Museum Vrolik
Museum Vrolik
4.5
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
About
The Museum Vrolikianum was the private anatomical collection of the Amsterdam anatomists Gerard (1775-1859) and Willem Vrolik (1801-1863). After their deaths, the collection was further expanded by other Amsterdam anatomists. The human body is the central focus in Museum Vrolik. What do we look like on the inside? What diseases did people suffer from in the past? Skeletons and wet specimens show the devastating effects of diseases like rickets (English disease), TBC and syphilis. Congenital malformations are also on display, such as cyclopia and conjoined twins. Museum Vrolik has a large collection of animal anatomy as well.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Amsterdam South-East
How to get there
- Amsterdam Holendrecht • 5 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
139 reviews
Excellent
108
Very good
25
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
0
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Apostol1983
Athens, Greece206 contributions
Jan 2025 • Business
This museum belongs to a medical university and does not need more than 1 hour tour. The ticket is economical at 10 euros per person, worth the visit provided that it is in your interests. It has anatomy and differences in glasses human organs and embryos with various birth abnormalities.
Automatically translated
Written 22 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ivo b
1 contribution
Sept 2021 • Couples
Lovely museum to learn about the human body and mutations.
It's a small hall with nothing but shelves loaded with jars of human body parts and babies, and skeletons.
Fascinating to see how a baby grows from an embryo to birth and what can go wrong.
It's a small hall with nothing but shelves loaded with jars of human body parts and babies, and skeletons.
Fascinating to see how a baby grows from an embryo to birth and what can go wrong.
Written 1 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks very much for your great review! Wonderful to hear.
Written 3 December 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Shakir Sharfraz A
Amstelveen, The Netherlands336 contributions
Dec 2019
This museum has a fascinating and unique collection of deformities of human and animal world. Words like "cyclops", "mermaid", "dwarf" are no longer mythical characters but humanised in to deformities. Perhaps it gives us a hint as to human origin of all these folklore characters. The museum itself showcases carefully preserved samples that grew out of a hobby of one man methodologically studying these deformities. The museum is split in to different sections each displaying deformities of each section of the body like head, torso, spine, arms, reproductive organs etc. Samples range from embryos, babies, adults and seniles. This museum is not for the light hearted. But for those among who are interested who are medical professionals or just want to understand these unfortunate conditions - it is a must visit!
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your extensive and wonderful review! Willem & Gerard Vrolik did not collect these specimens out of their hobbies; they were both professors in medicine and anatomy at the University of Amsterdam, and studied preparations for their scientific work. It's very good to see that the historical and cultural context made it all the more interesting to you. Hope to see you again in the future!
Written 3 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stadam
120 contributions
Jun 2019
It is a really great museum, far from the center but if you have some spare time, you wont regret. It is located inside Academic Medical Center, so it may be a bit hard to find. When we saw they had cyclops and similar stuff, we just had to see them. Not for squeamish people. Unofrtunately, photos are not allowed :(
We will be back here definetly when our friends come and visit
We will be back here definetly when our friends come and visit
Written 1 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, thanks a million for your positive review! And we'd also like to thank you for respecting our photography policy--and therefore for having respect for the deceased whose bodies reside in our museum, and who still teach us. This way you're helping us to preserve the medical and educational context of our sensitive collection.
Written 3 December 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dana
New York, New York, United States54 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This place has been on my bucket list for 20 years and it did not disappoint! The collection is amazing, my husband and I really geeked out. It was too bad that there was no photography allowed, but after seeing the extent of the content, I understood why. Got myself a nice little
book in the gift shop with some cool photos though. This is the perfect museum for someone who loves both art and science!!
book in the gift shop with some cool photos though. This is the perfect museum for someone who loves both art and science!!
Written 28 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely review! And also for respecting our photography policy, we hope you'll enjoy the book!
Written 3 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa D
Los Angeles, CA2 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
I heard about this wonderful gem from Atlas Obscura and it did not disappoint. The medical specimens are to die for and so beautifully prepared and presented. We purchased their book as well to take some of it home since no photos are allowed. Honestly it’s the best collection of human dissections I’ve seen.
Written 9 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your wonderful compliment! That's really wonderful to hear. Enjoy Forces of Form at home and thanks very much for respecting our photography policy.
Written 6 April 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AnnaNLCH
The Netherlands3,391 contributions
Feb 2020
Very interesting and educational visit. Each case has information in English and Dutch.
It was fascinating to see all the body parts and so well preserved, most more than 100 years old.
Worth the 7,50€ entrance fee. Museumkaart is not valid for entry.
Location close to Holendrecht station.
It was fascinating to see all the body parts and so well preserved, most more than 100 years old.
Worth the 7,50€ entrance fee. Museumkaart is not valid for entry.
Location close to Holendrecht station.
Written 14 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Anna!
Written 3 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Harrovian
England48 contributions
Sept 2014 • Solo
Upon entering the darkened interior of this compact yet remarkable museum on the outskirts of Amsterdam one cannot fail to be moved by this insight into the workings of creation. For here you will find some 5000 specimens ranging from curious stillbirths to human skeletons both healthy and diseased. Animals are also well represented with specimens such as a lion's heart and a whale's eye. Row upon row of glass cases awaits your inspection, some with inscriptions, others without, though you can pick up a booklet at the entrance highlighting 50 of the most notable exhibits. This is not a museum for the faint hearted. However, if you can set aside the squeamish nature of exhibits such as sirens (a deformity reminiscent of the appearance of a mermaid) and cyclopic babies, then you will find this a memorable experience and a reminder of when diseases which can be fought off easily nowadays caused so much misery and death.
Written 22 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Noora L
24 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
I love anatomy museums and I have seen many around the Europe. This is the best! Vrolik has most to see even if it's just one room. At the university campus, look website for directions. Easy to get by train, and what's best, this is totlaly free. But I gladly gave donation.
Written 8 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Davemc30
Perth, Australia4 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
Is a little bit out of the city and definatly not on the beaten track, however is a very interesting activity. If you ask the information desk in Amsterdam, outside the main train station, they are very helpful and will tell you the best means of transport to get there, we took the train from the underground exited at the stop then took a right and walked towards the hospital, were the museum is located, ask the lady at the Hospital reception and she will then point you in the right direction.
DO NOT GO TO THIS HOTEL IF YOU CAN NOT HANDLE SEEING REAL DEAD BABIES IN JARS - AS BAD AS THAT SOUNDS, THATS PRETTY MUCH THE BIG AND SMALL OF IT - ITS AN ABNORMALITY MUSEUM AND THE ARTIFACTS ARE ALL OF A HUMAN NATURE.
DO NOT GO TO THIS HOTEL IF YOU CAN NOT HANDLE SEEING REAL DEAD BABIES IN JARS - AS BAD AS THAT SOUNDS, THATS PRETTY MUCH THE BIG AND SMALL OF IT - ITS AN ABNORMALITY MUSEUM AND THE ARTIFACTS ARE ALL OF A HUMAN NATURE.
Written 13 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much time do you need to visit the museum?
Written 9 May 2022
Hi, does anyone know the opening times between the 15th of December and the 22nd of December?
Thankyou.
Written 12 July 2018
Hi, I work at the museum and we are opened on Mondays to Fridays from 11 AM to 5 PM. Hope to see you in the museum!
Written 18 September 2018
Is it open on April 3 or 4 ? I cannot find the openning days. Thank you
Written 7 March 2018
Am I right in thinking this costs 5 Euro as a 'donation' to the Museum?
Written 10 February 2017
It does if you can find where to pay it. We couldn't!
Written 21 November 2017
How close is this museum to Amsterdam city centre? :)
Written 30 June 2016
It's 's about 20-30 mins on a train!
Written 1 July 2016
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