Things to see in Amsterdam

Housed in the historic Amstelhof, this recently opened museum is a sibling of its namesake in St Petersburg. The main permanent collection focuses on artistic and cultural links between Russia and the Netherlands, with exhibits brought in from St Petersburg. There are also a wide range of temporary exhibitions, as well as a section on the heritage of the historic home of the museum itself.

This museum, a charming three-storey house built in the early 17th century, is where Rembrandt lived for nearly 20 years. It is home to a comprehensive collection of 250 of the artist's etchings and self-portraits. Many visitors find the odds and ends that he accumulated during his lifetime, such as Roman busts and turtle shells, every bit as colourful and illuminating as his paintings. The work of Rembrandt's teachers and students is also on display, which adds depth and dialogue to the master’s own work.

Despite its name, the original church that stood on this site was started in 1408, as the congregation had outgrown the Oude Kerk (Old Church). Of special interest is the 10m (32ft)-high pulpit, which took sculptor Albert Jansz Vinckenbrinck almost 20 years to create. Located next door to the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk has been used for the inauguration of Dutch monarchs since 1815 (Queen Beatrix was crowned here in 1980). The church is also renowned for excellent exhibitions. Organ concerts are performed Sunday evenings from May to August.

This spacious museum houses 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 750 letters by the Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh, making it easily the world’s largest collection by the artist. The ground floor has an overview of Van Gogh’s career, while the upper three floors are devoted to the different periods of the artist’s work, liberally interspersed with paintings by his influences and contemporaries, such as Toulouse-Lautrec and Gauguin. Temporary exhibitions, such as the recent Picasso in Paris, are equally compelling.