Welcome to the Museum of Bags and Purses

The Museum of Bags and Purses is a unique museum that shows the history of the ladies bag in Western culture from the Middle Ages to current times. The collection consists of more than 3500 objects, bags and accessories, wherein a large proportion will be on display. The collection highlights the wide-ranging form and material used in bag design through the ages.

The Museum of Bags and Purses opened its doors for the first time in April 1996 in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam. When a business moved out, half of the Ivo family villa became available and the idea arose to transform this vacant space into a Museum of Bags and Purses.

The core of the museum’s collection is the bags and accessories that Hendrikje Ivo has been collecting for the past 30 years. Several donations have also been given to the museum, meaning the collection now totals over 3500 items. Luckily, Hendrikje had her skilful husband to help in the creation of the new museum which was one of the first in The Netherlands where the lighting was entirely realized by glass fibres.

After 10 years the museum in Amstelveen had become much too small for the collection and the increased number of visitors. Thanks to the assistance of a benefactor, the relocation of the museum to a splendid 17th century building on Herengracht 573 in Amsterdam.

Hope to see you soon in our museum!
Sigrid Ivo, Director