If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam, you’ll want to know about the Moco Museum. This incredible independent museum is a must for tourists and locals alike, bringing contemporary art to the masses and encouraging all to discover more about it.
This guide will take you through everything you need to know before you visit the Moco Museum. You’ll find practical information for your trip, what to expect at the Moco museum and more fun things to do after your visit.
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What is the Moco Museum?
The Moco Museum is a modern art museum based in Amsterdam. They house all kinds of pieces representing contemporary art and its creators, which all builds up to a really fun experience.
The museum opened to the public in April 2016 and has grown to be hugely popular for people visiting Amsterdam. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of museums, you’ll like Moco, as at times it doesn’t even feel like a museum at all!
How to Get to the Moco Museum
The Moco Museum is located in Museumplein, where you’ll find some of Amsterdam’s best museums. It’s a small museum, sitting just next to the Van Gogh Museum.
Museumplein is in the south of Amsterdam but is easily reached by foot from the centre of Amsterdam. Simply head south through the city, and use these walking directions to help you. The closest public transport stop is the Rijksmuseum tram stop, which is served by the 2, 5 and 12 trams. Tram 2 goes right through the centre of the city.
Key Information
It’s important to be prepared before your visit, so you can ensure you have the most fun at the museum. With that in mind, here’s all the practical information you should know when planning your trip and your visit to the Moco Museum.
Moco Museum Opening Hours
According to the Moco museum website, the museum is open daily.
Monday to Thursday, they’re open from 9 am-6 pm. On the weekends (Friday to Sunday), this is extended by two hours, as they’re open from 9 am-8 pm.
Tickets and Prices
Entry to the Moco museum costs €19,50. This includes access to the whole museum, and the Moco garden. Children under 12 go free, and there are discounts for teenagers and students. You can book the tickets easily by clicking on the pictures below, but if you are eligible for a discount you may want to book through the Moco museum website.
When you book your ticket, you’ll need to book a time slot to visit. This ensures that the museum can help make your experience as smooth as possible, avoiding big crowds and long queuing times.
You may want to purchase an IAmsterdam city card for your trip to Amsterdam if you plan to visit more than just the Moco museum. The card includes entrance and discounts to over 70 attractions and is the perfect way to save money and time. Don’t forget that you still need to reserve a time slot online. Simply go to the tickets page and you’ll see the €0 booking options.
Book your Moco Museum tickets today
How Long Does it Take?
The Moco Museum is quite small, so it will take you around an hour to visit. This is plenty of time to take in all the exhibitions and art that the museum has to offer. After your visit, you can browse the gift shop and the outdoor space for as long as you like.
Banksy at the Moco Museum
*The Moco Museum is a space with few permanent exhibitions, although exhibitions are installed for quite lengthy periods of time. Bear in mind that by the time of your visit, the exhibitions may have changed. The exhibitions that will be featured were installed in the Moco Museum at the time of visiting in July 2020*
One of the biggest and most popular exhibitions at the Moco museum is the Banksy: Laugh Now exhibition. This ode to street art features real Banksy pieces through the years and gives visitors an insight into the life and beliefs if the mysterious artist.
Some famous pieces that are included in the exhibition are Girl with Balloon, Kate Moss and Laugh Now. A truly poignant piece is that of a church boy praying, which is presented like a stained glass window in the stairwell of the museum.
Other Exhibits
As mentioned above, there are many other exhibits rotating in the Moco Museum. This list contains just a few of the other things you might encounter during your visit. There are more things, and these may have changed, but that all makes for the most exciting visit possible.
Roy Lichtenstein and the Moco Masters
You can see Roy Lichtenstein brought to life, and sit in a 3D version of his famous Bedroom at Arles.
There is a general exhibition showcasing the “Moco Masters” – artists who have made exceptional contributions to modern art through the years. It’s really interesting to see how these artists inspired each other and created their own unique styles, changing art as it was once known.
Reflecting Forward (Studio Irma x Moco Museum)
One of the coolest exhibitions in all of Amsterdam, let alone just the Moco Museum, is the Studio Irma Reflecting Forward immersive light exhibition. The incredible experience is filled with colour, light and mirrors, and is all about connection and the future. What’s more, it makes for a great Instagram photo!
Moco Garden
Once you leave the museum, you may think that your experience is over. Worry not, there’s even more to explore in the courtyard outside the museum. There are some great photo spots, with a pink sunbed, a giant rocking horse, a big red gummy bear sculpture and many more. Like the museum’s exhibitions, these change occasionally with the times.
The Moco Museum Gift Shop
Before you exit the museum to the Moco Garden, you’ll pass the Moco Museum gift shop where you can pick up a fun souvenir to remember your trip.
In the gift shop, you can find various trinkets, collectables from the museum, prints, books, and various items of Moco branded merch, like t-shirts and tote bags.
Discover some of Amsterdam’s top attractions
Things to Do Near the Moco Museum
There are many other museums to visit in the Museumplein that surrounds the Moco museum. You can visit the Rijksmuseum to explore Dutch art and history, the Van Gogh museum to see the world’s largest collection of his art or something more quirky like the Diamond museum. If you have nice weather during your visit, you can also relax in the park that surrounds Museumplein.
You’ll also find the huge Vondelpark close by. There’s plenty of space to wander around, relax, and enjoy a moment of peace away from such a busy city.
Check out the Zevenlandenhuizen (Houses of Seven Countries), where you can take a trip through European architecture history on one street. Each of the seven houses represents a different country and so a different famed architectural style. You might not have noticed it without knowing, but once you do it becomes one of the coolest gems in Europe!
The Heineken Experience museum is just a quick walk away. Here you can take a tour through an old Heineken brewery, learn about the brewing process and just why this became one of the most famous Dutch exports.
Now you’re completely ready for your trip to the Moco Museum. If you need any more help or advice, feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch, I’ll be happy to help you out.
If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam soon, you’ll love my Complete Amsterdam Travel Guide – it has everything you need to plan the perfect trip. Why not include a day trip to Rotterdam in your Amsterdam itinerary and discover even more of The Netherlands.
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