Upon first hearing the name, the Museum Willet-Holthusyen may not ring any bells. Its exhibits are not directly related to any field or discipline, but rather a showcase of Dutch life in the 17th century. On the outside, this canal-side house looks just like its neighbors to the left and right, but inside, it has a luxuriously furnished interior fit for a king. The museum takes its name from Louisa Willet-Holthuysen, who donated the house itself and most of its furnishings to the city in 1895.

The period rooms are painstakingly decorated with works of art and antique pieces that will make you feel as if you’ve stepped onto the set of a historical drama such as Downtown Abbey! You are free to wander through most of the rooms as you like and imagine yourself an olden-day nobleman, except for the dining room whose delicate china and glass pieces are protected from visitor entry by a glass wall. In addition, don’t forget to spend some time in the beautiful well-kept garden, and admire its elegantly manicured hedges and shrubbery.