Details
Cultural Attraction: Art History Museum
Region: Amsterdam
Location: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hours: open daily 9:00AM – 5PM (excluding holidays)
Admission:
- Adults – $22.50
- Children 17 & under – FREE
- EYCA card holders – $11.25
- All ticket prices above are in Euros.
Pet friendly: No (service animals only)
Handicapped accessible: Yes
Restrooms: Yes
DEN Rating: 10/10
Website: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en
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This poor wooden face of a baby is being stung by a bee. Imagine having to spend eternity this way while on display at Rijksmuseum…poor kid!
The Sting
Of the seemingly infinite number of historical art objects on display at Amsterdam’s colossal Rijksmuseum, my husband and I both found this poor little guy’s carved portrait of the moment it got stung by a bee to be one of our favorites. Both the carving technique and the emotional expression are stunningly on point. For … Read more
My husband and I did not plan my trip to Amsterdam much at all – we simply bought plane tickets, got a hotel room, and thought we would spend three days exploring the city. I regret this course of action (or lack thereof) because I did not budget enough time at Rijksmuseum, one of the world’s premiere art history museums. If you are visiting Amsterdam it is utterly essential that you spend some time exploring this gigantic and expertly curated museum. I rate places, trails, and experiences out of a possible 10 points, and almost nowhere gets a 10. But a visit to Rijksmuseum is a truly ten-out-of-ten, A+ experience that I cannot recommend enough.
The sprawling Rijksmuseum (pronounced “ricks”) covers three floors spread across two different wings plus an outdoor statue garden. The various rooms and wings divide the museum’s over 1 million objects into a series of collections ranging from the works of Dutch masters Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh, to 18th century furniture, to medieval works of art, and everything in between. I can’t imagine anyone not being impressed with the vastness of the museum’s holdings and how well everything is displayed. The museum’s collection of Rembrandt and Vermeer paintings are extensive and include several famous paintings, while there are only a few pieces by Van Gogh (to be fair he does have a museum dedicated entirely to his work a few minutes walk away.) Other museum standouts include The Serenade by Judith Leyster and Worship of the Golden Calf, a famous bible-based triptych by Lucas van Leyden.
Taking center stage in the upper gallery is the restoration of the museum’s largest canvas painting – The Night Watch by Rembrandt. The painting is famous in it’s own right, but to see it removed from its frame and stretched on a modern system while tests are performed on the paint and canvas to determine how best to preserve it is very cool. There is always a crowd around it and the museum has experts in the gallery to answer questions about the process the painting is going through.
The museum has a few surprises hidden away in it. One of them is the Cuypers Library, a huge art history library that looks like something out of the Harry Potter movies. It’s a beautiful space for art history students and enthusiasts to research art through the ages, and is free to access.
On the bottom floor of the museum in the right-hand wing is the amazing Special Collections section. I spent way too much time here and didn’t get my fill. The model ships are just incredible, and include one scaled model of a real ship where films of sailors working on the boat and even animals in the cargo hold are projected into the model to give a sense of scale. I’ve honestly never seen anything like it before. So cool!!! Looking for 600 year old weaponry? It’s here. Feel like checking out the exquisite details of 1700s etched glass goblets? You could spend an hour looking at just that. Perhaps you’re looking for art objects from distant lands? Check out ancient carvings and scupltures from China, India, and more. Imagine my delight when I, a lover of ancient music with a degree in classical music composition, discovered their collection of ancient and historic musical instruments! Ok yes I’m a total nerd. For me it’s the extent of their special collections that really put Rijksmuseum over the top, because chances are you will find subjects within their special collections that will spellbind you as I did. This is one of the best places ever to nerd out on whatever your nerd thing is!
Rijksmuseum is colossal. It’s a lot to take in. If you find yourself needing a break, head to the museum cafe, located in the central atrium, for lunch or a snack. In this bright and modern space you’ll also find the gift shop, restrooms, and a very nice coat and bag check. If you need some fresh air head outdoors to the sculpture garden, where the statues are set amongst well planted flower beds.
We gave ourselves two and a half hours to visit Rijkmuseum. It was not long enough and we found ourselves rushing through the amazing Medieval art collection as the museum was closing and having to skip a few other collections. My advice is to book your ticket at least a few days in advance. Get your ticket for 9AM (when the gallery opens) and plan to eat lunch at the museum cafe, spending about five hours in Rijkmuseum total. If you have children you should absolutely bring them here, just know that they probably won’t make it through the entire museum – a break in the middle to explore the outdoor sculpture garden is a good way to have a change of pace.
Rijksmuseum has a timed entry system. Booking your ticket in advance is a very good, sometimes necessary idea because the museum can and will sell out. There is a small ticket counter (located on the front of the building to the right of the big vaulted bike tunnel and walkway) where tickets can be purchased on demand, but once a time slot is sold out then that’s it. Last entry is at 4PM. Check out my article on Amsterdam, with itineraries, for ideas on how to fit Rijkmuseum into your time in this vibrant city.
Mercury looks a bit annoyed and impatient to be on break at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Mercury On Break
Mercury takes a break outside Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, appearing a bit annoyed and impatient. For more on visiting Amsterdam: https://denphototravel.com/2024/three-nights-in-amsterdam/ https://denphototravel.com/2024/rijksmuseum/
Do not miss Rijksmuseum! Amsterdam is lucky to have a world-class museum like this. With several famous paintings and a mind-blowing number of art objects on display, it’s easy to discover aspects of art and history that speak to you within their vast collection. I honestly wonder how the museum curators obtained all of the incredible pieces it contains. The amount of work it takes to securely display all of the museum’s holdings in such a thoughtful, professional way is mindblowing. When I return to Amsterdam I will definitely head back to Rijksmuseum as I have no doubt I will find individual pieces or even whole collections that I did not notice on my last visit. You will likely want to return as well!
