BODY WORLDS is one of the most talked-about exhibitions in the world, and the Amsterdam version sits at Damrak 66, on the main avenue between Centraal Station and Dam Square. It is based on plastination, a technique invented by the German anatomist Gunther von Hagens in the late 1970s at the University of Heidelberg, in which water and fat in body tissue are replaced with plastics so that real specimens can be preserved and displayed. The exhibitions, first shown in 1995, have been presented in more than fifty museums and venues worldwide, and they have drawn both great public interest and controversy. The Amsterdam show is called The Happiness Project, and it uses whole bodies plastinated in lifelike poses, together with individual organs and thin body slices, to explore how the body and mind relate to emotions, movement, relationships and well-being. The figures are posed doing everyday things, from sport to thinking, so that muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels can be seen in action rather than in a textbook diagram. The ticket page lists the exhibition as open every day from 10:00 to 22:00, which makes it one of the few museum-style attractions you can visit in the evening. The skip-the-line ticket is the cheapest option listed and includes an audio guide, and there are discounted combinations with other Amsterdam attractions and a canal cruise.
Is it for you
BODY WORLDS divides people. Some find it a profound, educational and even moving way to understand their own bodies; others find the idea of displayed human remains uncomfortable. Both reactions are common, and it is worth deciding in advance which camp you are likely to be in. The exhibition is explicit about what it shows, with real human bodies and organs, including displays that show the effects of disease, so it is not suitable for everyone.
The ticket page does not state an age limit, so if you are bringing children or younger teenagers, check the venue's guidance and think carefully about whether they are ready.
Practical advice
The location on Damrak makes it easy to reach on foot from Centraal Station, and the long opening hours mean you can slot it into an evening when the daytime museums have closed. Buy a timed skip-the-line ticket in advance, which includes the audio guide; the audio guide is worth using because the signage alone does not cover the science and the ethics of plastination.
Allow a leisurely hour or more. Combination tickets are listed with the Moco Museum, ARTIS Royal Zoo, Madame Tussauds, the Van Gogh Museum and the Heineken Experience, and a bundle with a canal cruise is also listed, so if you are planning other visits there may be a saving.
Around the Damrak
You are a few minutes from Dam Square, the Royal Palace and the Nieuwe Kerk, and the historic Oude Kerk and the lively streets of the old centre are close. After a heavy exhibition many people want fresh air, so a walk along the water or a canal cruise from the Damrak piers makes a natural next step. If you want a cultural counterpoint, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are a tram ride away on Museumplein.
What to expect
The experience
A walk-through exhibition of plastinated human bodies, organs and body slices in lifelike poses, with an audio guide included with the skip-the-line ticket.
Best time
Late afternoon or evening, since the listed opening hours run from 10:00 to 22:00 and many daytime museums are closed by then.
How long
Roughly an hour to ninety minutes at an unhurried pace.
Tips
Use the audio guide, decide in advance whether the content suits you or your children, and look for combination tickets if you are visiting other attractions.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Adults and older teenagers who are curious about anatomy and are comfortable with the display of real human bodies.
- Families
- Think carefully with younger children; the page states no age limit, so check the venue's guidance and use your own judgement.
- Couples
- A distinctive evening activity near Centraal Station, followed by dinner on the Damrak or in the old centre.
- Pair with
- A canal cruise from the Damrak piers, or the Royal Palace and Dam Square on foot.
- Time needed
- Ninety minutes with the audio guide.
Good questions
What is BODY WORLDS The Happiness Project?+
A permanent exhibition at Damrak 66 of real human bodies preserved by plastination, posed to show how the body and mind relate to emotions and well-being. The technique was invented by Gunther von Hagens.
What are the opening hours?+
The ticket page lists daily opening from 10:00 to 22:00. Hours can vary on special days, so check your date when booking.
Is the exhibition suitable for children?+
The booking page does not state an age limit. The exhibition shows real bodies and organs, so check the venue's guidance and decide whether younger children are ready.
Is an audio guide included?+
Yes, the skip-the-line ticket is listed with an audio guide included, and it is the cheapest option shown on the page.
Are there combination tickets?+
Yes. The page lists bundles with a canal cruise and with attractions including ARTIS zoo, the Moco Museum, Madame Tussauds, the Van Gogh Museum and the Heineken Experience.
