Allard Pierson Museum Amsterdam

This somewhat hidden treasure is tucked away close by local department stores off the Singel Canal. Despite being easy to miss it is world renown as the archaeological museum for the University of Amsterdam and hosts some of the most exciting Egyptian and ancient Greek exhibits in Europe. Art dating from 4000 B.C. up to 500 A.D. gives an impression of everyday-life from ancient times. The museum also has several scale models of ancient temples and buildings Physically part of the University of Amsterdam complex, the Allard Pierson Museum has exhibits spanning over 3,500 years including a world-class Egyptian exhibit with a room dedicated to mummies, sarcophagi and death, featuring a film showing the process of mummification. Other exhibits focus on jewelry, weapons, statues and artifacts from ancient Greek and Roman cultures. They are closed on Mondays, Jan 1st, Easter Sunday, Apr 30th, May 5th, and Pentecost Sun, Dec 25th but otherwise open daily. They do offer guided tours with a fifteen member maximum upon prior arrangement. Only guided tours have access to the "plaster-cast-attic" – a room full of copies of world-famous Roman and Greek statues. The museum also is handicap accessible with ramps for wheelchairs and a disabled parking space beside the entrance. For all-day visitors there is a museum shop and a snack bar available.