Museums in Monnickendam and Waterland

If you are staying in Monnickendam, you do not have to travel far for a museum. The historic centre of the town has Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren, and the surrounding villages of Volendam, Marken and Edam each have their own museum about local history.

That combination makes the region surprisingly rewarding for anyone who wants a taste of culture during a stay: no vast anonymous collections, but compact museums that show what life in Waterland used to be like. They are also an obvious choice on a day with poorer weather. Opening hours and admission prices change regularly, so always check them on the museum's own website before you set off.

Which museums can you visit around Monnickendam?

Four local museums around Monnickendam are worth your time: Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren in Monnickendam itself, the Volendams Museum in Volendam, the Marker Museum on Marken and the Edams Museum in Edam. All four lie in the same region and work well as a day out from Monnickendam, combined with a visit to the village around them. Each has its own character, from the making of the Waterland landscape to the fishing culture of Volendam and Marken and the old merchant trade of Edam.

Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren in Monnickendam

The only museum in Monnickendam itself is Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren, housed in and beside the characteristic tower on the Noordeinde, in the historic centre of the town. From Stay@Gouwzee it is a walk of just a few minutes. The museum tells the story of Monnickendam and the Waterland region: how the landscape came into being, the part played by fishing and trade, and how the villages and churches of Waterland developed. Alongside the permanent display there are changing exhibitions, including contemporary art.

The historic tower that houses the museum is described in detail as a monument on our page about sights in Monnickendam; here we keep to the museum visit itself.

What can you see inside?

Inside you walk through rooms about the formation of the Waterland landscape and the fishing and trade that made Monnickendam prosperous. What makes it special is that you come close to the centuries-old clockwork of the tower: the mechanism that drove the bells and the mounted figures for hundreds of years. That makes a visit different from an ordinary local museum — you are literally inside the monument that looks out over the town. The collection is compact, so a visit combines easily with a walk through the old centre.

Visiting the Speeltoren with children

Museum de Speeltoren is explicitly suitable for children. It has a junior room for children of roughly four to twelve, with hands-on elements to explore. That makes it a practical choice for families who want something indoors for an hour or two. Check the museum's website for what is currently on offer for children.

Sights in Monnickendam

Museums in Volendam, Marken and Edam

Volendams Museum

The Volendams Museum in Volendam shows what life in the fishing village looked like roughly between 1850 and 1950, with plenty of attention for the famous Volendam costume. Its most distinctive feature is the mosaics made from millions of cigar bands — a curiosity you will not find anywhere else. The museum mentions a children's trail and states that its entrance is step-free and suitable for wheelchair users. The Museumkaart, the Dutch national museum pass, is accepted.

Marker Museum

On Marken, the Marker Museum tells the history of the former island. It occupies six connected historic cottages, among them old smokehouses, and one of the interiors is furnished as a Marken fishing family would once have lived. It is precisely that small scale that makes it memorable: you get a direct sense of how cramped and distinctive life on Marken was. The Museumkaart is accepted. We have found no confirmed information about facilities for children or about accessibility; if that matters to you, ask the museum in advance.

Edams Museum

The Edams Museum occupies two historic locations in the centre of Edam: a merchant's house from 1540 and the old town hall. That makes it the oldest museum in North Holland. A curious detail in the merchant's house is the so-called floating cellar. The museum sets out the history of Edam as a trading and cheese town. The Museumkaart is accepted. Please note: the museum states explicitly that its listed buildings are not wheelchair accessible, partly because of thresholds, narrow passages and steep stairs. For questions about accessibility it is best to contact the museum beforehand.

Museums a little further afield

If you are combining your day with a visit to the Zaanse Schans, the Zaans Museum there is a logical addition; see our page on tours and excursions for that trip. Thematically well suited to Monnickendam as a former Zuiderzee town is the Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen, with an indoor and an open-air museum about life around the former Zuiderzee — a good day trip if you want to see more of that history.

Fort island Pampus, the island fortress in the IJmeer, is also covered on our tours page. And if you want a day of larger museums, Amsterdam of course has a world-famous choice.

Tours and excursions Where to stay near Amsterdam

Museumkaart and accessibility

One practical advantage: according to the museums' current information, the Museumkaart — the Dutch museum pass that gives holders access to affiliated museums — is accepted at all four core museums: Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren, the Volendams Museum, the Marker Museum and the Edams Museum. Always check the current conditions before you travel, as acceptance and rates can change.

On accessibility the museums clearly differ. The Volendams Museum reports a step-free, wheelchair-friendly entrance. Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren mentions among other things a lift and an accessible toilet. The Edams Museum states explicitly that its listed buildings are not wheelchair accessible because of thresholds, narrow passages and steep stairs. For the Marker Museum no confirmed accessibility information is available. If you have specific accessibility questions, check the museum's own current information in advance.

Visiting a museum in poorer weather

Rain or wind need not spoil a day in Waterland. A museum visit is then the obvious indoor activity: Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren sits in the middle of Monnickendam and combines well with coffee or lunch in the centre, while Volendam, Marken and Edam each have a museum that will keep you dry and occupied for an hour or two. For more ideas indoors and out, see our page on things to do in Monnickendam and Waterland.

Things to do in Monnickendam and Waterland Restaurants in Monnickendam

More to see and do

Frequently asked questions

Is there a museum in Monnickendam?: Yes. Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren is the museum of Monnickendam, housed in and beside the historic tower on the Noordeinde in the centre. It tells the history of Monnickendam and the Waterland region, with a permanent display and changing exhibitions.
What is Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren?: It is the regional museum of Monnickendam and Waterland. You can see how the landscape was formed and what part fishing and trade played. What sets it apart is that the museum is housed in the historic Speeltoren itself, close to the tower's centuries-old clockwork.
Is Museum de Speeltoren suitable for children?: Yes. The museum has a junior room for children of roughly four to twelve, with hands-on elements to explore. That makes it a practical outing for families in Monnickendam. Check the museum's website for the current programme for children.
Which museums are there in Volendam, Marken and Edam?: Volendam has the Volendams Museum, about village life and traditional costume. On Marken you will find the Marker Museum, in historic smokehouses. In Edam the Edams Museum occupies a merchant's house from 1540 and the old town hall. All three are easy to reach as a day out from Monnickendam.
Can I use the Museumkaart at these museums?: According to the museums' current information, the Museumkaart is accepted at all four core museums: the Speeltoren, the Volendams Museum, the Marker Museum and the Edams Museum. Conditions can change, so check with the museum before you travel.
Which museum can you visit in poorer weather?: When it rains, Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren in Monnickendam is the obvious choice: compact, central and suitable for children. The Volendams Museum, the Marker Museum and the Edams Museum are indoor options in the same region, easy to combine with a village visit.