At Plantage Kerklaan 61, opposite Artis zoo, the Dutch Resistance Museum traces life in the Netherlands under German occupation and the choices people faced from 1940 to 1945. Photographs, documents, objects, film and sound clips build a chronological account of resistance, collaboration and everyday life. Look for forged identity papers and equipment used by resistance groups, then visit the separate Junior section, where children’s stories and interactive settings explain the period for younger visitors. An audio guide helps you explore the exhibitions at your own pace.
A chronological account of occupation
The museum tells the story of the Netherlands under German occupation from 1940 to 1945. Its chronological arrangement follows changing circumstances during the war, connecting the history of the resistance movement with the daily lives of people in the country.
Photographs, documents, objects, film and sound clips carry the story. Personal accounts bring the period into focus through the experiences of people who took action, those who collaborated and those caught between the two. The displays also address persecution and the Holocaust, alongside the wider effects of occupation on Amsterdam.
Objects, documents and difficult choices
Look closely at the materials used to communicate, evade control and undermine the occupying regime. Forged identity papers and communications equipment show practical aspects of resistance; film footage and documents add context to the objects on display. The exhibitions also examine how Dutch people responded to occupation, including efforts to protect Jewish neighbours.
Questions placed through the museum invite you to consider the choices people faced in those circumstances. The account includes resistance and collaboration, rather than presenting wartime life as a single experience. Multimedia elements and an audio guide help visitors follow the story through the exhibition.
The Junior museum
The Junior section approaches the war through the true stories of four Dutch children. Authentic objects, photographs and interactive settings, including walk-through miniature homes, help younger visitors understand what life could mean during occupation. Its interpretation is made for children and treats the subject seriously without relying only on adult explanations.
The Junior museum is designed for ages nine to fourteen. A free English audio guide is available for children aged nine and upwards. If you are visiting as a family, this section gives children a focused way into the history; it is also possible to explore the main exhibition separately.
Planning your visit
You will find the museum at Plantage Kerklaan 61, opposite Artis zoo. It is in the Plantage neighbourhood, near the Hortus Botanicus. The exhibitions cover two floors, and you can explore independently or use a multimedia guide. Wheelchair-accessible entrances and facilities are listed for the museum.
Allow at least two hours if you want to follow the audio guide through the main exhibition. Tickets in advance are recommended. If you are short on time, choose whether to focus on the main chronological exhibition or the Junior section, rather than trying to rush through both.
Preguntas frecuentes
How long should I plan for the Dutch Resistance Museum?
Allow at least two hours if you plan to use the audio guide for a thorough visit.
Is there a children’s section?
Yes. The Junior museum tells the stories of four Dutch children through authentic objects and interactive settings. It is designed for ages nine to fourteen.
Is there an audio guide in English?
A free English audio guide is available for children aged nine and upwards in the Junior museum. The museum also has multimedia guides, but the available facts do not specify their languages.
Where is the Dutch Resistance Museum?
It is at Plantage Kerklaan 61 in Amsterdam, opposite Artis zoo.
