Museum of the Canals

In a monumental (and gorgeous!) building on the Herengracht, lies Amsterdam's Canal Museum. A whirlwind tour will take you back to the time when Amsterdam flourished as the main city of the Dutch Golden Age.
Upon entering, grab an audio guide, then take a seat. Minutes later the lights dim and you're back in the year 1600, Amsterdam's heyday. Here you'll get all the context you need to understand Amsterdam's famous (and UNESCO-protected) canals. And throughout your experience at the Museum of the Canals ( het Grachtenhuis ), you'll develop a deeper appreciation for this city and the waterways that define it.
This museum uses a broad set of tools - holograms, paintings, models, audio guides, and architecture (among others) to bring the significance and experience of Amsterdam's famous waterways to life. Their role in the prosperous commerce of this mercantile culture are highlighted, as well as the remarkable engineering achievement that they represent.
But it's not just the historical experience that is showcased here - Amsterdam's canals are a big part of daily life and civic celebrations, and that is also part of the museum here. The world famous Amsterdam Gay Pride Parade, the Beatles on their famous boatride through the canals during the height of 'Beatlemania', and the skating on the canals that takes place during the (now rare) cold winters. There's even an excerpt from the cult-classic B-movie, Amsterdamned .
As the Grachtenhuis itself says, "This museum is for everyone who loves, or is just about to fall in love with the city of Amsterdam". So then, it's for everyone.