Museumplein

The Museumplein is the open heart of Amsterdam's museum quarter, framed by the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Concertgebouw. Laid out from 1903 to plans by Pierre Cuypers, who also designed the Rijksmuseum, the square pairs a broad lawn with a long reflecting pool and sculptures such as the Ravensbrueck Memorial. In summer it gathers skaters, families, and protest marches; in winter part of the pool becomes a public ice rink. Until 2018 it carried the giant red-and-white I amsterdam letters, a global selfie magnet removed for overtourism. The square still remains one of the city's liveliest public spaces.