Have you ever wanted to see Barack Obama, Robert Pattinson, Messi, George Clooney and Adele for one day? Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam is a meeting place with people who have become a symbol of their era. Here are collected the stars of sports, cinema, music and representatives of the royal family. And most importantly, all celebrities will find time to make a memorable photo.
About the museum
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Amsterdam is on the list of the most visited world landmark museums. The first museum opened in London, and the Amsterdam landmark is the oldest branch, which opened in the second half of the 20th century, namely in 1971. Two decades later, the museum is located in a building in the historical center of the capital, on Dam Square, where it hosts guests today.
Interesting fact! Today, 19 similar museums are operating around the world – branches of London attractions.
At the time of the opening, the Dutch collection consisted of 20 exhibits, today the number of celebrities totals already five dozen and is increasing annually. Visitors note the incredible similarity of the sculptures to the original – it is very difficult to believe that this is not a living person, but a wax figure.
Good to know! One of the advantages of the museum is that the borders between ordinary people and world stars are blurred here. Each exhibit can be touched, patted on the shoulder in a friendly manner and photographed.
The museum setting creates an incredible impression of realism. The mass of unforgettable impressions and emotions will be left by the original design of each hall, lighting, musical and interactive special effects.
Are there any flaws in the museum? Perhaps only two can be distinguished:
- a large number of visitors;
- expensive tickets.
Historical reference
The first wax exhibition took place in the second half of the 18th century in France. Philip Curtis, who served at the royal court of Louis XV, worked on the creation of the figures. In the first exhibition, the audience was represented by celebrities of that era, as well as a monarch with his wife.
Maria Tussauds, the daughter of a housekeeper, was lucky enough to visit Curtis’s workshop and watch the work of a specialist. Maria devoted her whole life to working with wax and creating sculptures of famous people. The first in the collection was Jean-Jacques Rousseau, it was he who brought the woman world fame. Madame Tussauds began to receive numerous orders. Following Russo appeared sculptures of Voltaire and Franklin. After the French Revolution, the collection changed its focus and theme somewhat – masks of politicians and famous Frenchmen who did not survive the tragic events appeared.
After the death of her beloved teacher, Madame Tussauds takes all the work and leaves for London. For several years, Maria travels around the country and introduces the British to unique works of art. The woman makes the decision to open the museum in 1835. For this purpose, a house was chosen on the famous London street Baker Street. After half a century, the museum had to change its place of residence and settle on Merilebon Street. This place was unlucky for the museum – at the beginning of the 20th century, most of the exhibits burned down. We managed to save the forms of the models, so it was decided to restore them. A few years later, the attraction again receives visitors.
In the second half of the 20th century, branches of the London Museum were actively opened in many countries, and the attraction in Amsterdam was the first of them.
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Halls and Celebrities
A specific thematic focus was chosen for the halls, but the wax museum in Amsterdam retained the national identity and flavor of the Netherlands. Tourists are met by a corsair, inviting guests to make a fascinating journey into the history of the capital of the Netherlands, at the time of significant events, world discoveries and sea voyages. All details and sculptures are made in strict compliance with historical facts and proportions. The interior is recreated to the smallest detail. Craftsmen and villagers in ancient, national costumes give a special flavor to this hall. In this room, Rembrandt is represented – a master who glorified Dutch painting throughout the world.
In the next room, Madame Tussauds herself, a respectable lady of respectable age, welcomes guests hospitably. Then, before the eyes of visitors, famous persons from the past and present begin to flash rapidly. Some can be recognized easily, but there are exhibits that are very conditionally similar to the original.
Good to know! Be sure to bring a camera with you. Filming is allowed everywhere, the exception is the horror hall. Moreover, each exhibit is allowed to touch and take bright, original photographs.
In the hall dedicated to political figures, guests will meet with the leader of the world proletariat – Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachov. Here you can talk on philosophical topics with the Dalai Lama, ask a question to Barack Obama, see the Queen of the Netherlands and the charming Lady Dee. Want to receive a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI himself? Nothing is easier!
Of course, eccentric figures such as Albert Einstein and Salvador Dali occupy a special place among Tussaud’s wax figures. However, most of all want to take pictures with world celebrities of cinema and music. Men are happy to hug Angelina Jolie and Marilyn Monroe, women with a dreamy look drink coffee with George Clooney, smile to David Beckham, naturally, do not pass by Brad Pitt. No less excitement is observed in the sculptures of Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and Julia Roberts.
Interesting fact! A separate room in the Madame Tussauds Museum is dedicated to maniacs who instilled fear and horror on civilians in different countries, cities and in different historical eras. The administration recommends to refrain from visiting this room for especially impressionable people, pregnant women, and children. The route of the museum is designed in such a way as to inspect the collection without going into the terrible hall.
There is a workshop in the museum in Amsterdam. Here you can show your talent in creating sculptures and create wax figures. In addition, the museum has a lot of exciting entertainments for guests – guests are invited to play football with Messi and sing a duet with singer Adele.
The process of creating a wax figure from the first to the last stage is presented by the example of singer Beyoncé.
Note: The Vincent Van Gogh Museum is the most visited museum in the Netherlands .
Practical information
Attraction address: Dam Square, 20, Amsterdam. There are several ways to get there:
- a walk from the train station takes just 10 minutes;
- take a tram to the stop “Magna Plaza / Dam” or “Bijenkorf / Dam”.
Ticket price:
- adult – 23.5 euros;
- children – 18.5 euros;
- The museum accepts children under 4 years old for free.
How can you save:
- Choose a visit time before 11-30 or after 18-00, in this case you can save up to 5.50 euros;
- choose combined offers – tickets that give you the right to visit several attractions – a walk along the canals of the capital, a visit to the dungeons or a visit to other museums in Amsterdam;
- Book your tickets on the museum’s official website to save 4 euros.
The Tussauds Museum in Amsterdam operates every day from 10-00 to 20-00.
For a leisurely inspection of the collection, select from 1 to 1.5 hours.
Madame Tussauds Museum in Amserdam is the most visited place in the capital of the Netherlands, an impressive queue is already lining up at the entrance early in the morning, but be sure that you will not regret the time spent for a second.
