The Rijksmuseum is the Netherlands national museum and arguably the single best museum in Amsterdam. If you only visit one museum in the city — and plenty of people only have time for one — this is it.
In This Article
The building itself is a landmark, designed by Pierre Cuypers and opened in 1885. After a massive 10-year renovation that finished in 2013, it is now one of the most impressive museum spaces in Europe.
The Must-Sees
The Night Watch by Rembrandt is the centerpiece — a massive canvas (3.6m x 4.4m) that gets its own room at the end of the Gallery of Honour. The painting is darker and more dramatic in person than any reproduction suggests. Arrive early or late to avoid the thickest crowds.
The Milkmaid by Vermeer is small — surprisingly small — but the light in it is extraordinary. Beyond the Golden Age paintings, the museum has 8,000 objects on display across 80 galleries covering 800 years of Dutch history. The Delftware collection, the dollhouses, the ship models, and the Asian art pavilion are all worth time.
Practical Tips
Tickets cost 22.50 euros online, 23.50 at the door. Book online with a time slot — the queues without a pre-booked ticket can be over an hour on busy days. Open daily 9am-5pm. Allow 2-3 hours minimum.
The gardens behind the museum are free and open to the public. The passage through the center of the building (under the main arch) is a public thoroughfare and a great photo spot.
Getting There
Museumplein, south Amsterdam. Trams 2, 5, and 12 stop right outside. The Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum are both within a 2-minute walk on the same square.