Museum of Bags and Purses

What began as Hendrikje Ivo's obsession with purses blossomed into the world's largest collection of handbags and purses with over 4,000 exhibits spanning 500 years. Located in a prestigious 17th-century home that once belonged to the then mayor of Amsterdam, the museum begins on the top floor where you can view satchels, boxes and letter cases from the 16th - 19th centuries made from every material imaginable including ivory, tortoiseshell, leather, lace, silk, straw and wood. 20th-century exhibits include funky Art Deco purses as well as bags made from exotic animals like ostriches, crocodiles and, yes, even armadillos. A large collection of famous designer bags is also on display including labels like Louis Vuitton, Pierre Cardin, Versace, Dior, Gucci, D&G and many others while contemporary exhibitions are on view on the ground floor. Naturally, no purse museum would be complete without a museum shop where you can buy bags and accessories to remember your visit. A café with gilded ceilings and a Dutch Golden Age interior is also available and the entire building is wheelchair accessible.