The Rijksmuseum
The national museum of the Netherlands - a grand treasury of Dutch Golden Age painting crowned by Rembrandt's Night Watch and the luminous work of Vermeer.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands, a grand palace of art on Amsterdam's Museum Square holding the greatest collection of Dutch Golden Age painting in the world. Its Gallery of Honour builds to Rembrandt's colossal Night Watch, restored in full public view, alongside the quiet, luminous interiors of Vermeer, Frans Hals and a treasury of Dutch history and craft.
What you actually see
- Rembrandt's Night Watch - the colossal masterpiece at the gallery's climax.
- Vermeer - the luminous, quiet domestic scenes.
- The Gallery of Honour - the great hall of Golden Age masters.
- The building and library - the grand palace and its beautiful library.
When to go
Year-round; a fully indoor museum, ideal in any weather, and worth a half day at least. Book a timed ticket ahead and go early, as the Night Watch hall gets very crowded.
Honest expectations
It is vast, so focus on the Golden Age highlights rather than every room. The Night Watch hall is always crowded. Book ahead and go early. Museum Square, shared with the Van Gogh Museum, gets very busy in peak season.
Nearby
The Van Gogh Museum is next door; the canals and the Vondelpark are a short walk.
What to pack for The Rijksmuseum
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
