The Torture Museum, Amsterdam is located in Amsterdam, near the Bloemenmarkt overlooking the Singel. It exhibits historical instruments of torture.
The Daily Telegraph noted the museum as "one of the world's most unusual museums."[1] The museum is popular among tourists.[2][3][4]
The Torture Museum Amsterdam is not connected with another museum showcasing instruments of torture in Amsterdam: "the Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments".[5]
Museum layout
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The museum consists of narrow and dimly lit rooms. Each room features one or two torture devices. Each device is accompanied with an enlarged image from a book or article featuring that device in use and a description of that device and how and why it was used. The articles are translated into English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.[6]
Articles on display
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The museum displays a guillotine, the rack and stocks, in addition to little-known items such as thumb screws and the flute of shame. Other objects housed in the museum include the iron maiden, skull crusher, Judas cradle, Catherine wheels, and Scold's bridle. Some of the devices are genuine and antique, but many are modern reconstructions.[7]
Significance
editThe museum, whilst small, regularly appears in lists of 'top weird museums'[1][8] and is regularly visited and cited in regard to the museum's range of torture devices.[9][10] Books have used the Torture Museum as a source.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b "The world's most unusual museum". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ Amsterdam. Script. 2012. p. 39. ISBN 9788866146018. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ "Travel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- ^ "Amsterdam museums". Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ^ http://www.torturemuseumamsterdam.com Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Torture museum Amsterdam Mydestination review". YouTube. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ^ "Torture Museum Amsterdam". Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ^ 'World’s Creepiest Attractions' Check My City. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ 'Amsterdam Torture Museum'. Retrieved 2012-08-29.[dead link]
- ^ TopTenz (2012-02-09). "Top 10 Worst Medieval Torture Devices & Methods". Toptenz.net. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- ^ Torture. University of Pennsylvania Press. 1996. ISBN 9780812215991.