Archive, Local history museum
Stadsarchief Amsterdam
Amsterdam's city archives fill an ornate 1926 building by KPC de Bazel, where a lavish Treasure Room shows off the collection's prizes alongside exhibitions, film screenings, a bookshop and the café-restaurant De Bazel.
The story
Architect KPC de Bazel, a practitioner of Theosophy, the spiritualist movement founded by Madame Blavatsky, designed this highly decorated building, completed in 1926. Its centrepiece is the Treasure Room, embellished on the scale of Tutankhamen's Tomb, where the archive displays its most prized items. A permanent exhibit set in an old bank vault traces what everyday life used to be like in Amsterdam, including its harder times. Temporary shows have ranged from an interactive history of jazz in Amsterdam to a drag exhibition at the entrance and Phantasmopolis: Ghosts of Amsterdam's Past. Behind the counter, a library space holds books about the city, and files on a large table gather the life stories of Amsterdammers from different backgrounds. Café restaurant De Bazel offers a place to pause between rooms.
Good to know
TAGGG AI- ✦Check the exhibition agenda before visiting, as some temporary shows require a separate ticket.
- ✦The cool, quiet interior makes a good retreat on hot days, with a brasserie for a break.
- ✦The library space behind the counter has books about Amsterdam and a big table that suits quiet study.
Plan your visit
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