In short
Six sculpted faces give Huis met de Hoofden its memorable name: the House with the Heads. This seventeenth-century canal house on Keizersgracht is now home to the Embassy of the Free Mind, where books, images and ideas form the centre of a museum visit.
Begin outside with the façade, then decide whether to explore the exhibitions indoors. The house connects Amsterdam’s canal architecture with a history of collectors, intellectual exchange and the search for knowledge across different traditions.
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Huis met de Hoofden: museum hours and admission
Current visitor information lists Wednesday–Sunday, 11:00–17:00, with Monday and Tuesday closed. Adult museum admission is From €15; check the selected date and any reduced-rate conditions. The house can also be appreciated from the public street without a museum ticket.
Hours
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Wednesday–Sunday 11:00–17:00
Current visitor information; check before travelling
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Monday and Tuesday Closed
Regular weekly closure
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Special tours Separate schedule
Check registration, language and admission requirements
Prices
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Adult museum entry From €15
Check the selected date and ticket conditions
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Reduced or pass entry Check eligibility
Bring the required valid card or proof
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Exterior view Free
From the public street; no interior access included
The six heads and the museum inside
The façade and the museum tell connected but different stories. Outside, look for the six classical deities. Indoors, expect displays about ideas, books and symbols, rather than a conventional furnished merchant-house reconstruction.
The six classical heads Façade highlight
Find the sculpted deities on the façade and compare their attributes. The heads are the building’s defining feature and the origin of its Dutch name.
The historic canal house
Look at the generous frontage and architectural detail. The building offers a setting for the museum rather than a complete recreation of a merchant family’s home.
Images, symbols and exhibitions
The displays use illustrations and ideas associated with the collection. Read the interpretation carefully instead of expecting a gallery of familiar Dutch-master paintings.
The reading collection
The institution brings historic scholarship into conversation with modern readers. Ask staff which materials are available during your visit; rare books have separate access arrangements.
Garden and café
These spaces offer a calmer pause around a museum visit. Opening and practical access follow the institution’s arrangements, so check what is available on the day.
Choose your House with the Heads visit
Choose between a brief look at the façade and a longer museum visit. If your main interest is the rare book collection, check the dedicated tour arrangements: general admission does not mean unrestricted handling or access to stored volumes.
Opening days
Wednesday–Sunday, 11:00–17:00
Visit type
Historic house with exhibitions about books and ideas
Audio tour
English and Dutch; bring phone and headphones
Look for
Six sculpted heads on the façade
Suggested duration
60–90 minutes for a first museum visit
Accessibility
No lift; museum not wheelchair accessible
How to visit the Embassy of the Free Mind
Allow approximately 60–90 minutes for a relaxed first museum visit, or around ten minutes for an exterior stop. The audio tour is available in English and Dutch on a phone; bring your own headphones. Leave extra time if you have booked a separately scheduled tour.
The entry option below is supplied through the native Tiqets catalogue and includes an audio-guide app. It is a museum admission product, not a live guided tour. Specialist tours, including rare-book visits, have separate booking conditions and may require museum admission as well.
Good to know
- The historic building has no lift and the museum is not wheelchair accessible.
- The museum states that strollers, walkers and wheelchairs cannot be used inside.
- Check specialist tour requirements separately from ordinary admission.
- Eligibility for a pass or reduced rate must be confirmed before buying an additional ticket.
Practical tips
- Study the six heads from a safe point on the pavement before entering.
- Bring a charged phone and headphones for the audio tour.
- Allow time to read the displays; this is a place for ideas as much as architecture.
- Ask about access needs in advance, particularly if stairs are difficult.
Getting to Keizersgracht 123
The address is Keizersgracht 123, between the northern canal belt and the Westerkerk area. Walk along the canal from Westermarkt or approach from Amsterdam Centraal through the historic centre. Check the current public-transport route before travelling, as services and stop arrangements can change.
Westermarkt is a useful starting area for the final walk to Keizersgracht 123. Check the current GVB planner for services from your location.
Use the current route planner to reach a suitable city-centre stop, then continue on foot. Do not assume an older route description still applies.
Allow roughly 20 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal, 15 minutes from Dam Square and 5 minutes from Westermarkt, excluding stops and crossings.
Keizersgracht 123, Amsterdam
Official Transport in Barcelona
A canal house shaped by books and ideas
The house dates to 1622 and is associated with architect Hendrick de Keyser. Its broad façade and sculpted heads made it a distinctive presence on Keizersgracht. The six figures represent classical gods, giving the house a name that has outlasted changes in its ownership and use.
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The house was associated with Nicolaas Sohier and later the De Geer family. In the seventeenth century, the De Geers supported writers and thinkers, linking a wealthy merchant household with the circulation of books and ideas. This intellectual history is part of the modern museum’s subject.
Joost Ritman acquired the house in 2007 as a future home for the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica. In 2015 he donated both the collection and the building to Stichting het Wereldhart. The Embassy of the Free Mind opened in 2017, bringing the monument and collection together for public visits.
The collection and research activities continue alongside exhibitions. A visit therefore combines a historic house with a contemporary institution: it is not a promise that every room, book or research area will be available on any given day.
The names behind the six faces
- The heads represent Apollo, Ceres, Mercury, Minerva, Bacchus and Diana.
- Apollo and Diana are twins in classical mythology, while Apollo and Bacchus are often associated with contrasting forms of inspiration.
- The house’s historic libraries and its current book collection connect the building’s past with its present use.
- Its Dutch name describes the façade; Embassy of the Free Mind describes the institution you visit today.
Explore canal-house history and Amsterdam walks
Stay near Keizersgracht and Westermarkt
Look for accommodation around Keizersgracht, the northern canal belt or Westermarkt if you enjoy exploring on foot. In canal houses, check stairs, lift access and room location carefully. The map below is centred on Huis met de Hoofden; compare options for your own travel dates.
Huis met de Hoofden: frequently asked questions
What is Huis met de Hoofden?
The House with the Heads is a canal house dating to 1622 at Keizersgracht 123. It now houses the Embassy of the Free Mind.
Who are the six heads?
They represent Apollo, Ceres, Mercury, Minerva, Bacchus and Diana, classical deities whose attributes help distinguish them.
Can you visit inside?
Yes, the Embassy of the Free Mind welcomes museum visitors during its opening hours. Some research areas and specialist book visits have separate arrangements.
What are the opening hours?
The current visitor page lists Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00–17:00, with Monday and Tuesday closed. Check for changes before travelling.
How much are tickets?
Adult museum admission is From €15. Reduced rates and eligible passes have their own conditions; confirm these before buying an additional ticket.
Does the entry ticket include a live guide?
The listed Tiqets admission includes an audio-guide app. A live specialist tour is a separate booking, with its own admission requirements.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum says its historic building has no lift and is not wheelchair accessible. Strollers, walkers and wheelchairs cannot be used inside. Contact the venue about your specific needs.
How long should I allow?
Around 60–90 minutes is a useful estimate for a first visit. A quick exterior stop is shorter; add the scheduled duration of any separate tour.
