Amsterdam is renowned for its unusual museums, and the National Eyeglasses Museum is among the most notable. It would seem, why create an entire museum for such an everyday thing? But just think: the history of eyeglasses spans more than seven centuries; this is one of humanity's oldest inventions, one that has not lost its relevance to this day! You can explore the entire history of eyeglasses, from the invention of suitable lenses in 13th-century Venice to the most modern exhibits, in the museum that has been operating in Amsterdam for 35 years.
Located in a 17th-century mansion, the Eyeglasses Museum presents an extensive collection assembled by four generations of the Teinissen family. The father of the museum's current owner, Maike Teinissen, decided that the time had come to share the results of his ancestors' passion with tourists and put his family's treasure on display. Lorgnettes, pince-nez, monocles, eyeglasses from different countries and different eras, unique frames decorated with birds and flowers, eyeglasses shaped like a bicycle, antique eyeglasses without temples that were worn as far back as five centuries ago, wire eyeglasses, and many other curiosities will make you look differently at such a banal and familiar object.
The museum is located on the second floor and, to get to it, you will need to pass through a retro optics store, where you can purchase a gorgeous, unique, and stylish frame for sunglasses or regular eyeglasses.
