Street Art Museum Amsterdam (SAMA)

My neighbor Daan told me about the Street Art Museum and I will be honest, I was skeptical. "A street art museum" sounded like it could go either way. Then I went. And then I stood in front of a three-story mural in a former warehouse and did not say anything for a full minute. Daan just smiled.

SAMA — Street Art Museum Amsterdam — is on the NDSM-werf in Amsterdam Noord. If you have not been to NDSM, it is a former shipyard turned creative hub on the north bank of the IJ river. You get there by taking the free ferry from behind Centraal Station, which is already a great start to any day out. The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes and gives you views of the Amsterdam skyline that most tourists miss.

The museum itself is housed in a massive industrial space. We are talking enormous halls that used to build ships, now filled with street art, murals, and installations from artists around the world. The scale is what gets you. These are not small canvases in white rooms. These are floor-to-ceiling works that use the raw industrial architecture as part of the art. My neighbor, who goes to galleries regularly, said SAMA was "the most alive art space" he had visited in Amsterdam.

What I love about this place is that it does not take itself too seriously. There is real craft and real talent here, but it is accessible. You do not need an art degree to appreciate it. My friend who says he "does not get art" spent two hours here and kept pointing at things saying "that is sick." That is exactly the right reaction.

They rotate exhibitions regularly, so there is always something new. The permanent collection includes major street art names alongside emerging artists. The guided tours are excellent if you want context — the guides know the stories behind the pieces and the artists, and it adds a whole layer to the experience.

The NDSM area around the museum is worth exploring too. Skate parks, restaurants in shipping containers, a vintage furniture market, cool bars. My neighbor and I usually combine SAMA with lunch at Pllek (a restaurant made from shipping containers with a city beach) and maybe a drink at the IJ Brewery nearby. You can easily spend a full afternoon in Noord.

Practical stuff: tickets are around 17-20 euros. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. The space can be cold in winter because of the industrial building, so bring a jacket. Photography is allowed and encouraged — the art is made to be shared.

Getting there: take the free NDSM ferry from behind Centraal Station (not the Buiksloterweg ferry — that is a different one). The ferry runs every 15-30 minutes. From the NDSM ferry landing, the museum is about a 5-minute walk.

One honest note: NDSM is not the prettiest area. It is industrial, a bit rough around the edges, and in winter it can feel desolate. But that is part of the charm. The contrast between the raw environment and the art inside is what makes SAMA special. My neighbor calls it "Amsterdam's best-kept cultural secret" and I think he is right.

If you want to see a side of Amsterdam that is not canals and canal houses, SAMA is it. And the ferry ride over is free, which my roommate considers "the best deal in the city."