Hermitage Amsterdam
The history of friendship between Russia and the Netherlands took its roots centuries ago when the young tsar Peter the Great stayed in Zaandam and Amsterdam during his grand tour to Western Europe. Such a deep impression had the visit left on him that he decided to build a city of his own and no less majestic than those he had seen. And so was founded the city of Saint Petersburg, one of the largest cities in Europe and the former capital of Russia. The contacts between Amsterdam and Saint Petersburg remained, up to these days, very friendly and resulted in the foundation of the local branch of St. Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam. Museum tickets have been available to the public since June 2009.
