The museum about the world of just one book – The Bible. The Biblical Museum (in Dutch: Bijbels Museum) is housed in the very heart of the old Amsterdam, at the Herengracht canal. An interesting historical museum exhibits objects from the Judeo-Christian tradition, history of the Bible and the influence of the Bible on the society and fine arts.
History of the Biblical Museum
Built upon the collection of the reverend Leendert Schouten, who first established in 19c. a small parochial biblical museum, The Biblical Museum moved to its present location in 1975. It now occupies two patrician houses built for the merchant Jacob Cromhout in 1662, by the architect Philips Vingboons at the Herengracht 366 and 368. A graphic sign on the stone placed on the house’s front gable, visualizes the name of its first owner - "crom hout" means in English "bent wood". Inside the authentic interior of the houses has been preserved with two, old 17c. kitchens, richly decorated two garden rooms, the wooden English style staircase which leads to the rooms upstairs where several antique paintings from the beginning of the 18c. by Jacob de Wit are exhibited. The museum has been renovated recently (in 2000).
The Biblical Museum’s collection
The museum show the life in Egypt and Palestine at the time of Bible creation through a collection of artifacts and archaeological objects as well as the especially built models of temples. We may see a 19th century reconstruction the Tabernacle, the portable shrine built by the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt and the model of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a sacred place for the three religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The collection of old Bibles includes the oldest Bible printed in the Netherlands (1477), as well as a first Dutch authorized translation of the Bible (1637). The struggle to publish the Bible in Dutch is intertwined with the history of Dutch independence as well as the history of the usage of Dutch as the language of religion.
The feel
Certainly a bit off the main tourist track, a bit old fashioned, restful and quiet, the Biblical Museum feels until today like a private collection of the reverend. It is attractive not only for the history lovers and religious people - it offers its visitor an interesting time inside the old, authentic, Dutch patrician house. God bless the visitor!
Taxation day - Taxatiedag
Once a year, on last Saturday of October, The Bible Museum organizes a free taxation of old Bibles and religious books. If you have a book older than 1900 and you would like to know more about, especially about its value, bring it in. The Bible Museum expert, Ton Bolland is one of the European authorities in the field. People bringing the book for the appraisal have on this day a free admission to the museum.
Opening hours
Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays and holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on January 1 and April 30
Admission
Adults: € 6.00; youth 13 through 17 years: € 3.00
A surcharge of € 1.50 will be added to all admission charges during the exhibition.
Groups, minimum of 10 persons,18 years and older: € 5.00 (p.p.)
13 through 17 years: € 2.50 (p.p.)
Guided tours
Maximum of 20 persons per guided tour. Tours are to be booked at least two weeks in advance.
How to get there
From Amsterdam Central Station: tram lines 1,2 and 5 (Spui tram stop).
If you persist to use your car in Amsterdam you will face a difficult task of finding a parking place near the museum. The most quiet will be in this aspect Sunday. We recommend that you leave your car on one of the big parking places (as at one near the Central station or Europa parking) and walk (20 minutes) or eventually take a tram to the museum.
Museum is accessible for the disabled (with the exception of just a few rooms).
Visiting address
Biblical Museum Amsterdam
Herengracht 366-368
1016 CH Amsterdam
Telephone: 020-624 24 36
Fax: 020-624 83 55
Post office box 3606
1001 AK Amsterdam
Homepage: www.bijbelsmuseum.nl
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