Dutch museums generally charge an entry fee, ranging from a few euros to a more substantial fee. If you like visiting museums it is worth considering to buy a Museum Pass (Museumjaarkaart in Dutch).
The Museum Pass is an annual membership card that gives unlimited free (or reduced) entry to more than 500 museums in the Netherlands.
Considering the current entry fees to museums such as the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Hermitage, Maritime Museum, NEMO and the Stedelijk Museum, the Museum Pass quickly pays for itself after about four visits.
The card is great for the ability to just pop into a museum for 30 minutes and visit a new exhibition, without feeling the pressure to see everything.
How to buy a Museum Pass?
The Museum Pass has been available since 1981. Anyone can buy a Museum Pass online or at a participating museum. However, not all participating museums sell the pass, so make sure to check if the museum you want to visit does. A card for an adult costs €75 for one year. Cards for children and young people up to 18 years of age are €39.
You can choose a physical card or a digital one. With the digital version, you are less likely to forget your card, because you are less likely to travel without a phone, or so it is thought. You can choose your preferred card on the website Museum.nl.
Activating a temporary Museum Pass
If you buy a Museum Pass at a local museum, you will receive a temporary card. To be able to keep using it for the rest of the year, you need to register your card. You can do this at the website Museum.nl. Just follow the four steps as instructed on the website.