Museumplein
Museumplein

** This square is surrounded by museums. **

The Museumplein (Museum Square) is located in the south of the city and has not one, but six museums surrounding it: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, House of Bols, the Diamond Museum, and the Moco Museum. It's known amongst Amsterdammers and visitors that this one area in the city contains most of the capital's opulence and decadence within a square mile.

The square consists of a big field of grass with a pond, which in winter turns into a stunning ice-skating rink. In December, a mini Christmas market with artisanal stalls selling mulled wine and hot chocolate is set up right by the ice-skating rink.

Throughout the year, events take place here as well as demonstrations, among which one of the largest demonstrations in Dutch history in 1981 against the placement of nuclear weapons in Europe.

Museumplein is a great place to sit down in the grass and admire the buildings surrounding it. Especially the Rijksmuseum and the Concertgebouw are beautiful to look at.