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Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, covers 800 years of Dutch history, including works by some of history's most influential artists.
The Rijksmuseum is the largest art museum in the Netherlands and is home to an impressive collection of world-famous works by such masters as Vincent Van Gogh, Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, and Frans Hals. With the help of both artworks and historical artefacts, the national museum of the Netherlands tells the story of 800 years of Dutch art and history.
The Rijksmuseum takes you all the way from the Middle Ages to Mondrian. As well as featuring beautiful art work, some of the top attractions in the museum also include their collection of armoury, doll’s houses, and model ships. The museum further consists of the Cuypers Library, the largest and oldest art historical library in the Netherlands. Visitors, students and art historians alike are welcome to use the library to delve deeper into the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
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Discover Dutch masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh
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See the world-famous The Night Watch and Milkmaid
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Dive into history with artefacts from around the world
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Discover Dutch masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh
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See the world-famous The Night Watch and Milkmaid
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Dive into history with artefacts from around the world
Museumstraat 1
1071 XX Amsterdam
Museumstraat 1
1071 XX Amsterdam
The museum's collection consists of more than one million pieces. There are around 8,000 objects on display including paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts, spanning from the year 1200 to the present. Some of the most notable art works on display include Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (1642), Vermeer’s The Milkmaid (1647), and one of Van Gogh’s untitled self-portraits (1887).
The current building of the Rijksmuseum, designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, first opened its doors in 1885 and has been a national heritage site since 1970. The most recent renovation project has made sure the museum continues to function as a connection between the past and the present as it combines the old with the modern. The atrium features a high glass ceiling and spacious, contemporary architecture that blends uniquely with the traditional red-brick walls.
The museum's collection consists of more than one million pieces. There are around 8,000 objects on display including paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts, spanning from the year 1200 to the present. Some of the most notable art works on display include Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (1642), Vermeer’s The Milkmaid (1647), and one of Van Gogh’s untitled self-portraits (1887).
The current building of the Rijksmuseum, designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, first opened its doors in 1885 and has been a national heritage site since 1970. The most recent renovation project has made sure the museum continues to function as a connection between the past and the present as it combines the old with the modern. The atrium features a high glass ceiling and spacious, contemporary architecture that blends uniquely with the traditional red-brick walls.
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ChildrenChild ticket for 0-18 year olds
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Opening hoursMonday - Sunday: 9.00 - 17.00
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Ticket informationTicket directly available on smartphone
Tickets cannot be rescheduled or cancelled -
Free WiFi available
Free audio-guide available
Wheelchair accessible
Free access to bathroom
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ChildrenChild ticket for 0-18 year olds
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Opening hoursMonday - Sunday: 9.00 - 17.00
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Ticket informationTicket directly available on smartphone
Tickets cannot be rescheduled or cancelled -
Free WiFi available
Free audio-guide available
Wheelchair accessible
Free access to bathroom
- Free tours are available in the Rijksmuseum app in English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Mandarin
- Pets are not permitted inside the Rijksmuseum, except for service dogs
- Free tours are available in the Rijksmuseum app in English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Mandarin
- Pets are not permitted inside the Rijksmuseum, except for service dogs
Easy to get tickets online. Walked up to entrance and saw a quicker queue on other side , which we went into. Easy way in at 10.30am and minimal visitors at that time. Go early to avoid people ! We downloaded the free app which was good enough. There are information placards at all items on display. Museum is vast but we managed to see around it ( what we were interested in) in 4 hours or so. It got very busy at lunch time. The exhibits are well laid out. The Nightwatch is behind glass so you can’t get near it as restoration worked is being carried out. I’m would have liked to see more impressionist paintings by well known artists but that’s just me. There is something for everyone at the Rijks. I’m so glad the Van Gogh museum was booked as we would have missed this gem.
Amazing selection of art, I spent hours here and thoroughly enjoyed it, there were some mild repairs, but they didn't disrupt my trip and I'm counting down the days till I can go again. The gift shop was reasonably priced and had a good range of gifts for people.
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is a truly interesting and expansive experience. The museum is massive, and they provide you with a brochure highlighting the most important artworks in each room. It felt like a treasure hunt, as you followed the brochure to find all the key pieces. This made the visit much more engaging and interactive. Due to its size, exploring the museum thoroughly takes time, so be prepared to spend a good while discovering all its treasures. It’s definitely worth the visit for anyone who enjoys art and history! P.S. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance, as they can sell out quickly!
Beautiful place, however it can be extremely busy and overcrowded. Their souvenir shops are filled with cheap looking souvenirs but are way too overpriced.
Make plans to be here all day. Get the Rijksmuseum app from the Play Store or Apple Store. This is free and contains the same material as the official museum audio guide. You may enter the number of a specific piece of art from the museum into the app, and it will display that piece and provide you with further information. Additionally, some art pieces have paper information guides.
We booked a guided tour with a lovely Tour Guide called Lisa - who was clearly an art historian or fine art expert. We started in the middle ages, moved through the centuries to the 1700's to the Night Watch which started renovation in 2019 and has yet another 3 - 4 years to go to completion. It's just amazing to get those insights through the guided tour. It's such a huge museum and could take weeks and months to see everything. Having limited time in Amsterdam this tour saved us a lot of time but also provided us with a lot of information. I'm so grateful to have been able to visit and see and learn more than I would with a guide book.
A little confusion over where to buy tickets as the building apparently contains 3 museums some of which only sell tickets online. You can buy tickets for the Rijks Museum from a little ticket office. The museum itself is very informative with a good selection of art works. If you are interested in learning a bit of culture then I would definitely recommend it. There is a lovely coffee shop on site which also sells food.
We visited the Rijksmuseum on a wet and windy day at the beginning of December. You have to buy tickets before you can go inside, which you can buy online or at a small shop outside the museum. You can’t take rucksacks, umbrellas etc into the collections but they have a free cloakroom where you can leave your things. I recommend lunch at the museum cafe, which serves delicious food. We’d read that the museum is always super busy, but it was fine when we went and not overly busy. We mostly went to the second floor where you can see the Rembrandt and Vermeer paintings, amongst others. There is a nice museum shop, and a bookshop. The museum is very accessible, with lots of lifts to all floors if you can’t use the stairs. The staff were also really lovely, and very helpful.
This exceptional art museum houses unique exhibits you won't find anywhere else. We opted for a guided tour, and our small group was led by a knowledgeable guide who provided insights into the artwork, artists, and historical context of each piece. The Vermeers and Rembrandts were the stars of the show, but there are many other captivating paintings and intriguing objects, including a massive model ship, ancient musical instruments, and exquisitely detailed dollhouses.
As a long time art fan, it has been shamefull that I have reached 60 before visiting Amsterdam. We spent three hours in here and even that wasn't long enough. The staff were very helpful when we had a minor medical issue. First class.
Beautiful. Lovely gardens. Full of history and culture inside and outside. Amazing arquitecture. People are very nice
The **Rijksmuseum** in Amsterdam is one of the Netherlands' most prestigious museums, dedicated to art, history, and culture. It houses masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age, including Rembrandt’s *The Night Watch* and Vermeer’s *The Milkmaid*. The museum’s collection spans over 8,000 objects, featuring paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts, displayed in an elegant 19th-century building. Its beautifully landscaped garden and the nearby iconic "I Amsterdam" sign add to the appeal, making it a must-visit for art enthusiasts and travelers.
The **Rijksmuseum** in Amsterdam is one of the Netherlands' most prestigious museums, dedicated to art, history, and culture. It houses masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age, including Rembrandt’s *The Night Watch* and Vermeer’s *The Milkmaid*. The museum’s collection spans over 8,000 objects, featuring paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts, displayed in an elegant 19th-century building. Its beautifully landscaped garden and the nearby iconic "I Amsterdam" sign add to the appeal, making it a must-visit for art enthusiasts and travelers.
The building is amazing to look at and the park in the back is nice to walk in. Did not go into the museum since it did look over crowded
When you first approach this museum you are immediately awed by its beauty, size and grace. Upon entering, and throughout the visit, you will notice all kinds of programming for children. A brilliant idea. Not sure why I don’t see it more often. Kids were having a blast. What a great way to expose them to art and the museum culture. I spent nearly my entire visit viewing the 17th Century Dutch Masters. I often visit single artist museums in order to enable me to focus and learn about a particular Artist or period or region. It also helps not to become overwhelmed. In this case (my second visit), I was awestruck by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Steen and (to a lesser extent) van Dijck. I was able to focus on both the artists and the period. Truly great day. PS it gets really quiet late in the afternoon!
Great welcome from the lady who was checking tickets at the door. She said we had to buy tickets on line or from the Museum Shop. She was very helpful and stayed with us as we purchased the tickets on line, She even escorted us into the Museum. Now that is what I call being helpful. The museum is huge, we were there 3 hours and didn't do all of it, We saw the main paintings and artifacts as we went from room to room.
Give yourself at least three hours to see everything properly! There is so much to see and enjoy. Works of art that are even more impressive up close. Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh and many more. The only disappointing points were "The Night Watch" and a Van Gogh self-portrait. The first is undergoing restoration so can't be seen clearly. The solution is a full sized copy in the entrance to the display. The Van Gogh is on loan to another museum.
I visited on a Monday, arriving before 9 am when the museum opens. In late November, there was already a line! I had already booked tickets on line using their website; I had also booked one of their highlights tours starting at 9:15. Tours offered by the Rijksmuseum don't seem to be listed on their website until a few weeks before, so if you don't see one offered during your visit, keep checking back because tours and slots may open. The tour was great and covered the highlights; it only lasted an hour. My advice regardless as to whether or not you tour is to get there early and go directly to the Gallery of Honor - that's where the masses congregate. However, if you get there early, you will be able to see The Night Watch and the Vermeers with much fewer crowds. The rest of the collection wasn't as crowded. Instead of renting an audio guide, download the app - it's full of info on each work if you just type in the number. Alternately, you can visit using one of their guided tours.
If there is only one museum to visit in Amsterdam, it is this one. Starting with Rembrandt's The Night Watch. You can check on how its conservation is going. Visit the priceless works by Vermeer, Steen and others. Don't try to see everything but focus on what you think will be your favorites. Well worth many repeat visits. If you have a Museum Card, it is a great value if you are often able to see the many museums across the Netherlands. Note: The lockers fill up quickly so early entry or during the slower lunch period (noon - 13.00) have yielded better results in finding an open and available locker.
Home to Rembrandts plus other old masters Frans Hals and Jan Steen , Ferdinand Bols , Jan Vermeer and Van Gogh. I arrived at opening time 9am , a good time to visit the Old masters not crowded at all. A incredible place to visit.
we had a wonderful time learning all about the history of the netherlands. Lots of exhibits to wander through. There is also a great cafe to eat/drink at afterwards.
An excellent museum in a very nice building. Lots of fascinating exhibits (and they have the original Night Watch by Rembrandt and even better the only complete BAT FK23 Bantam (1918 post -WW1 fighter aircraft) designed by the Dutchman Koolhoven in existence). So the museum is fab now the downside.... It is quite expensive to go in (about £54 for the two of us). The cafe inside isn't cheap either... To actually go in the room with the Rembrandt is an extra charge (otherwise you view through a glass screen). The layout is a bit confusing - it is quite tricky to ensure you see everything.
This museum is massive but wonderful. Each floor is organized by date and has many good pieces to see. Highly suggest a guided tour.
This museum is amazing. Filled with absolutely beautiful Masterpieces by Dutch painters sculptors weapons etc. The museum practice of grouping all these things according to era really helps a lot, The museum can be a bit overwhelming with its sheer size and number of exhibits, a must see however and worth the price.
Fabulous exhibition and one of a kind. Explore the old Dutch and Belgian Artists in a historical building. Purchase in advance and take a privat tour guide to indulge, this will give you some valuable information.
The Rijksmuseum contains an unbelievable collection of paintings, sculptures, jewelry as well as other object d'art. Over 8,000 objects of art and history from their total collection of 1 million objects from the years 1200–2000 are on display here. Among this art are some masterpieces by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. The museum was founded in 1798 in The Hague and moved to the Royal Palace in Amsterdam in 1808. It moved into its present building in 1885 where there have been updates since. The famous “Night Watch (a 1642 painting by Rembrandt) is housed in a separate hall. It’s controversial because it pointed out the importance of an organized army in the defense of Holland. It was damaged by an urban terrorist in 1975, and the room is currently behind protective plexiglass while artists repair and restore this famous piece. The Rijksmuseum is a must visit as it is one of the most important museums in the world.
Amazing Museum. It reminds me of the eremitage in St. Petersburg. Of course the collection doesn't come close to it but its stimm impressive and you can easliy spend 3 hrs or more here depending on fast or slow you can walk. Unique art and awesome collection to look at. Best time to visit is during the winter season so you don't bump into other people. Also has free wifi and a restaurant plus helpful staff.
What a wonderful museum (or perhaps art gallery is more appropriate)! Probably the best art gallery I have been in, ever. The collection is magnificent. The building is a dream (and it was only built just over 100 years ago? It felt - in a good way - like it was built 500 years ago. Kudos to the architect). You will want to book tickets in advance online. There is a restaurant in the facility - I did not check it out. Nearby there were food trucks and a few eating establishments.
Really good museum visit while in Amsterdam. Spent around two hours walking around enjoying all the art and artifacts which was a good way to fill in time.
A wonderful collection of art work from around the world. Something for everyone. Could spend hours here. Cloakroom available and toilets facilities were good.
Joined the small group guided tour of the Rijksmuseum where focus was on pieces of the Dutch Golden Age at the second floor. Magnificent pieces including model of the ship William Rex, doll houses, Delftware, and of course, art works by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Leyden. After tour, visited the special exhibit on arms and ship models at the ground floor. Need an entire day to check out all the impressive pieces of the museum. Love the Grand Hall with the stained glass portraits!
Truly a pleasure to visit and spend time on this place. It's so easy to spend an entire day looking through the incredibly beautiful place. It not crowded. The museum is very spacious and has so many different scenaries. Absolutely 💯 must visit.
First class experience. Wish we had more time to fully take it in. We only had a couple of hours. Not nearly long enough. We only had a couple of hours. Not nearly enough.
The museum places in the premier league of art and cultural museums. While restoration works are still ongoing at some areas, many famous exhibits of e. g. Rembrandt or Van Gogh are accessible. Really visiting and enjoying every art work will take a full day for sure.
With numerous collections and a host of Dutch masters that you have seen for years in art books, this is a can't-miss if you have any appreciation for great art. The last time I was here we just walked up for tickets, but now tickets are required in advance. Luckily, they are readily available and we had no problem booking same-day tickets. We started by making a bee-line for the main gallery holding Rembrandt's Night Watch at the end. Numerous painting you've seen before line the sides of great hall. We continued going through a few of the other rooms nearby, and ended up going downstairs to the more modern artists, including a few Van Goghs. Taking a break, we sat in the cafe and had something to drink and rested for a bit before starting again. One room I had never seen before was the library, which is a huge room stretching from the ground floor to the roof, lined with bookshelf containing thousands of books on art and art history for academic research. After spending the entire afternoon, we were kicked out at closing. A must visit in Amsterdam.
The most famous works by Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Vermeer draw big crowds, so if you get there early, maybe see these first. There is so much to see in here, that I'd recommend allotting at least 3 hours plus.
The museum is amazing! You will walk and climb stairs a lot, so wear a comtable shoes is important. The souvenir shop is worth to visit. I spent about 4 hours in the museum. Definitely a must-see place when you visit Amsterdam. You can find the map on the ground floor.
For a non art buff this has decent selection of Dutch paintings by the famous vermeer and and Rembrandt. However it is not as varied as the The National Gallery in London or the Louvre.
Expansive museum housing great works of art in a beautiful building. Bought tickets ahead of time and I’d highly recommend doing so to avoid waiting for a long time in line. You can easily spend a full day here, but at the very least, allot three hours to browse the galleries. There is a cafe inside and though overpriced, it is nice to be able to rest your feet. You order through your phone but the waiters can help if needed. They do have kids options. You can take pictures of the art, though be sure to follow all posted signs. The Night Watch was under restoration when I went so I was unable to view it fully, but many other works including the dollhouses, the Swan, and the Milkmaid were all there. The library is especially nice to see, and is a working library. Overall, a great spot to visit if you love art/culture.
Whilst queuing, we tried to buy the tickets online. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any for the current time slot, but only for in 1.5 hours. We asked the man checking the tickets and he said it was fine, to just buy the later session and he’d let us in which was nice. It was very busy (mid afternoon). There are lockers but all were booked out, but there’s a cloakroom. If you carry a backpack, they ask you to wear it on your front. There’s some fantastic art from the Dutch masters - however the Night Watch is under conservation so it’s more difficult to see. The layout of the museum is also a bit hard to navigate due to how much is in it, but the maps help. There a nice cafe that we had a coffee in, you can either order via a waiter or QR code which is convenient.
The museum is wonderful! The art there is just amazing, the staff is nice and friendly. It’s just a bit crowded (which is absolutely expected), which ends up in a bit of a slower tempo of moving around. But nevertheless, it was an amazing experience!
This was wonderfull experience. Friendly staff, unbelievable art, the architecture - definately worth it. My favourte part was all the dogs in the paintings AND conservation of Nightwatch. It is super fascinating to see the process and the conservators on working with this masterpeace.
We walked to the museum from the city center. It was about 2 miles. Not bad on a nice day. The museum is huge. But passes in advance to make sure they are not sold out for the day.
The museum is located a bit south of the city center (maybe a 20 minute walk). There are at least 2 tram lines that service this area and which can get you to the central station in about 20 minutes (you can just use any tap-to-pay credit card on it). I reserved museum tickets a couple of months in advance. We visited on a Tuesday around 1:15 p.m. We arrived a bit early, so we checked out a gift shop nearby (that covers both the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum) and a garden area associated with the Rijksmuseum. We rented the audio tour devices. My unit did not work (it had lost its Wi-Fi connection) but the staff was helpful and replaced it promptly. My wife and I then used it to take the highlights tour. I generally enjoyed this. I paused at several places to look at other works beyond just the highlights, but it generally led us on an accelerated path through the museum. Towards the end, the map leading to the next stop failed to work, so we had to ask directions to some of the stops. Overall, I liked the collection of works, especially the works by Vermeer. It was hard to see The Night Watch due to the conservation work being done, but I appreciate that such work is sometimes required. All in all, I enjoyed this visit. The museum has a number of worthwhile artists / works to see.
The Rijksmuseum's stellar reputation is well earned! We booked online in advance and were permitted to enter before our assigned time slot, which gave us some extra time to explore the museum. It can be overwhelming, and we were happy to use the museum's guide to "must see" exhibits. I was disappointed that the Night Watch was under repair and not only behind a glass shield (thanks climate activists) but also blocked by scaffolding. But there were many other surprises that rounded out our visit nicely. We didn't get the audio guide, but we ran into some acquaintances who were using it and they thought it was helpful. There are lockers and restrooms easily available, plus a cafe and the inevitable gift shop. Don't miss the formal gardens behind the museum for a lovely spot to sit and reflect.
The Rijksmuseum is a must visit. A huge amount of history, simply mind-blowing. The Building is Stunning and beautiful
We bought tickets for our group of business professionals, many who were in Amsterdam for the first time, and novices at art. The website was easy to use and easy to get tickets for our group of 20. The museum offers a variety of art and information that satisfied our art lovers and those who were not. The staff on site was very helpful. The app was a great way to learn more about certain pieces.
A must-see place when you visit Amsterdam; beautifully curated collection with good dual lingual (Dutch-English) description. Plan for minimum of 3 hours to have a good time to enjoy. The gift shop is quite crowded during holidays and weekends but worth visiting. The cafe also gets crowded fast. Highly recommend that you buy the tickets in advance or even cheaper to buy the museum card if you plan for more than 2 museum visits.
Amazing collection of beautiful paintings, sculpture and artworks. Collections of antiquities were amazing, the building itself was stunning.
Very large 3 floor museum, we spent like 3 hours inside and probably still didn’t see everything, it’s a bit like a labyrinth cause it’s so big inside but lot of things to see. Nearby the museum, you can also grab something to eat or drink
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