Possibly the best museum in the city (which has more museums per square metre than any other), this tells the history of Amsterdam from its origins as a mucky marsh settlement on the banks of the Amstel in the 1200s, to (arguably) the most important trading centre on the planet during the 17th century, to the truly unique spot it is today, with its art, architecture and dribblingly incoherent stag dos. It’s one that a lot of folks miss, opting for the better known Anne Frank Huis, Rijksmuseum or popping off for a bit of Van Gogh, but this is a real gem for anyone that wants to learn a little more about where they are, and could easily eat up a couple of hours. The building is the former civic orphanage, and holds plenty of art, with an impressive display from the Golden Age. Chuck in stills and film of more modern times, from the poverty of 19th century Jordaan to the free-thinking idealism of the sixties, and you have a very fulfilling experience.