326. Rijksmuseum

What is the Rijksmuseum?

It's the most visited museum in The Netherlands, containing art and historical items. Built specially to house the museum, it opened in 1885 and is one of the most notable buildings in Amsterdam.

What's the Rijksmuseum like? 

There's plenty to see. However, its most popular painting is The Night Watch, completed in 1642 by Rembrandt with the original snappy title of "Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq". The Night Watch is famous for three things: being huge, its use of light and shade, and the perception of movement in a picture that would normally have been static.

Where is the Rijksmuseum?

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

When did we go? 

October 2018

How did we get there?

I flew to Amsterdam and spent two days visiting various sights with my friend Kathy - we also saw the Anne Frank House (removed from the 2020 edition), the Prinsengracht (also removed from the 2020 edition), and the Van Gogh Museum (378).

Worth noting: 

Booking online in advance is not really necessary - you have to do it for the Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum though. 

What was the Rijksmuseum's place on the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist? 

233. It subsequently dropped by 93 places.

Does the Rijksmuseum deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500? 

I can see why national museums are on the list - so much interesting stuff in one place - but I'm not sure I would put it in my top 500. Sorry, Rijksmuseum.

378. Van Gogh Museum

What is the Van Gogh Museum?

It's a museum dedicated to Vincent Van Gogh, the greatest 19th century Dutch painter. He was unbelievably productive - he produced about 2000 pieces in 10 years or so before he shot himself aged 37.

What's the Van Gogh Museum like?

It's perfectly sized over three floors, so you can do a quick tour of the highlights or stay in there all day. Sunflowers, Irises, The Bedroom, The Potato Eaters...they're all in there and you can see how his work evolved over the years until he painted his final pictures of a wheatfield from his room in the asylum. Pete was always really proud of the blue plaque near our house in Isleworth that marked where Van Gogh had lived during his time in the UK. It didn't get mentioned in the museum, which focused on his time in the Netherlands and France, but he'd have loved the place.

Where is the Van Gogh Museum?

 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

When did we go?

October 2018

How did we get there? 

I flew to Amsterdam and spent two days visiting various sights with my friend Kathy - we also saw the Anne Frank House (removed from the 2020 edition), the Rijksmuseum (326), and the Prinsengracht (removed from the 2020 edition).

Worth noting 

I recommend booking online and using the audio tour.

Where was the Van Gogh Museum in the 2015 Lonely Planet Travel List?

190. It dropped 188 places.

Does the Van Gogh Museum deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500?

Absolutely - it's a great museum about one of the world's most iconic and talented artists.

Anne Frank Huis

What is Anne Frank Huis? 

Anne Frank Huis is the building where Anne Frank spent two years in hiding from the Nazis, before being betrayed by a neighbour and sent to a concentration camp. Her father, Otto, had run a business from this building. When the Germans invaded the Netherlands and it became clear that the family could not escape the round-up and extermination of Jewish people, he created an annex hidden behind a bookshelf in the office. Eight people spent two years having to be silent during the day and relying on colleagues to hide and feed them. Anne kept a diary during her time in the annex and one of the colleagues managed to hold on to it when the Gestapo arrested the family. She gave it back to Otto Frank when he returned from the concentration camp, the only one of the eight to survive. The Diary of Anne Frank was first published in 1947 and has since sold over 35 million copies in 60 languages.

What's Anne Frank Huis like? 

It takes a lot of people by surprise, because the entrance to the museum itself is big and modern - it occupies the buildings to my left in the picture below. But you eventually find yourself going behind the bookshelf into the annex and experiencing the space where they hid. Seeing her actual diary was incredibly moving.

Where is Anne Frank Huis?

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

When did we go?

October 2018

How did we get there?

I flew to Amsterdam and spent two days visiting various sights with my friend Kathy - we also saw the Van Gogh Museum (378), the Rijksmuseum (326), and Prinsengracht (also removed).

Worth noting 

You have to buy your tickets online.

Where was Anne Frank Huis in the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List? 

59

Why did Anne Frank Huis lose its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500?

It should be in the top 100, never mind the top 500. I am absolutely stunned that it's not included this year. It's completely baffling.

Prinsengracht Canal

What is it: Prinsengracht is one of three main canals in Amsterdam (along with Herengracht and Keizersgracht) that form concentric rings around the city. They were built in the 1600s during the Dutch Golden Age when Amsterdam was the third biggest city in the world. They were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. The Anne Frank House is on Prinsengracht.
What's it like: The canals are a major part of modern Amsterdam and yet they retain a historic, ornamental sort of charm at the same time. They certainly give the city a very unique atmosphere. Just mind all the bikes.
Where: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
When: October 2018
How: I flew to Amsterdam and spent two days visiting various sights with my friend Kathy - we also saw the Anne Frank House (59), the Rijksmuseum (233), and the Van Gogh Museum (190). 
Worth noting: Amsterdam is known as the 'Venice of the North', with one hundred kilometers of canals and 1,500 bridges. It's well worth doing a boat tour and seeing all of the buildings from the water.
Place in the 2015 edition: 128

Did it deserve to lose its place in the 2020 top 500: I'd have put all four of the main canals and that whole area on the list - they're collectively known as the Grachtengordel - but they definitely deserve to be on there.