Torture Museum Tours

The Torture Museum in Amsterdam provides a vivid reminder of Europe’s dark and painful past. Among the world’s strangest museums, it displays more than 40 instruments of cruel and unusual punishment from different parts of Europe, from the inquisition chair and the guillotine to thumbscrews, the flute of shame, and Judas Cradle.
 
The Basics
This small museum is laid out in a series of small, dark, and dreary rooms, each featuring one or two torture devices with a description of how and why the device was used. Visitors can tour the museum independently, book a guided historical tour, or arrive via a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. You can touch many of the devices, but some are locked behind glass displays.
 
Things to Know Before You Go

• The Torture Museum is a must-see for medieval history and crime buffs.
• Historical guided tours are available on request, and the museum offers self-guided tours in eight languages.
• This museum may not be suitable for small children and sensitive individuals.

 
How to Get There
The Torture Museum is located in central Amsterdam near the Bloemenmarkt, the famous floating flower market on the Singel Canal. The museum is easily reached via tram 1, 2, or 5, or metro line 52 from Central Station. Alternatively, the Torture Museum is only a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) walk from Amsterdam Centraal.
 
When to Get There
The Amsterdam Torture Museum is open daily from 10am until 11pm. Although it’s not as busy as neighboring attractions like the Amsterdam Museum and the Bloemenmarkt, the museum is rather small so it can get crowded. Visit in the morning or later in the evening for a more enjoyable experience.
 
Medieval Torture Instruments Museum in Amsterdam
Amsterdam actually has two torture museums so don’t get the Torture Museum confused with the nearby Medieval Torture Instruments Museum. The two museums are not related, and the Medieval Torture Instruments Museum is located closer to the central stations on Damrak 33.