Rijksmuseum Amsterdam - Fantastic Art Treasures

The Rijksmuseum boasts an incredible collection of some of the country's finest artistic treasures, including the famous "Night Watch" by Rembrandt and "Milkmaid" by Vermeer. In this article, we have compiled the most important information about the Dutch national museum for you.

Until April 2013, the Rijksmuseum underwent an extensive 10-year renovation - everyone agrees that the reconstruction was more than worth it. The beautiful paintings are excellently lit and a true feast for the eyes.

A visit to the Rijksmuseum takes you on an exciting journey through Dutch art history of the Golden Age. In addition, there are thousands of precious art pieces from artists all over the world.

• »  Most important info at a glance - Opening hours, prices, and tickets
• »  More than 8000 exhibits - Unique collection at a glance
• »  How to get to the Rijksmuseum - directions with map
• »  Our conclusion about the museum - Summary and a special find

Stay tuned: We'll start with the most important information on tickets and opening hours. Afterwards, you'll learn how to get to the Rijksmuseum and what our top 3 artworks are.

Tickets and Opening Hours - Important Info at a Glance

The Rijksmuseum (National Museum) is located on Museumplein in Amsterdam. This is a large, open square surrounded by many important museums, including the famous Van Gogh Museum and the contemporary Moco Museum.

Adults pay 23.50 euros. Children and teenagers (up to 18 years old), as well as I Amsterdam City Card holders, have free admission. With online tickets, you can save time waiting in line at the ticket counter.

Opening hours of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

• The museum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
• You should plan about two to three hours for a visit.
• For more information, visit the Rijksmuseum website.

Usually, there is a very long line in front of the Rijksmuseum. Therefore, we recommend visiting the museum before 11 am or after 6 pm, when it is least busy.

Simply Magical: When you enter the museum, you are welcomed by an elegant atmosphere. The large, light-flooded rooms and high ceilings create a feeling of space and freedom. In the next part, you'll learn everything about the building and the incredible collection.

Your Tour Recommendations

You Have to See This - Highlights at the Rijksmuseum

You will find paintings and artworks of immeasurable value on four floors with 80 halls. The collection's focus is on the impressive masterworks of the Dutch old masters such as Rembrandt and Jan Vermeer.

Variety is offered by the collection of modern art, the hall with marine models, and the comprehensive collection of Asian art. You have probably already seen many paintings by famous artists such as Rubens or Goya somewhere. In the original, the masterpieces appear even more impressive.

With so many great exhibits, it's easy to lose track. We would like to especially recommend our very own top 3 to you.

Night Light in Form of a Cat – Anonymous - approx. 1760 - 1770

"Everyone loves cats - we do too. That's why we highly recommend you to take a look at the original of this beautiful porcelain sculpture from the Asian collection.

The cat has a detailed painted body made of finest Chinese porcelain and weights over half a kilo.

The eyes of the cat shine, if you place a candle insight. It was made in order to take the anxiety of children at night or to scare away rats.

The Night Watch – Rembrandt - 1642

The most well-known and at the same time biggest canvas of Rembrandt shows the civil defense of Amsterdam. The special thing about this picture is that Rembrandt painted a group of people for the first time, where everybody is doing something.

The soldier is cleaning his rifle and the captain dressed in black gives orders to the lieutenant. With his ingenious use of light, Rembrandt directs attention to various parts of the image. By the way, the girl slightly to the left of center was the mascot of the civic guard.

Desk - Abraham Roentgen, approx. 1758 – 1760

The Rijksmuseum also houses a unique collection of antique furniture. Our favorite is an artisanal masterpiece by Abraham Roentgen.

Roentgen was born in Mühlheim close to Cologne and learned his craft from different masters in Den Haag, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and London. The ingenious pieces of art made of noble wood were well-known for their countless drawers and secret compartments.

Tragically, Roentgen was unable to sell all his furniture for a long time and had money problems until his death. However, he passed on his skills in time to his son, who later enjoyed worldwide success as a furniture maker.

On the website of the Rijksmuseum you can find all exhibits and a very good overview of the different expositions. In the next part, we'll tell you where the Rijksmuseum is located and how to get there.

Map with Directions to the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is located at the Museumplein, near the famous Vondelpark. The Rijksmuseum is very easy to reach on foot from the city centre. From Central Station, it's about a 30-minute walk.

Address: Museumstraat 1, 1071 CJ Amsterdam.

Trams: From Central Station, take the No. 12 (get off at the "Museumplein" stop) or the Metro 52: get off at the "Vijzelgracht" stop and then walk for 5 minutes. Here are all the connections on Google Maps.

Museumplein and the Rijksmuseum are located in the Oud-Zuid district. While you're here, you'll have a chance to explore some of the city's most famous sights. Here are a few highlights that are close to the museum: Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Moco Museum, Leidseplein.

Read on: in the last part, you'll find out what we particularly loved in the Rijksmuseum and what we didn't like.

Conclusion - Is a Visit to the Rijksmuseum Worth It?

We are stunned: The large, light-filled rooms and high ceilings create a feeling of space and freedom. The exhibits are carefully presented and the pleasant lighting allows the masterworks to shine in all their beauty.

The lovingly renovated building alone is worth a visit. As you walk through the galleries, you will be surrounded by the sounds of quiet conversations and the footsteps of visitors. The soft music in the background completes the pleasant ambience.

That's what we particularly liked:

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is a special place and definitely one of the most beautiful museums in the world.

• The building is an architectural masterpiece in neoclassical style. It takes you into a breathtaking world of marble, stucco and glass mosaics.
• When you sit down on one of the benches to look at the artworks, you will feel like you are in another world. The tranquility of the museum will let you completely immerse yourself in art and distract you from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
• A wide selection of interactive and informative exhibitions, gives you the opportunity to learn more about art and art history.

What we did not like so much:

• At weekends and during holiday periods, the museum can get very crowded, resulting in long queues and overcrowded exhibition rooms.
• It can be difficult for people with disabilities to navigate through the museum as some areas are only accessible by stairs.

Finally, a real insider tip: At the moment, sculptures by the famous Spanish artist Joan Miró decorate the lawns in front of the Reichsmuseum. The exhibition changes every year.

A chessboard with life-size figures and some climbing frames designed by architect Aldo van Eyck provide variety and exercise.

Our conclusion: a visit to the Rijksmuseum is an absolute must! The impressive collection of Dutch art from the Golden Age sends you on a fascinating journey through history.

Recommended tickets:

• Ticket for the museum - Book online and skip the line
• Attractive combi-ticket - Canal Cruise and Rijksmuseum
• Guided tour and ticket - 2-hour guided art tour of the Rijksmuseum

That was our big overview about the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Write us a comment and tell us which artwork fascinates you the most. We are curious about your thoughts.

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