We wanted to visit the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam the other day. It has been closed, due to renovation and building, for a couple of years (!) and has recently been re-opened (22/9/2012). Benthem Crouwel Architects designed the astonishing building attached to the former 19th century museum building designed by A.W. Weissman.
(Photo: John Lewis Marshall, courtesy of SMA)
The museum closes at 5:00 PM we arrived at 4:45 or so. Since tickets cost €16,- we thought it best to visit another day. We could visit the shop though, it’s open for ticketless people, so we did. Here’s were this story gets interesting (for people without money). There is an, almost safe, way to visit the museum for free. 
When you are inside the museumshop you walk past the books on display on the left.
Past the stack of Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam Collection books on the floor on your right.
Into the shop itself, with posters on the right side. It can’t be missed, there is no other route.
Before you see the museums merchandise, pencils, mugs, buttons etcetera.
The design desktop ware (amongst others HAY).
You’ll find the cashier on your right hand, just follow the desk straight on ahead.
Voila, the exit (or entrance) into the museum itself.
You can exit the store ‘subway style’ into the museum: insert your entrance ticket, so it says on the handwritten note, if somebody has done that, the doors will be open for at least 45 seconds. Here’s your chance, its an unattended exit. (In The Netherlands the unemployment issue has been solved…NOT)We, at Mimi Berlin are far too Chique for these kinds of actions, so we went on to see the rest of the store; more books and several other, (dutch) design goodies (Lenneke Wispelwey, Klaartje Martens, HAY etc.)
a kids corner,
a nice, open feel, designed stairway.
We turned around,
and headed back for the exit, or entrance, of the bookstore.The museumshop is operated by the German publishing house and bookseller Buchhandlung Walther König. If you live in Amsterdam it’s quite a disappointing shop. Aside from the books, the design products they carry are mostly available in any other (department) store in The Netherlands. We’ll visit the museum when we wake-up earlier one day.
Keep you posted!
