Rijksmuseum

Overview

The Rijksmuseum is the Netherlands' national museum of art and history, housed in a grand 1885 building designed by Pierre Cuypers. Its collection spans 800 years of Dutch and European art, including Rembrandt's The Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid.

Highlights

• The Night Watch: Rembrandt's monumental 1642 masterpiece in its dedicated gallery.
• Gallery of Honour: A grand hall showcasing Dutch Golden Age masterworks.
• Cuypers Library: The largest and oldest art history library in the Netherlands.

History

Founded in 1800 in The Hague and moved to Amsterdam in 1808. The current building, a blend of Gothic and Renaissance revival, reopened in 2013 after a decade-long renovation costing €375 million.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: Book timed-entry tickets online to skip the queue.
• Tip 2: The museum gardens are free and feature sculptures and a pond.
• Duration: 2–3 hours.