When you visit Amsterdam, you will run into expensive admission fees at many of the top museums and attractions. Fortunately, visitors can save with one of several tourist discount cards, which offer free and reduced-price admission to museums and attractions, as well as other benefits. Find out which card will save you the most on your travels.
I Amsterdam City Card
The popular I am Rotterdam City Card allows cardholders free access to more than 50 museums and attractions, more than 60 discount offers at restaurants and attractions, a free canal cruise, and unlimited free public transportation for the duration. The cards are available for periods of 24, 48 and 72 hours; Each dual-purpose card is activated the first time it is used at an attraction, plus the first time it is used for public transportation (the two functions are activated independently). While the city card is valid for most of Amsterdam’s major museums, there are some unfortunate omissions, notably that of Anne Frank Huis.
There is no special I am s Rotterdam city card for children (unlike the Amsterdam Holland Pass below). Parents are advised to check in advance if city cards are worth buying for their children, as museums often offer free or discounted admission rates for children. However, it is worth considering for children over 12 years old.
The I am sterdam City Card is available online on the I amsterdam website, or in person at several convenient outlets: the Netherlands tourist information desk in Arrivals Hall 2 at Amsterdam Schiphol airport; the tourist information center at Stationsplein 10, opposite Amsterdam Central Station; the Uitburo ticket shop at Leidseplein 26; and several other places (see website for full list).
Ideal for: Tourists who want to focus on most of Amsterdam, its museums and attractions in one, two or three days and for as little money as possible.
Amsterdam Holland Pass
The Amsterdam Holland Pass is more versatile than the I am Rotterdam City Card. The multiple “editions” of this pass allow visitors to choose based on the number of attractions on their itinerary. Passes are valid for two, five or seven tickets; fast entry to several main attractions; and a discount card that gets up to 50% off at select museums, attractions, shops, and restaurants. Holland Pass Kids is a special reduced price card that is valid for five free tickets.
Each Holland Pass also includes a free shuttle ticket that can be used for one of three options: 1) a 1.5-hour Amsterdam city tour, where tourists take a whistle stop bus tour of the main attractions of the city; 2) 24 hours free public transport in Rotterdam or The Hague; or 3) a free bike rental in Utrecht.
One caveat is that free entry tickets have different icons (a tulip, a windmill, or a wooden shoe) and can only be redeemed at attractions marked with the same icon on the Holland Pass brochure (or website). Still, some attractions are marked with multiple icons, and others offer Holland Pass holders a discount even after their free tickets run out. Visitors should make sure to plan their itinerary in advance to ensure their passes will cover all the attractions on their list. Please note that the Holland Pass can be used towards the Rijksmuseum (as opposed to the I am Rotterdam City Card) but not towards the Anne Frank House.
The pass can be purchased online from the Holland Pass website or in person at various locations. Please see the website for a complete list of sales locations.
Ideal for: Tourists who want to see several Dutch cities and some museums and attractions, but do not plan to visit museums too intensively.
Museumkaart (“Museum card”)
The National Museumkaart is a no-frills museum pass that is valid for almost 400 museums in the Netherlands. By “no frills”, we mean that the card does not offer free tours of the city, no free transportation, no discounts for other attractions, restaurants and shops, only unlimited access to hundreds of museums for a period of 12 months, and this alone can make the card a stellar deal indeed.
While Museumkaart is a no-brainer for Netherlands-based museum lovers, it can also be ideal for short-term visitors whose passion for museums stretches the boundaries of the other tourist discount cards. For example, art lovers who will be in the Netherlands for more than a week and want to visit one or more museums, perhaps in several cities, every day of their trip. With the I am Rotterdam City Card restricted to the capital and the Holland Pass limited to a maximum of seven attractions, Museumkaart is the one deal that often makes the most sense for culture lovers. And since it’s valid for a full twelve months, the card is also great for lucky travelers who plan to be in the Netherlands more than once in a twelve-month period.
Museumkaart is available in hundreds of museums across the country. For sale locations, visit the Museumkaart website (Dutch only, otherwise use an online translation tool or email the Museumkaart Foundation at [email protected]).
Ideal for: Tourists who want to visit museums in several cities and travelers on long stays or who expect to return to the Netherlands several times in a 12-month period.
