Explore a Hidden Courtyard Museum

Overview

Tucked behind the imposing facades of Amsterdam's grandest canals lies a quiet world of manicured greenery. At Museum Van Loon, a beautifully preserved 17th-century canal house once home to the co-founder of the Dutch East India Company, you can step beyond the formal rooms to find a peaceful, symmetrical French-style courtyard garden. This hidden oasis connects the main house with its historic Coach House at the back, offering a quiet, atmospheric escape from the bustling city streets.

Step-by-step Plan

1. Arrive at the Canal Belt (10:00 AM): Make your way to Keizersgracht 672 in the heart of Amsterdam. Take a moment to admire the classic neck-gable architecture of the historic mansion before entering.
2. Explore the Historic Rooms (10:15 AM - 11:30 AM): Walk through the grand rooms, starting from the kitchen in the basement up to the bedrooms on the top floor. Watch the English introductory video to learn about the secret passages, painted dummy windows, and the history of the Van Loon family.
3. Stroll the Hidden Courtyard (11:30 AM - 12:15 PM): Step out the back doors into the formal, symmetrical garden. This hidden courtyard is completely closed off from the street, offering a remarkably quiet space to admire the flowers, sculpted hedges, and the classical facade of the Coach House.
4. Visit the Coach House & Café (12:15 PM - 1:00 PM): Walk across the courtyard to the historic Coach House, which once housed horses and carriages. Grab a coffee and a slice of Dutch apple pie (appelschnitt) from the small museum café here to enjoy in the tranquil garden courtyard.

What to Bring

• A payment card: The museum is strictly card-only (no cash).
• A camera or smartphone: To capture the symmetry of the hidden garden and the ornate interior details.
• A museum pass: If you have an I amsterdam City Card or a Dutch Museumkaart, you get free entry.

Budget

• Adult Admission: €16.00 per person (free with I amsterdam City Card or Museumkaart).
• Students: €12.75.
• Coffee & Pastry at the Coach House: €6.00 - €8.00 per person.

Tips & Accessibility

• Timing: Arriving right at opening (10:00 AM) ensures the quietest experience in the courtyard garden before tour groups arrive.
• Payment: Keep in mind that the museum only accepts digital card payments.
• Accessibility: Due to the historic nature of the building, the museum features multiple steep staircases and raised thresholds, making it unsuitable for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.

Backup Plan

If the weather takes a sudden turn and the courtyard garden is too wet to enjoy, spend extra time admiring the museum's indoor art collections, or head over to the nearby Huis Willet-Holthuysen (Herengracht 605) to explore another spectacular, fully covered canal house museum with its own indoor-viewable French garden.