The Amsterdam Museum began in 1926 as a branch of the Stedelijk Museum in the Waag building. It is a museum about the history and culture of Amsterdam. In 1975 the museum moved into the current accommodation in the former municipal orphanage. In 2011, the name changed from “Amsterdams Historic Museum” to “Amsterdam Museum” focussing not only on the past but the future of Amsterdam. In 2019 Margriet Schavemaker was assigned as new director.