One of the most famous museums in the world is the Rijksmuseum. It is the largest and most visited art museum in the Netherlands.
There are nearly 8,000 pieces spread across 80 galleries in the museum’s collection, which ranks among the world’s finest. A few of the museum’s most revered works are Flemish and Dutch masterworks from the 15th to 19th centuries, including Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Frans Hals.
A Michelin-starred restaurant and extensive outdoor gardens complement the museum’s eight centuries of Dutch art and history.
You could spend a few days, if not even weeks, touring the museum if there were so many galleries and artifacts on display. To help you choose what to see at the Rijksmuseum, here are some of its highlights.
Second Floor
If you are new to the museum, I suggest you start with the Gallery of Honour and explore some of the exhibits on the second floor first. There’s a café in the Rijksmuseum where you can take a short break. Following that, you can explore some of the museum’s special collections.
The Great Hall
There is no doubt that this is one of the most beautiful galleries at the Rijksmuseum and one you shouldn’t miss. Its walls are decorated with large paintings celebrating Dutch art and history. A large stained glass window depicts famous, mostly Dutch artists on one of the walls.
From the Great Hall, you can enter the Gallery of Honour from there where you’ll find works by Rembrandt and Vermeer from the Dutch Golden Age.
Gallery of Honour
Rembrandt’s Paintings
The Rijksmuseum also houses some very famous Rembrandt van Rijn paintings. You shouldn’t miss the large wedding portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit, as well as The Syndics and The Jewish Bride.
Vermeer’s Paintings
Among the most famous Dutch painters is Johannes Vermeer, whose work is on display at the Rijksmuseum. One of his most beautiful paintings, The Milkmaid, shows how he used light to create a stunning effect. The painting Woman in Blue Reading a Letter shows the artist’s fascination with shadow to a greater degree than with light.
Jan Steen’s Paintings
Jan Steen is without a doubt the Dutch painter with the wittiest sense of humor. In The Merry Family, you can see some misbehaved children smoking and drinking. The Feast of Saint Nicholas, however, will give you a glimpse of the long tradition of celebrating this, still one of the most popular holidays in the Netherlands. A 17th-century Dutch stroopwafel is definitely my favorite detail on it.
The Threatened Swan
An iconic painting by Jan Asselijn can be found in the Rijksmuseum. Symbolism is hidden within a large painting depicting a swan threatened by a dog.
Still Lifes
The Dutch still-life paintings of the 17th century provide a fascinating glimpse into everyday life in Amsterdam during the Golden Ages. Cheese and pies are among the typical Dutch foods you’ll find in these paintings. You’ll also find some very luxurious foods like oysters. There are many hidden symbols and details in these paintings, making them some of the most interesting at the Rijksmuseum.
Night Watch Gallery
A place of honor at the Rijksmuseum has to be Rembrandt’s Night Watch. Portraits of famed Amsterdammers, symbolism and a previously unseen use of light fill his masterpiece on which he worked for three years.
Fun Fact: Check the floor underneath the ‘Night Watch’ painting when you stand in front of it. Upon closer inspection, you will find a small door. The painting is the only one in the world with a private emergency fire exit.
Company of Captain Roelof Bicker
After you are done admiring The Night Watch, turn to your right to view The Company of Roelof Bicker and lieutenant Jan Michielsz Blaeuw by Van der Helst. This civic guard painting is a substantial 7.5 meters wide and almost filled an entire wall in the large hall of the Kloveniersdoelen. Van der Helst did not line up the thirty militiamen in a static row, but positioned the ones with the lightest colored clothing in the front at regular intervals. The painter included himself in the group, at the far left.
Cuypers Library Library
Night Watch is one of the last paintings in the Gallery of Honour. Once you reach the end of the long gallery, turn right and continue walking. There is another interesting place you can visit – the largest art history library in the Netherlands. The aesthetically pleasing interior looks as if it was taken from some of Tolkien’s novels. Be quiet while you’re there since it’s open to the public and often people are reading.
The Dolls’ Houses
As soon as you exit the Library, continue walking through the galleries filled with paintings and furniture from the Dutch Golden Ages. It’s not long before you discover one of the most fascinating rooms in the museum – the room dedicated to dolls’ houses.
Many canal houses along the Amsterdam canals had them decorating their living rooms. Besides being beautifully made, they offer a glimpse of those canal houses’ layout.
Other Collections
Explore some of the Rijksmuseum’s other collections if you still have some energy after seeing those masterpieces on the second floor.
First Floor
The Rijksmuseum also has a collection of 19th-century art that should not be missed. A few Van Gogh paintings are on display, along with works by Dutch Impressionists and members of the Hague School.
Waterloo
In The Battle of Waterloo, Wellington is receiving the message that Prussian forces are on their way to his aid. Waterloo’s key players are pictured in this group portrait, including Wellington as commander of the Anglo-Dutch forces. The Dutch Crown Prince, later King William II, lies wounded on a stretcher in the left foreground. Originally intended for Wellington, the painting remained in the Netherlands after William I bought it for his son.
Ground Floor
There are many interesting exhibits in the Rijksmuseum’s special collections on the ground floor. In that section of the museum, you can spend hours looking at wooden ship models, musical instruments, jewelry, Delft blue, or glass.
Tips for visiting the Rijksmuseum
When to Visit
Every year, more than a million people visit the Rijksmuseum. As a result, you can imagine it could be quite crowded. Especially during April, when the tulips are in full bloom and attract many visitors to Amsterdam. Amsterdam is also busier during the summer months (June – September) and during the Christmas holidays.
If you intend to visit during those busy months, come to the museum at 9 AM when it opens. Visit the Gallery of Honour first, which is one of its most popular attractions. During that first hour in a museum, it’s quite quiet, so it’s perfect for enjoying Rembrandt’s or Vermeer’s paintings.
Getting There
Public transportation makes it easy to reach the Rijksmuseum from anywhere in Amsterdam. The nearest tram station is Rijksmuseum, where trams 2, 5, and 12 stop. There are also many city buses that stop at that tram station.
A tram stop called Spiegelgracht is located just behind the museum. You can catch trams number 1, 7, and 19 here.
You can take a tram number 2 or 12 if you are coming from Amsterdam Central Station. Alternatively, you can take metro line 52 South (Zuid in Dutch). After two stops, you’ll exit at a metro stop called Vijzelgracht. Rijksmuseum is a 5- to 10-minute walk from there.