Centraal Museum in Utrecht

The Centraal Museum sits behind old convent walls in Utrecht's museum district, a short stroll from the canals. Inside, you move from seventeenth century paintings to fashion, design and modern art. Every room feels different, and that is part of the charm. In the cellar lies a wooden ship that is around a thousand years old. Across the street, Miffy has a museum of her own. Together they show how Utrecht looked, built and dressed. Read on for what not to miss and how to combine your visit.

What you see at the Centraal Museum

The permanent collection revolves around Utrecht. You find work by Jan van Scorel, Abraham Bloemaert and Paulus Moreelse, and by Hendrick ter Brugghen and Gerard van Honthorst. Those last two went to Rome in the early seventeenth century, fell under the spell of Caravaggio and brought his hard light and deep shadows home. The museum also owns the largest collection of paintings by Joachim Wtewael. Beyond the old masters there are rooms for modern art, applied art, fashion and city history. A seventeenth century dolls' house shows how a wealthy household was furnished. Temporary exhibitions mean each visit is a little different.

The Centraal Museum and the ship in the cellar

The museum began in 1838 as a museum of antiquities, with a few rooms in the town hall. Around 1921 several Utrecht collections came together in one central museum in the former convent on the Agnietenstraat, which is where the name comes from. The best story lies underground. In 1930 workers near the Van Hoornekade found a wooden ship from around the year 1000. This Utrecht ship now rests in the cellar of the sixteenth century part of the building. You look straight into the hold of a vessel that once carried goods to the city a thousand years ago.

Rietveld Schröder House and Miffy

The museum manages two special places beyond its main building. Gerrit Rietveld designed the Rietveld Schröder House on the Prins Hendriklaan in 1924 for Truus Schröder and her three children. The house is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and visits are usually by advance booking. Opposite the museum on the Agnietenstraat stands the nijntje museum, Miffy's museum, which belongs to the same foundation. It grew out of the dick bruna huis, which opened in 2006. Work by Dick Bruna, Miffy's creator, is also part of the main collection.

Plan your visit to the Centraal Museum

Your Museumkaart, the Dutch annual museum pass, is valid here, and you can also buy one at the ticket desk. Tickets for the museum are sold online and at the desk by the entrance. Travelling with young children? Plan a day with both museums on the Agnietenstraat: one adult looks at the Caravaggisti, the children play at Miffy, and then you swap. The Rietveld Schröder House lies outside the centre, so plan a separate visit and book ahead. Driving in? The museum points you to the Vaartsche Rijn and Springweg car parks. For more ideas, see our list of museums in Utrecht.

Frequently asked questions about the Centraal Museum

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