Amsterdam’s premier modern art museum, the Stedelijk, has been closed for a number of years for refurbishment. The museum was operating at an alternate location – the edgy, half-constructed Post CS building near Centraal Station. Unfortunately, the CS site has closed and the main Stedelijk building on the Museumplein is not open until 2010. However, fret not – the city has a plan to bring modern art into the city.

The new programme is called ‘Stedelijk in de Stad’ (Stedlijk in the City).  Their official website (in Dutch only, unfortunately) lists the ongoing exhibitions.  Currently there is an amazing exhibit about religion and art in the stately Nieuwekerk on Dam Square.  I visited it myself last week and was very impressed – while several purpose built rooms host the majority of the exhibit, there are several quite well done sculptures and videos playing in various parts of the church that really juxtapose the old world feel of the architecture with more modern sensibilities.

The other main exhibition is at the Van Gogh museum, where in addition to the Van Gogh classics, visitors are treated to the Stedelijk’s wide range of impressionist art.  

My recommendation, as this is a rotating exhibit schedule, is to check in with your hotel or the tourist bureau for more information about where Stedlijk is currently presenting.  Although the website is in Dutch, all exhibitions (that I am aware of) offer materials and explanatory text in multiple languages, including English.

If you were thinking about another visit to Amsterdam soon, why not?  This is yet another reason why the city is one of Europe’s most visited capitals.