the Willet-Holthuysen museum a perfect addition to the list of destinations in private museum tours of Amsterdam.
Red-Light Secrets
Red-Light Secrets is a museum that explores the world’s oldest profession, i.e. prostitution. Also, this is the first and only prostitution museum in the world.
On a final note, visitors must keep in mind that these unusual and quirky museums are an equal part of Amsterdam’s culture.