This brilliant museum shares the secrets of Amsterdam’s expansion through a cleverly curated series of interactive displays. First off, a sound-and-light show centers on a model of the city in medieval times; it was grim, overcrowded, and unhygienic. By the 17th century, expansion became imperative. The planning and construction of the ring of three canals around the medieval city is dealt with in a lively series of interactive displays, films, models, and holograms. The final exhibit romps home with an all-singing, all-dancing celebration of multi-cultural Amsterdam today. You couldn’t wish for a more instructive or entertaining introduction to Amsterdam and its social and cultural development.