The Sex Museum (officially Venustempel, Temple of Venus) on Damrak is one of those Amsterdam attractions that tourists either seek out deliberately or stumble into by accident. Either way, it is more interesting than you would expect from a place with a 6 euro entry fee.
Opened in 1985, it is the oldest sex museum in the world. Three floors cover the history of human sexuality through art, photography, and artifacts — from ancient Roman phallic charms to Victorian-era erotica to 20th-century pin-up culture. The tone is more educational than salacious, though there is plenty of explicit material.
What is Inside
The ground floor has historical displays and art — old medical illustrations, fertility symbols from various cultures, and a surprising amount of 18th-century Japanese shunga (erotic woodblock prints) that are genuinely beautiful as artwork regardless of the subject matter.
The upper floors get more modern — photography from the early 1900s onwards, exhibits on the history of the Red Light District, and some interactive elements designed primarily for giggling tourists to take selfies with.
A full visit takes about 45 minutes. The museum is small and the displays are not the Rijksmuseum, but at 6 euros it is one of the cheapest indoor attractions in Amsterdam.
Practical Info
Open daily 10am-11pm. On Damrak, about a 3-minute walk south from Centraal Station. No age restriction posted but the content is obviously adult. Tickets at the door only.