The Filmmuseum is Holland’s museum for cinematography. The museum’s collection of films covers the whole of the history of cinema from the very first silent films, dating from the late 19th century, up to the latest contemporary digital productions.

This internationally renowned collection, to which many Dutch and foreign titles are regularly added, is the source of inspiration for the museum’s film programmes, exhibitions and events. Every year, there are major thematic programmes examining the history of film and contemporary cinematographic developments. In addition, the museum organises open-air screenings, festivals, theatrical family shows and retrospectives.

The Filmmuseum has an information centre with the largest film library in the Netherlands. The museum also acts as distributor of classics and contemporary, independent films.

Collection

The museum has a collection that includes 46,000 film titles, 35,000 posters and 450,000 photographs. The collection looks back to Dutch film and cinema culture from the earliest days of film (1895) and comprises an extensive international collection alongside a large number of Dutch films.

The main aim is to preserve our film heritage from decay. One of the most important tasks of the Filmmuseum is to conserve and restore the collection. 7 million metres of nitrate film from the first half of the 20th century need permanent attention: this extremely flammable material is falling apart and has to be copied to preserve it so it can be screened again. ‘Ordinary’ celluloid also demands special care as part of it is in danger of fading and suffering from the vinegar syndrome, the ‘ghost of acidification’. The Filmmuseum has received several international awards for its restorations.

Programme

The Filmmuseum screens classics, children’s films, historical documentaries, underground productions and new films from all over the world. These films can often only be seen in the Filmmuseum. The museum also organises exhibitions, lectures, debates and shows in which films are combined with theatre, music and other media. In the summer, there are open air screenings on the terrace in Vondelpark. Once every two years, there is the Filmmuseum Biennial, a festival when recently restored major works from the collection can be seen.

Zine

Zine, the Filmmuseum magazine, provides information about the programme and the activities of the Filmmuseum. In addition to the monthly listings and film descriptions, the magazine provides background articles, interviews, photo reports and news. A subscription costs euro 15 per year. Friends of the Filmmuseum receive the magazine Zine and are given a considerable discount on all Filmmuseum events.
Information centre

The information centre of the Filmmuseum houses the largest film library in the Netherlands. Visitors can find information about a wide variety of subjects: from film-star biographies to film theory, from experimental film to box-office hits. The centre has about 1.900 periodicals and 30,000 books, including important reference works and a large collection of screenplays and biographies. It is also possible to consult cd-roms and dvds with information about film and film history, and an extensive library of clippings and 1850 international film journals. The poster collection can be consulted digitally; videos of many films from the collection can be viewed in a video cabin (by appointment). Researchers can have access to the large collection of personal and company archives in the possession of the museum.

Education

The Filmmuseum organises educational projects for pupils at primary and secondary school. There are various courses and assignments, while it is also possible to bring a class to see a classic at the Filmmuseum. The auditoria of the Filmmuseum can be rented for film screenings, symposiums and other meetings. The extensive technical facilities make the auditoria suitable for company presentations, workshops or courses.

Postal address

FILMMUSEUM VONDELPARK
Vondelpark 3
1071 AA Amsterdam

Opening hours

Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. – 10.15 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday: from one hour before the first screening until 10.15 p.m.
Closed on Monday April 30 (Queen’s Day)

Filmmuseum information centre

Vondelstraat 69 / 71 (adjacent to Filmmuseum Vondelpark)
1054 GK Amsterdam
Tel. +31 (20) 5891435 (Monday and Wednesday 13:00 – 15:00)
Fax. +31 (20) 5891454
Opening hours Monday to Friday: 1 – 5 p.m. (closed: 25 dec-2 jan)

Admission prices

Film screening: euro 7.80
Exhibition: euro 2.00 (Those attending a film screening have free admission to the exhibition)
Prices may be different for long or special events
Discounts for holders of a Dutch youth card, student card, Amsterdam "stadspas, NBF-, GNS-members and groups of 10 or more: euro 6.50; Exhibition euro 1.50
Children’s tickets euro 5 per child. 10 or more children, euro 4.50, children of ‘Vrienden van het Filmmuseum’: euro 4.50

Transport

At the junction Overtoom / Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat (near the Filmmuseum Vondelpark), two tram routes stop: Tram 1 (about 15 minutes from Central Station) and 12 (about 15 minutes from Amsterdam Amstel Station and about 20 minutes from Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station). On Leidseplein (10 minutes walk from the Filmmuseum) trams 2 and 5 stop (about 15 minutes from Central Station) and trams 6, 7 and 10 (about 7 minutes from Weesperplein Metro). The buses 170, 172 and night buses 200, 270, 271, 353, 354, 356 and 358 also stop on Leidseplein.

By car

From all directions, on the A10 (Amsterdam ring) take exit S106 to the west of the city. Follow the signs for "Centrum. You cross Surinameplein and drive along Overtoom to the end. At the T-junction turn right and take the second on the right (Tesselschadestraat) to the multi-storey car park. From the car park, you can walk to the Filmmuseum in five minutes (via Tesselschadestraat and Roemer Visscherstraat).