photo by Tiffany Jansen
Along the Herengracht is a little gem of a museum. Though relatively small and somewhat hidden, the Museum of Bags and Purses is every girl's dream.
The museum boasts three floors of bags, bags, bags! From the pouches of the Middle Ages, to clutches from some of the most chic designers of the day, to some pretty off-the-wall pocketbooks, there's a handbag for everyone.
As thoroughly awesome as the museum itself is, the Museum of Bags and Purses also offers High Tea, permitting you to relive the tea parties of your girlhood as an adult.
Perfect for a baby shower, engagement party, bridal shower, or an elegant bachelorette party, the High Tea can run anywhere from €19.95 to €27.95 should you choose to go with all the add-ons.
photo by Flickr user adactio
When planning a low-key, low-cost bachelorette party for a friend, one of the other organizers mentioned the museum. I had been there for the exhibit and loved it, but a tea party?
But even with all the extras and splitting the costs for the bride-to-be among us, each guest paid just a bit over €30. What did we get for all of that?
Each of us got a delicious amuse of sinfully sweet melon tucked under a slice of parma ham and garnished with a basil leaf; an array of shamefully scrumptious baked goods including scones (with jam and mouth-watering clotted cream), adorable mini-cakes, and top-of-the-line chocolates; salmon and cucumber sandwiches on fluffy-as-clouds, crust-free bread cut into quaint little triangles; lick-your-fingers-clean sausage bread; and perfectly decorated and equally delicious petit fours.
An unfathomable assortment of teas was served and the teapots of hot water just kept coming. Best of all? The tea is served with milk, disgusted stares of Dutch onlookers not included.
Entry into the museum is included with the ticket, meaning you can get there early, check out the museum and then reward yourself with high tea and great conversation. I mean, you deserve some reward, after all. Spending hours drooling over handbags and not being able to take one home with you is no easy task!
Actually, if truth be told, you can purchase handbags by various Dutch designers in the gift shop. But if you had visions of leaving the museum sporting the Versace evening bag Madonna toted to the 1997 première of the film Evita, you're out of luck.
In addition to the high tea, the permanent collection, and current exhibit, the Museum of Bags and Purses also does weddings, children's parties, and offers design-a-bag workshops.
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