In Amsterdam, the capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, there is a very unusual and interesting museum - the Museum of Bags and Purses.

In the world there are only three such museums, and Amsterdam - the largest. It collected more than 4,000 exhibits. This tiny handbags, and huge bags and purses and pouches, and blotting-pads. The oldest exhibits date back to the beginning of the XVI century, which are combined with the latest creations of contemporary designers - here you can see the quilted bag from Chanel, and Kelly bag from Hermes.

For centuries, waist bags and purses have a mandatory attribute of both male and female European costume. They were money, supplies for sewing, other stuff. This leather men's bag the XVI century - the pearl of the museum's collection. Of particular interest are the French XVIII century ballroom bags embroidered with beads smallest - 0, 5 mm in diameter. Handbags XIX century adorned with plates of bone and mother of pearl, and the works of modern masters strike a flight of fancy.

About 30 years ago, an art dealer Ivo Hendrickje became involved in collecting vintage handbags and purses. Very soon her collection numbered more than 3,000 bags, Hendrickje and decided to present the collection to the public. The exhibition was a success. First, the museum was housed in two rooms in a villa in Amstelveen, then the museum moved to a historic building on the banks of the prestigious Amsterdam canal - Herengracht.

In addition to the main exhibition, the museum hosts a variety of exhibitions. The collection continues to grow, the museum buys antique bags and get them as a gift from contemporary designers.