The Allard Pierson Museum is Amsterdam's very own museum of Western antiquities. Named for a 19th-century professor of Art History and Modern Letters, Allard Pierson's modest collection of plaster casts were, in retrospect, the museum's first acquisitions. His successor, Jan Six, broadened the inchoative collection with literature and artifacts that he used for his lessons. It wasn't until Prof. Six's death in 1926, however, that the Allard Pierson Foundation united the men's collections in a modest attic museum.
The museum procured another sizable bundle of acquisitions in the 1920s, when a banker, avid collector and victim of the economic crisis sold his private collection to the foundation. The foundation then bestowed these new acquisitions on the university, with the mandate that the collection be open to the public; since then, it's entertained and educated tens of thousands of visitors.
What's to See at the Allard Pierson Museum:
Ancient history buffs will be captivated by this university museum and its wide variety of Mediterranean antiquities, both in its permanent collections and the shrewdly-chosen loans in its popular temporary exhibitions. The permanent collections showcase the major classical civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean: Egypt, the Near East, Greece, Cyprus, Etruria and Rome.
Temporary exhibits focus on special topics within these ancient civilizations, with a consistent emphasis on Greece. A 2005-2006 exhibit that restored the color to ancient Greek and Etrustan statues was an especial hit, which drew 40,000 visitors. Current exhibits are posted on the Allard Pierson Museum web site, and are sure to pique the interest of ancient history enthusiasts.
Allard Pierson Museum Visitor Information:
Allard Pierson Museum Location
Oude Turfmarkt 127
Opening Times
- Tues - Fri, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Sat, Sun and holidays, 1 - 5 p.m.
- Closed Mondays, January 1, Easter, Queen's Day (April 30), Pentecost and Christmas (December 25).
Admission Fees
- Adults: € 6.50
- Children 4-16: € 3.25
- Children up to 4: Free
- Seniors (65+) and students (with ISIC): € 3.25
- "I amsterdam" card holders: Free
Guided Tours
- One-hour thematic tours can be booked in advance for up to 15 people, and cost € 50 on weekdays, € 60 on weekends.
Get There
- By tram - Lines 4, 9, 14 16, 24 or 25 to "Spui".
More Information
Call +31 (0)20 525 2556 or visit the Allard Pierson Museum web site.
