News of: Wednesday, June 13 2007,
Again a new museum has opened its doors in Amsterdam: the Museum of Bags and Purses.
'New' is actually not the right word: the museum is already 30 years old, and was located in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam.
Because the collection had grown to 3,500 purses (from as long ago as the 16th century!), the Amstelveen museum became too small. A rich benefactor bought the canal building on this top location, so that the museum could move to the centre of Amsterdam.
The Museum of Bags and Purses shows the history of the (ladies) bag in Western culture from the end of the Middle Ages until the present day, including the works of contemporary designers. It is the only museum in the world to have such an extensive and specialized collection.
The museum manages a collection of over 3,500 bags, pouches, suitcases, purses and other accessories. The collection is very diverse: 17th century pouches and alms purses, 18th century thigh bags, wallets and framed bags, 19th century reticules and stocking purses and classical, exceptional and special models from the 20th and the 21st century.
To these last periods belong examples of the Jugenstil and Art Deco period, evening bags and vanity-cases and of course the bags of famous designers (such as Schiaparelli, Pierre Cardin, Paco Rabanne, Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Versace, Judith Leiber, Paul Smith, Alexander McQueen, Lulu Guinness, Tom Ford) and the bags of famous labels (including Gucci, Hermès, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, MiuMiu, Chloé and Fendi).
There is museum cafe with view on the historical garden. The museum is open daily from 10-5, and located at Herengracht 573 (location).
Pictures of the building:
Some interior pictures:
