Amsterdam: Body Worlds Museum Ticket & The Happiness Project

Summary

Real human bodies in Amsterdam’s Body Worlds museum show happiness from the inside out

You’ll wander through Amsterdam’s Body Worlds museum at your own pace, seeing real human bodies up close while exploring The Happiness Project exhibit. Expect moments that surprise you — from quiet awe to unexpected laughter — as you learn how happiness affects us physically. It’s both fascinating and strangely moving.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the quiet — just this low hum of voices and footsteps echoing through the halls at Body Worlds Amsterdam. I didn’t really know what to expect, but then you turn a corner and there’s a real human body, muscles stretched like they’re mid-run. It’s not creepy, somehow. Maybe it’s the soft lighting or the way people whisper in Dutch and English, like everyone’s a little awed. I caught this faint chemical tang in the air — formaldehyde? — but mostly I remember how my friend Anna kept nudging me to read random facts about happiness on the walls. Some were funny, some made me pause longer than I thought I would.

The exhibition is called “The Happiness Project” and it’s right in the center of Amsterdam, on Damrak. You get your ticket scanned at the door (no guide or anything), then you’re free to wander for as long as you want — we took about 90 minutes but honestly could’ve stayed longer. There are over 200 specimens, which sounds clinical until you’re standing in front of them and thinking about how each one was an actual person who donated their body for this. Kids were there too, asking their parents questions I definitely wouldn’t have dared at that age. One little girl pointed at a heart and asked if being happy really makes it stronger; her dad just smiled and said “I hope so.”

I tried to pronounce one of the anatomical terms out loud (Li laughed when I butchered it), and for a second I felt twelve again, nervous in biology class. But here it felt different — more respectful than scary. There’s something weirdly comforting about seeing how we all work underneath our skin, especially with all these notes about laughter and stress taped up everywhere. By the time we left, blinking into Amsterdam’s gray afternoon light, I kept thinking about my own heartbeat and whether happiness actually leaves a mark inside us somewhere.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Body Worlds Amsterdam exhibition

• Enter Body Worlds Amsterdam
• Explore The Happiness Project exhibit
• View over 200 anatomical specimens
• Learn about happiness effects on body
• Complete 1.5 to 2 hour visit

Top questions

How long does a visit to Body Worlds Amsterdam take?

Most people spend about 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the exhibition.

Is Body Worlds Amsterdam suitable for children?

Yes, it's recommended for children over 6, but younger kids are welcome if prepared beforehand.

Where is Body Worlds located in Amsterdam?

It's centrally located on Damrak in Amsterdam.

Does my ticket include a guided tour?

No, admission is self-guided; no guide is included with your ticket.

Are meals or transportation included with the ticket?

No, your ticket only covers entrance to Body Worlds Amsterdam.

Is Body Worlds accessible for wheelchairs or strollers?

Yes, it's wheelchair accessible and allows prams or strollers.

Can infants enter Body Worlds Amsterdam for free?

Yes, children up to and including 5 years old enter free of charge.

When is last entry allowed at Body Worlds?

The last entrance is one hour before closing time; check your reserved time slot.

What’s included

Your day includes reserved admission to Body Worlds Amsterdam with access to The Happiness Project exhibit—no guide or transport needed—so you can explore at your own pace right in the city center.