Why you should visit the Museum of Bags & Purses Amsterdam

Three blogger-friends visit Amsterdam

Last winter I finally got around to visit the Museum of Bags & Purses Amsterdam (in dutch: Tassen Museum or Tassenmuseum Hendrikje).

It wasn’t the first Bag Museum that I visited. When I was in Seoul, South Korea, I stumbled upon the wonderful Simone Bag Museum, which you should definitely visit, if you find yourself in Seoul one day!

But somehow I never succeeded to go to the Museum of Bags & Purses in Amsterdam. Stupid, right, that the proximity of something makes you think:”Ah well, I have all the time of the world. One day… one day…” And then it never happens. Silly!
Anyway…

My friends Sylvia -from 40plusstyle- and Greetje -from No Fear of Fashion- were also keen to go, so we made it a day out to Amsterdam with the three of us.

Sylvia on the left, me in the middle and Greetje on the right.

It was a grey, rainy winterday, but that didn’t bother us one bit.

Why you should visit the Museum of Bags & Purses Amsterdam

Here’s why you should absolutely visit the Museum of Bags & Purses in Amsterdam when you’re in town:

• The museum is housed in a gorgeous traditional canal house in the centre of Amsterdam. The house alone is a delight! The museum is big, spread out over several floors. It gives you a unique chance to see the inside of a traditional canal house.
• It has quite an extensive museum shop, with bags (duh!) and other stuff for sale. They also have some nice souvenirs to bring home with you. (Best Museumshop in Amsterdam in 2014)
  

  I think these bags are cool and hilarious, with their inbuilt shapes of a gun or of handcuffs. But I would not count on the same sense of humor at immigrations!

• The museum has a lunchroom and small cafe, where you can enjoy a coffee, lunch or high tea.
• There’s a museum restaurant with views over the garden below.
• The interior decor of the lunchroom floor is tasteful and historical, with paintings on ceilings and walls. These are 17th century period rooms. Really beautiful!
• Awarded one of the 10 best Fashion Museums in the world.
• And last but certainly not least: the collection. The museum has the largest collection in the world.
  

The collection of the Museum of Bags & Purses

The collection of the museum is huge: 5.000 items!!

On the left a small part of the collection, on the right a detail from a beautiful stained glass skylight.

It covers about the whole history of the handbag from centuries back (1600 A.D.) until today. Impressive and interesting stuff!

There are clear explanations about every period, material, technique and style.

On the right: items made of real and rare animals and animal skins. Back in the days they had no problems with that. Well, let’s not kid ourselves; it still happens today, doesn’t it?

Shells, bone, ivory, flower shapes and shell shapes in bags.

Next to the permanent collection there are temporary exhibits. When we were there, this was on: Forever Vintage.

When you plan your visit, you can check out what’s on and what’s next, on the website of the museum (see link at the top of this article).

Whenever you are in Amsterdam, be sure to visit this museum, especially if you like handbags. It’s a gem!