Museum Willet-Holthuysen

This beautiful 17th-century canal house and museum is located only a short walk from Rembrandtplein. Begin with a short documentary film with English subtitles at the end of the entrance hall to get a better idea about the house and its eccentric owners. It was donated to the city in 1895 by the last childless member of the family, Mrs. Willet-Holthuysen, and has been a museum ever since. Although it was damaged in WWII, it was renovated and re-opened in 1950. Take a look at the original kitchen with a tile tableau and a dining room table set as if the family were still expecting guests. The grand blue ballroom offers paintings, murals and high ceilings with huge chandeliers and all of the walls in the staircases are covered in marble. The top floor is more or less an exhibit displaying many of the unique art objects and antiquities collected by Abraham Willet on his extensive 19th-century travels and the magnificent manicured garden is also open to the public.