10 Of The Best Unique Museums Outside Amsterdam
Explore 10 unique museums in the Netherlands located outside of Amsterdam, from sand art and pinball to curiosities and underground shelters.
The Netherlands is famous for its museums, but many visitors stay in Amsterdam. Nederlandse Spoorwegen offer their dag uit (day out) travel pass which gives the perfect opportunity to visit one of the many unique museums. These unique museums show different parts of Dutch culture and history, from quirky curiosities to self-playing musical instruments. If you enjoy finding quirky, smaller museums, make sure you check out the lesser known museums of Dublin, too.
Here are 10 unique museums located outside of the city of Amsterdam that are well worth visiting.
1. Zandverhalen Sand Sculpture Museum (Elburg)
Located in the historic town of Elburg, the Zandverhalen Sand Sculpture Museum is one of the largest sand sculpture exhibitions in the world and one of the Netherlands most unique museums. The museum displays hundreds of intricate sand sculptures that tell stories about religion, culture, science, music, and technology. Each sculpture is carefully crafted, showcasing incredible skill and creativity.
Many visitors take a day trip from Amsterdam or other Dutch cities to experience this unusual attraction, far from the usual tourist spots. As an indoor museum, Zandverhalen is open year-round, with only occasional closures for maintenance or special events.
Perfect for families, art lovers, and curious travelers, the museum combines entertainment with learning. Informative displays explain the themes and techniques behind the sculptures, making it both fun and educational.
Website: https://www.zandverhalen.nl/
2. Museum Speelklok (Utrecht)
Museum Speelklok in Utrecht is a unique museum filled with beautiful self-playing instruments, from large musical clocks to intricate street barrel organs. Visitors can enjoy live demonstrations, hearing these fascinating instruments in action. The museum’s collection highlights the history, craftsmanship, and charm of automated music. Barrel organs are still in use and popular within The Netherlands, usually appearing in busy public areas or on national celebrations. Museum Speelklok teaches visitors about their importance and why they still remain so popular!
Utrecht is easy to reach by train, and has many other historical museums, churches and places to visit. It is one of the most historic cities in The Netherlands, and has a thriving student population that keeps it feeling young. It also has a large shopping centre, meaning that Utrecht is an ideal place for a day out, or even a weekend trip away.
Website: https://www.museumspeelklok.nl/
3. Het Westendorp: Theepottenmuseum, Follybos and Suzie’s Verzamelmuseum (Aalten)
Het Westendorp in Aalten is made up of three different unique museums. The International Teapot Museum has thousands of teapots from all over the world, from tiny souvenirs to large antique pieces. You can find former American presidents, famous European landmarks and even some more tongue-in-cheek, humorous teapots. Next door, Suzie’s Verzamelmuseum displays a mix of strange and fascinating collections, including old toys, clocks, and other curiosities.
One of the most playful parts of Het Westendorp is the Follybos, a forest filled with whimsical and creative structures for visitors to explore. There is also the silo art tour, and a small farm that visitors can visit all year round.
Not all of Het Westendorp is open during the winter, so make sure you check in advance. Special events are hosted over winter in the Follybos, and more information is available on the website.
Website: https://www.hetwestendorp.nl/
4. Dutch Pinball Museum (Rotterdam)
Offering a hands-on experience with over 100 playable pinball machines, the Dutch Pinball Museum gives a unique museum experience. Visitors can try machines from different eras, including some dating back to the 1800s, making it a fun and interactive way to explore Dutch gaming history.
With its retro arcade feel, the museum gives a nostalgic experience for families, gamers, and anyone curious about old-school entertainment. Unlike traditional museums, here you can touch, play, and enjoy the exhibits, creating a lively and memorable visit.
Located off the usual tourist paths, the Dutch Pinball Museum is a perfect stop for those looking for something different in the Netherlands. Whether you’re a pinball enthusiast or just seeking a playful cultural experience, it’s an attraction that combines history, fun, and nostalgia.
Website: https://www.dutchpinballmuseum.nl/
5. Museonder (De Hoge Veluwe National Park)
Museonder is one of the most unique museums in the Netherlands because it is built completely underground. Located inside De Hoge Veluwe National Park, this museum teaches visitors about the natural world beneath our feet. When you walk inside, you can explore exhibits about rocks, soil, fossils, and long-lost animals. One of the highlights is the huge root system of a fallen tree, which lets you see how plants grow underground.
There are also bones and skeletons from animals that once lived in the region, including the Ice Age. This museum is great for families, students, and tourists who want to learn more about the ancient history of The Netherlands.
The park itself also hosts the Kröller-Müller Museum, an art gallery that holds one of the largest Van Gogh collections outside of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, as well as works by Monet, Picasso, and Mondriaan. There’s also a sculpture garden, deer park and children’s play park within De Hoge Veluwe National Park too, making it a fun day out with plenty to do.
Website: https://www.hogeveluwe.nl/en/discover/museonder
6. Internationaal Klompenmuseum (Eelde)
The Weitzes Brothers Clog Museum, also known as the Internationaal Klompenmuseum, celebrates the iconic Dutch wooden shoe. Named after the last remaining clog makers in Eelde, this unique museum displays a colorful clog collection from around the world and explains their cultural significance. With over 3000 clogs, the museum has the largest collection in Europe.
While many people think clogs are only Dutch, this museum shows that wooden footwear is found around the world. You can see clogs from Europe, Asia, and other regions, each with different styles, shapes, and purposes. These examples help visitors understand how working people used wooden shoes for protection and comfort in many countries, as well as how clogs became associated with The Netherlands.
The museum also explains how clogs are made and how the craft changed over time. Visitors can explore tools, watch demonstrations, and learn about famous clog-making families.
The museum regularly runs different exhibitions that revolve around the different Dutch clogs. It also accepts Museumkaart holders, meaning that if you have a valid Museumkaart you’ll be able to make use of free entry.
Website: https://www.klompenmuseum.nl/
7. Evoluon: Next Nature Museum (Eindhoven)
Shaped like a giant UFO, the Evoluon is one of the most unique museums in the Netherlands. Inside, the museum features interactive exhibits that explore how technology, nature, and humans connect as part of the Next Nature Museum.
Visitors can learn about smart cities, climate solutions, artificial intelligence, and how machines might help solve future problems. Many of the exhibits are interactive, which makes it an extra fun experience too.
With exhibitions on how digital tools affect daily life, while another explains how designers create new inventions to protect the planet. There are also displays about robots, communication networks, and the future of transportation. The museum has just reopened inside the Evoluon building after 30 years, and this 1950’s space age building is the perfect place to explore the possibilities of the future and technology.
Website: https://nextnature.org/nl/museum/evoluon
8. Museum Boerhaave (Leiden)
Museum Boerhaave in Leiden is one of the most educational and unique museums in the Netherlands outside of Amsterdam. It focuses on the history of science and medicine, showing how doctors and scientists improved health over hundreds of years. One of the most impressive highlights is the reconstructed 19th-century anatomical theatre, where students once watched medical lessons. Visitors can also view historical surgical tools, early microscopes, and rare scientific instruments that helped shape modern medicine.
The museum features hands-on exhibits where guests can learn about diseases, vaccines, and medical discoveries. Special displays explain how Dutch scientists made important breakthroughs in chemistry, biology, and hospital care. Interactive experiments, videos, and models make the experience fun for families, students, and curious travelers.
Museum Boerhaave also hosts changing exhibitions that explore topics like pandemics, engineering, and space science. Guided tours and educational programs offer even deeper insight into the world of science. It is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of medicine, and how the approaches to health and medical science have changed over the years.
Website: https://www.rijksmuseumboerhaave.nl/
9. Kamphuisen Siroopwafelfabriek (Gouda)
Stroopwafels are one of the most popular Dutch treats, and the Kamphuisen Siroopwafelfabriek shows exactly how they are made. This historic factory in Gouda is one of the oldest recorded stroopwafel producers in the Netherlands. During the tour, visitors can follow the baking process step-by-step, from mixing the dough to adding the sweet syrup filling. Along the way, you will learn about the history of the recipe, how the factory has changed over time, and why stroopwafels became a national favorite.
Interactive displays and viewing windows let guests see the machines at work, and at the end of the tour, everyone gets to taste a warm, fresh stroopwafel straight from the line. This makes Kamphuisen a fun and delicious stop for families, food lovers, and travelers looking for a unique museum experience outside of Amsterdam. Whilst this technically isn’t a museum, as it still is a working factory, it gives a tasty alternative and creates a unique museum experience.
Website: https://www.kamphuisenstroopwafels.nl/
10. Maastricht Underground (Maastricht)
Below the city of Maastricht lies a large network of historic tunnels and caves. This is unique to Maastricht, and it creates a pathway of unique museums. You can book to be part of a tour that explores the caves and tunnels that make up Sint Pieters Fort, Sint Pietersberg Hill, the former underground NATO base and the Casemates Caves.
The caves include the famous vault where many famous pieces of Dutch artwork were stored during World War II to stop them from being looted. Explore the underground tunnels from the 1800s, that were used as shelters during the Second World War. Learn about the Cold War in the former NATO headquarters in Cannerberg. Discover Fort Sint Pieter, a military fort from the 1700s, and why Maastricht became such a key city for military strategy.
The cool temperature, echoing halls, and dim lights create an emotional and atmospheric experience. Make sure to bring something warm, as the temperature in the caves is cold! This experience is perfect for visitors interested in history, survival, and unique museums outside Amsterdam. It offers a powerful and memorable look at the past that you won’t find above ground.
Website: https://www.exploremaastricht.nl/en/maastricht-underground
Plan Your Trip Beyond Amsterdam
These museums are great reasons to explore more of the Netherlands. Whether you enjoy history, music, animals, food, or inventions, there is a unique attraction waiting for you. Whilst Amsterdam has become known for its huge range of museums, outside of Amsterdam there are also these unique hidden gems. If you’re a fan of quirky, unique museums make sure to check out these international quirky museums who have their collections available online (and also give a good ideas for future travels).
So plan a day out, or a weekend away, and make the most of the dag uit train tickets. There are so many different unique museums to explore, as well as different cities, towns, parks and exciting places. So fulfil your sense of adventure, and take a peek into these cool and different insights into Dutch culture and history.
Do you enjoy unique museums, and are you trying to figure out where to go on your next road trip? Consider Ireland! Our handy guides to museums in Connacht and parts of Leinster and Ulster, and museums in Munster and parts of Leinster. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also plan to visit some of the beautiful coastlines and unique history of Northern Ireland, too.
