We will be in Amsterdam this summer and are debating about getting a museum pass. In the past, we have found the passes great for avoiding long lines to buy tickets. Often though, the value of the pass itself was borderline as far as saving money.

I wonder what kinds of lines we might expect for the major Amsterdam museums in July.

Are you talking about the new Museum Pass or old one - new one is not carte blanche I believe unless you buy a yr-long one meant mainly for locals.

menachem or hetismij two nice locals who constantly give advice here on such questions.

The pass costs €64.90. You can buy it at a museum and unless you register it it is only valid for 31 days and 5 museum visits. Choose a quiet museum not one of the biggies to buy it.

For museums like the Van Gogh and Anne Frankhuis you still have to reserve a time slot to visit. The van Gogh is €19 bought online, Anne Frank €10, Rijks is also €19, and with a museum card you must book a time slot if you also want the Alle Rembrandts (until 10 June), but otherwise can just go in.
It really depends on how many museums you want to visit, and whether you are likely to return to the Netherlands within a year - if you are then you can register your temporary card online now even if you live outside the Netherlands.
Reserving a time slot is essential for Van Gogh and Anne Frank. You will not be allowed in without proof of a reservation. You can have that proof on your phone, you do not have to print it out. Book Anne Frank asap. Yo do not have to have a museum card before you reserve but you must be able to produce it when you enter the museum.

Actually, I am not sure which museum pass I am talking about. I did some research on them, got confused, and then wondered whether I needed one at all or not. I do remember seeing something about limited no-line privileges.

I saw that we can reserve Anne Frankhuis two months out. That is what made me realize that a decision needed to be made about the museum pass before I reserved that.

We plan to be in Amsterdam for a couple of days before a cruise. We do not plan to be there again within a year.

We won't want to spend all our time inside museums and might well not save money with the museum pass. If we go to the Van Gogh, Anne Frankhuis, and Rijks, our most likely itinerary, it would be cheaper just to pay for them. Hence, the wondering if the lines are so long that it would be worth 10 Euro not to stand in them. I knew that Anne Frankhuis was a timed visit, but didn't realize that about Van Gogh. So, I guess all that matters is the Rijks.

I remember being in Paris once with a museum pass and feeling really glad that we were not standing in line for tickets at a couple of the places that we visited.

The Van Gogh can sell out, so buy a timed ticket for it. I was there yesterday, and it showed sold out on the website. Beautiful Van Gogh/Hockney show.
I've never seen lines at Rijksmuseum, I go there fairly often and just walk in with a Museum Kaart. There's sometimes a line at the ticket desk, but you can buy a ticket online ahead of time.
Go there first thing in the morning, when it is still quiet.

A museum pass isn't worth it for you, nor are any of the "tourist" passes.
You cannot just queue for the van Gogh or Anne Frankhuis. You must have a timed entry ticket. SInce you are only here for a couple of days book and pay for them online.
For the Rijks it is cheaper to buy online, and unless you are wanting to see the Alle Rembrandts exhibition you do not need a timed entry for that.

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice.

I seriously do not know how I ever planned a trip before I discovered Fodor's Forums.