Amsterdam Museumkaart 2026: Is the Museum Card Worth It?

The Museumkaart looks like a great deal on paper: €69 for 491 museums across the entire Netherlands. That's 31 days of unlimited access. In practice, most tourists visit Amsterdam for 2-3 days and see 4-5 museums. The math isn't always as clear as it seems.

The biggest surprise: the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House — arguably Amsterdam's two most-visited museums — are not included.

What does the Museumkaart cover?

491 museums across the Netherlands. In Amsterdam specifically: Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam Museum (both current satellite locations — main building closed until 2028), H'ART Museum, Tropenmuseum, FOAM Photography Museum, Rembrandthuis, and dozens more.

Outside Amsterdam: Mauritshuis (The Hague), Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen depot (Rotterdam), Frans Hals Museum (Haarlem), Kröller-Müller Museum (Otterlo), and hundreds of smaller institutions.

What's NOT included: Van Gogh Museum (€25 separate ticket), Anne Frank House (€16.50 separate — see our guide to the best time to visit), and most temporary exhibitions charge supplements.

Does the math work?

Here's what individual tickets cost for the top Amsterdam museums on the card:

Rijksmuseum: €23.50. Stedelijk Museum: €22.50. Amsterdam Museum: €15-18 depending on location (both current sites covered by the card). Rembrandthuis: €17.50. FOAM: €16. Tropenmuseum: €18.

Total for these six: approximately €115. The Museumkaart costs €69.

Breakeven point: 3 museums. Rijksmuseum (€23.50) + Stedelijk (€22.50) + any third museum (€16-18) already exceeds the card price.

The catch: If you're only seeing Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh — the two most popular — you pay €23.50 (Rijksmuseum with card) + €25 (Van Gogh separate) + €69 (card) = €94. Individual tickets would cost €48.50. The card only works if you're visiting more museums beyond the big two.

When the Museumkaart is worth it

You're visiting 4+ museums in Amsterdam. Once you pass three museums, the savings are real and grow with each additional visit.

You're travelling beyond Amsterdam. The card works nationwide. A day trip to The Hague (Mauritshuis, Escher Museum), Haarlem (Frans Hals Museum), or Utrecht adds significant value.

You're a museum enthusiast staying 4+ days. The 31-day validity means you can revisit the Rijksmuseum twice — once for the Golden Age wing, once for the Asian Pavilion — without thinking about ticket costs.

When it's not worth it

You only want Rijksmuseum + Van Gogh. Buy individual tickets. The card adds cost without saving anything. Rijksmuseum entry on GetYourGuide and Van Gogh Museum fast-lane entry both come with free cancellation — useful when the official sites are sold out for your dates.

Short trips (1-2 days) with 2-3 museum visits. Individual tickets are simpler and often cheaper.

You primarily want transport. The card doesn't cover public transport, canal cruises, or non-museum attractions.

The alternatives

I Amsterdam City Card (from €28/day for 24 hours, up to 120 hours): Covers 70+ museums including a canal cruise and unlimited public transport. Excludes Van Gogh and Anne Frank, same as the Museumkaart. Better if you need transport and want a simpler all-in-one option.

Individual tickets: For most 2-3 day trips, buying Rijksmuseum + Van Gogh + Stedelijk separately (total: €71) costs about the same as the Museumkaart (€69) — but with the card you also get access to everything else. If you go this route, GetYourGuide has refundable versions of all three: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, and Stedelijk.

Holland Pass: A credit-based system covering Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, theme parks, and seasonal attractions. Worth checking if your interests go beyond art museums.

How to buy

At any participating museum. Walk to the ticket desk and ask for a temporary Museumkaart. They'll issue it on the spot. The Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk both sell them.

Online: museum.nl — digital delivery available.

Note: The Museumkaart itself isn't sold on GetYourGuide — it's a Dutch-residents-and-tourists system run by museum.nl. But if you decide individual tickets make more sense than the card, GetYourGuide has refundable entry for the main museums (linked above).

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Museumkaart cost in 2026?

€69 for a temporary tourist card (31 days, unlimited visits). Annual cards for Dutch residents cost €69 plus a €6 one-time fee. Under 18: €36 plus €6 fee.

Does the Museumkaart include the Van Gogh Museum?

No. The Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House are NOT included. You need separate tickets for both: Van Gogh €25, Anne Frank €16.50. If you're planning the Anne Frank House, check whether it's worth it first.

Where can I buy the Museumkaart?

At any participating museum in the Netherlands. Walk up to the ticket desk and ask for a temporary Museumkaart. You can also buy online at museum.nl.

Is the I Amsterdam City Card better than the Museumkaart?

Different purposes. The I Amsterdam Card (from €28/day) includes transport and a canal cruise but covers fewer museums. The Museumkaart covers 491 museums but no transport. Choose based on whether you need public transport included.

For individual museum guides, see our Rijksmuseum tickets guide and Van Gogh Museum tickets guide. For a broader overview, visit our Amsterdam hub.

Last verified: April 2026