Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Overview

Rijksmuseum is the spectacular Dutch National Museum in Museumplein and houses over 8000 art and historical artefacts. The collections include masterpieces by famed painters like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals.

Rijksmuseum translates to The State Museum in English and this museum been standing in the city for over 200 years. Art enthusiasts are attracted to the museum to gaze at treasures like Rembrandt's 'Night Watch' and Vermeer's 'The Milkmaid'. The museum's premises includes a beautiful garden space where visitors can relax and savour the sight of the sculptures as well as enjoy the temporary exhibitions which take place in spring and autumn.

Located a few blocks away from the Van Gogh and the Stedelijk Museum, Rijksmuseum has on display over eight thousand items dealing with history and art. It has been a National Heritage Site since 1970. Apart from housing some of the most famous works of arts by painters like Rembrandt and Vermeer, the museum also has other collections. These include sculptures, artefacts, clothing, paintings from different parts of the world when the Dutch were travelling all over the globe, combining over 800 years of Dutch history. And beyond that, there is also the Rijksmuseum garden, which is adorned with sculptures.

Tips for Rijksmuseum

Book your ticket in advance online on the website to skip the long queues.
Do not use flash, lights or tripod during photography.

Tickets for Rijksmuseum

The prices of the tickets for Rijksmuseum are:

Adult : EUR 20 (offline tickets), EUR 19 for online purchase
Children (below 18) : Free
EYCA Members : EUR 10 (offline tickets), EUR 9.50 for online purchase
Museumkaart and Amsterdam City Card holders : Free

Tickets can be booked online at - www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/tickets

History of the Rijksmuseum

The first time Rijksmuseum opened its doors for the public was in the year of 1800 at the National Art Gallery (Nationale Kunstgalerij). It moved to Hague in 1805 before establishing in the Royal Palace in Amsterdam in 1809. It was in this year itself that the best-known painting of the museum, 'Night Watch' by Rembrandt became a part of its collection. After that, it got shifted to Trippenhuis in 1817 and then Mauritshuis in 1820. Finally, it was the year of 1885 that the museum got shifted into a building that we see today. The modern structure of this historical museum was decided through a design contest which was won by Pierre Cuypers in 1876 with his Gothic and Renaissance-themed piece.

The main building of the museum was closed for renovations in 2003, and it took almost ten years for this project to be completed. Spanish architects Antonio Cruz and Antonio Ortiz were the designers given the task, and while the main museum remained closed, about four hundred items from the collection were shifted to the 'fragment building' to be showcased. The museum reopened in April 2013, after ten years of renovation and an overall cost of a staggering EUR 375 million.

Library at the Rijksmuseum

The Cuypers library or the Rijksmuseum Research Library is another spot not to be missed while in the museum. It is one of the leading art libraries in the world and has continued to catalogue the information of the museum since its establishment. It is also the oldest and largest art historical library in the Netherlands, thereby making it a definite checkpoint for the art history buffs.

How To Reach Rijksmuseum

By Tram : Take Tram 5 from Zuid Station and Tram 2 from Central Station till the Rijksmuseum Tram stop. Similarly take Tram 12 from Sloterdijk Station till Museumplein tram stop.

By Bus : Stop at Hobbemastraat - 145, 170, 172