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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
Fabulous building full of treasures. It was great to be able to see the Surhc master work up close and a particular highlight to see the restoration work in Rembrandts Night Watch. Also fascinating were the miniature doll houses and the replica sailing ship. Well worth a visit!
The architecture is impressive and building is huge. Lots of exhibits and a very large area to cover. We selected the 9 am 1st lot and arrived early and was first in queue. Signage was not very clear where the entrances are. It is at a passageway that runs through the building. There is more than 1 entrance there. It was good to appreciate the paintings and exhibits in the first hour but the place began to fill up with visitors quite fast. Honestly, the museum is extremely big and one can take hours to slowly cover all the exhibits, depending on one’s interest. Allocate more time if you enjoy checking out all the exhibits. Tickets can be booked from the museum’s own website or from third parties. Download the app for free commentary about every exhibit. Need to use ear phones.
This museum is so big and its collections are so diverse that they would probably benefit from being split. People who are interested in Rembrandt's painting do not necessarily want to know about eastern art and/or american photography (and vice versa). That said, all the works are so well classified that one doesn't need an audio guide (thus saving 6,50€). The biggest flaw of the main exhibition is how Rembrandt's masterpiece "The Night Watch" is exposed (i.e. behind a thick reflecting glass which prevents taking good pictures). Still a very good museum, mind you.
Yep back after 20 years. Utilised Amsterdam card. Long queues outside. The wait was worth it. The redevelopment of the museum "wow". Only critism is poor signposting to lifts. After traveling early from Liverpool ability to do stairs was limited. The restaurant especially the new cake celebrating 750th anniversary of Amsterdam beautiful. The gift shop very expensive is only real negative.
Wow...I wish I had more time. Allow a minimum of 2 hours...we stayed for 3 hours and saw about 70%. Staff were all very friendly and helpful. Get the app and bring earbuds for a free 'tour.' Select paintings will have a number that you key into your app to get a deeper dive into the art you are viewing. By no means am I an art connoisseur, but this was a great museum.
An absolute myriad of paintings dating back to the 17th century. We got in for free on the Go City pass. Surprised by the fact that it was possible to go right up to each painting and take pictures. It’s possible to spend hours there. There’s a nice cafe so you can take a break at any time. Also a nice garden outside and a fun fountain you can get into the middle of.
We loved our afternoon in this museum. I was not prepared for the sheer beauty of its paintings, Delft, doll houses and models! We certainly appreciate art but to think I could have missed this bothers me! There was a King’s Day crowd as we were there Friday before its official Saturday celebration and Amsterdam was crazy. Make sure this is on your list of must-do’s in Amsterdam. Lots of good help finding what we needed and kind people to help you!
Very impressive museum. Only drawback was a lack of signs indicating elevators and stairs. Large display of many great Dutch artists as well as ceramics, military guns, swords, ship models, etc.
The Rijksmuseum is an impressive and extensive museum with a lot to see. From Dutch Masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer to an array of historical artifacts and beautifully curated exhibitions, the collection is both rich and varied. It's very well organized and presented, making the visit enjoyable and informative. You should definitely plan ahead and reserve enough time to explore everything — there's so much to take in that a quick visit wouldn't do it justice. Overall, a fantastic experience and a must-see if you're in Amsterdam.
We spent 4 hours visiting the museum from the bottom to the top floor and had a breakfast break in the museum's coffee shop, which serves plenty of delicious options. The museum itself is quite impressive, and the artwork is mesmerizing. The best part is the mobile app, created by the museum, which gives you free audio and visual tour, helps you navigate this massive museum with ease and learn more about selected paintings through the audio stories narrated in the app. Mandatory to book tickets in advance, online, the entrance gets sold out easily if you don't reserve your slot. Fabulous experience, highly recommended!
Great art museum. Very large. Plan a lot of time to get through everything. Expect crowds. Lots of great painting from artists like Van Gough and Goya. Well worth seeing. Make reservations ahead of time.
Nice but way too much to see and when the tour groups turn up…..good luck. The app tour guide is good but not many options to hear
The museum came recommended to us and it was not hard to see why. We were not prepared for the size of it and the number of paintings by Dutch masters. Not being heavily into art, we chose to pay for the audio guides to add some flesh at what we were looking at, which was a good choice. The museum was very busy and given that the visit was in the week leading up to Kings day, we may well have to return so as to avoid the numbers of people but also allow much more time, as a few hours is just not enough to give the paintings the attention they deserve.
Lovely museum with variety of works by primarily Dutch artists. Can be tricky to navigate your way around. I do not understand why museums allow pictures to be taken of the art work. I am further perplexed that guests take selfies of art works. I was actually asked to move away from a painting I was studying so a person could take a selfie with it, and I lost it.
Rijksmuseum is located in a lovely building with easy access to the tram. It's a massive building with so many works of art including the Masters and Dutch history. We spent 6 hours there and couldn't possibly see everything. Save the cost of the audio guide and download the app - it's wonderful! Bring headphones/earbuds. From the app you are able to choose which works of art you want to see or simply follow the app for the 'highlights' tour... and that took us several hours. Get familiar with the app before going to the museum. Seating in galleries is available, but not always when you want it. Rembrandt's Night Watch painting is currently under restoration, but you are able to see it. The reproduction on the wall in the next room is easier to see. We did not take advantage of the cafe, but it was available. Entrance is via security checking bags. Book your tickets before you go to avoid disappointment. A few visitors were quite obnoxious literally walking right in front of us to get close up while we were viewing a painting from only a few steps away. We found some of the museum tour guides had little regard for visitors not in their tour group. They would go right up to paintings pointing out things to their group but being in the way of others just wanting to see a painting. Yes, it's a museum worth visiting - but expect crowds.
The collections in the museum were extremely impressive and extensive. Works of arts were from different eras. The Dolls houses and library were amazing. The delftware, William rex and Etienne-Maurice Falconet were some highlights in the museum also. Staffs were friendly and helpful. Definitely worth visiting at least 2 hours.
I can't get over my fantastic visit to the Rijksmuseum! I haven't been to the museum in over ten years, as I was living in the United States at the time. However, I have recently visited many museums in the US, France, the UK, Greece, Turkey, and Italy. The new redesign is so well thought out and visitor-friendly. If I can compare it to, say, the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles, which I visited the month before. Though their art is exceptional (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa'), the user experience is often poor. You feel crammed, overwhelmed, claustrophobic and simply unloved. But the Rijksmuseum is the exact opposite - you feel like they care about you. I never felt hemmed in; I could spend as much time as I wanted looking at even the great masterpieces (like Rembrandt's 'Night Watch' or Vermeer's 'Milkmaid'), and there were plenty of seats for when I felt tired. It's testament to how great the museum is that my usually heavily distracted ADHD son was able to enjoy this museum for almost three hours. I can't say how impressed I am with the Rijksmuseum, which I will definitely visit again the next time I'm in Amsterdam.
Visiting the Rijksmuseum was a fantastic experience. The ticket purchase process was smooth and hassle-free, making it easy to focus on the incredible art and history inside. Highly recommend!
The Rijksmuseum is an absolute gem in the heart of Amsterdam equal parts art gallery, time machine, and national treasure. From Rembrandt’s breathtaking Night Watch to Vermeer’s delicate Milkmaid, every room is packed with masterpieces that tell the story of the Netherlands’ rich artistic and cultural history. The building itself is a work of art. Towering arches, intricate ceilings, and wide-open galleries give each exhibit the space to shine. Walking through the museum feels like being swept through centuries from medieval armor to 20th-century modern design. The layout is intuitive, and the app helps guide you to key highlights if you’re short on time. One of the best surprises? The detailed exhibits beyond paintings furniture, fashion, Delftware, ship models, and more each beautifully displayed and offering insight into everyday Dutch life across time. The library room alone is worth a stop it’s a quiet, cathedral-like space for book lovers and historians. This museum is massive, so wear comfortable shoes and take your time. A café and gift shop near the exit round off the visit nicely, giving you a chance to unwind and pick up a little art-inspired souvenir.
The Rijksmuseum is definitely worth visiting. It has an impressive and extensive collection of art, and we truly enjoyed exploring it. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, culture, or classic art. The entry process was super fast — we were inside within a minute, which made the experience even smoother. The only downside was the restaurant, which is extremely overpriced. Unless you’re prepared to pay a lot for a simple meal, it might be better to eat elsewhere. Overall, a fantastic cultural experience and a must-see if you’re traveling to Amsterdam.
Great organization of the museum makes for a great day exploring the exhibits. We took a snack break in the cafe so we could have time to see everything. Go early in the day to make sure you get a (free) locker
Very beautiful and well organized National Gallery. This is a must visit when in Amsterdam. Here you will see classics from the masters as well as a stunning collection of art and historical pieces.
We signed up for the hour guided tour in English. Our tour guide, Harpert, was great. He kept the tour moving and gave us background information on the museum, it's renovations, and selected art pieces, including The Night Watch. Harpert was a gem; we would sign up for any tour that he was giving. In addition to the pieces highlighted during the tour, we enjoyed exploring the entire collection on our own.
A great museum full of many different things to see an appreciate. The pictures are of course beautifully presented and well known, but dont miss looking for the Dolls house for example which is amazing.
A well presented museum. A little confusing at times when trying to find certain numbers on walls for exhibits though. Well ventilated and bright and interesting artifacts in English and Dutch. Lovely way to spend a couple of hours in the city. There are huge bathrooms and lockers etc so you can walk around with ease without all your bags and jackets etc.
A worthwhile experience as something to tick off the list when visiting Amsterdam. We aren’t particularly cultured when it comes to art, but we enjoyed a wander around and the building and grounds are beautiful.
We really enjoyed our visit, although it is vast, it is sectioned into chronological periods. We did have trouble finding some pieces of art including the Van Gogh (maybe go to the Van Gogh Museum if we’re in Amsterdam again?!). We booked tickets on-line with timed entrance. We arrived early and enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Cafe Cobra behind the Rijkmuseum in Museumplein.
Stunning artwork. VERY well displayed and grouped. While Rembrandt's Night Watch was under renovations, the information about the reno was facinating. We did the self-guided tour and the devices worked perfectly. It is best to pick the artists or periods you wish to visit and focus on those. This museum is HUGE and would take a couple days to really see it all. So incredible to see some of the greatest works in history.
The museum is huge and can be overwhelming. As I get older and weaker, I find it harder to get through an entire museum comfortably. I've held true to the belief that it's okay to whizz by a gallery or rooms that don't hold your interest, but with added pain, it makes sticking around even tougher. That being said, there are a lot of elevators that, in my experience, were only used by those that actually needed it, and not the lazy entitled tourist. There are many benches throughout the galleries as well. People using said benches to watch reels at full volume. We've failed as a species. Violent fantasies increase. By coincidence, the special exhibit was on "American Photography" and there's nothing wrong with a little Robert Frank when you're museum hopping. The special exhibit might be a little hard to find, and it's a bit like a mouse in a maze trying to find its cheese to get there. Staff is friendly and helpful. You have to buy tickets before entering. There's a nondescript dude standing somewhere random you can buy a ticket from. There's a huge fascist style banner with a QR code you can do it on your phone. You can do it online ahead of time, but then you're restricted to the entry time you chose, though they may not be strict about it, depending on crowd volume. Spent about two hours there and barely saw what they have. Must visit, when in Ams.
Best to pay the extra for a guided tour. Enjoyed the art work so much more with background information. Would like to visit again.
Fantastic displays concentrated in a couple of time periods. Wonderful building that is imaginative and welcoming. However, navigating was difficult because of the lack of directional signs, or ones that were misleading. (I never did find the Asian pavilion). Most disappointing was the cafe. You had to be seated before you could see a menu, but there was a line and I wanted to see what was offered and the cost before I was seated, and it was expensive. Personnel in general were very helpful.
This is a huge museum with a lot to see. It was very busy in certain areas but we managed to book tickets on the door. The layout is quite confusing with very few signs. Loved the library! Worth a visit but pick what you want to see!
The art contained in this museum focuses on Dutch old masters. Many lovely historical paintings. I particularly liked the still life’s of flowers from 1600’s. Rembrandts Night Watch is under repair and has a large scaffolding in front of it, so don’t be disappointed. The Vermeers are stunning don’t miss them. What can you say historical, important, beautiful, national art. Great art. Toilets located down stairs first floor only, not a single water fountain available in the whole place, but the kicker is the third floor is not connected!! The third floor is accessible only if you enter from second floor great hall up stairs that gets you to 1 smallish area, go back downstairs to 2 floorgreat hall on opposite side go up another set of stairs to access the other part of 3 rd floor. It was very confusing and 3 floor is where a very small collection of impressionist paintings are located. It’s a lovely collection. A lot of schools visit also a lot of guides with groups. I wish the museum staff would require guides to talk to the groups away from the paintings because they monopolize the area and the paintings are inaccessible to the rest of the public. I waited 30 minutes to get near the Vermeers for a group of 10 people and guide to finish the tutoring lol. I was annoyed because I thought that staff can prevent that kind of monopolization.
In common with many of the world's capital city museums, this is a colossal collection of art and artefacts. It is almost too much to cram into one day, I'd recommend scoping the bits you want to see and getting to them first. Advance booking is essential.
We spent a whole day at the Museum. There is a wide mix of art and other collections from Medieval to 20th Century. The Night Watch which is mean to be “the” picture is undergoing examination and restoration but is still in show, but I was more impressed with some of the other Dutch masters.
This is a must-see while in Amsterdam. The building itself is breathtaking, and there is the opportunity to learn so much about Dutch history within. We spent several hours here yet I think we probably only saw half of the museum! It is well organized and relatively easy to navigate. I do wish I had opted for the audio guide, though.
This is a huge museum with so much art and history to see. Conveniently located next to the Van Gogh museum if you want to combine. We went first thing in the morning before it was too crowded.
The Rijksmuseum is an absolute treasure trove of art, history, and culture. From the moment you step inside, you’re surrounded by stunning architecture and an incredible collection of masterpieces.
We really enjoyed this museum. I would consider it a must do when in Amsterdam. A few tips: 1. The Museum is €25 but is covered with the I Amsterdam Card. 2. Reserve your time in advance. If you have the I Amsterdam Card it’s easy to just select that you have the card and reserve your time for €0. 3. Plan longer than you think for this museum. It has a lot of things to see. 4. Enter the queue a few minutes prior to your reservation time so you can go through security and drop your coats and bags prior to entering the museum.
Awesome visit, entire staff was helpful and friendly. Could have spent more time there, Thank you for a memorable visit.
This historic museum is full of Dutch treasures, especially paintings from the age of great realistic painting. And they have interesting displays of information that educate you about the background of the paintings. I left with a better appreciation of this particular school of art. I recommend that you buy your entrance ticket on line to avoid a crowd at the entrance.
Starting from Floor Zero with the Renaissance and then to Floor 2 (with the Honour Gallery) took almost 3 hours as there are so many artifacts to see and enjoy. I particularly loved the silver work done by a family of silversmiths.
The stunning building of the Rijksmuseum is a short distance from Amsterdam Centraal in the vibrant Museumplein area. The staff are exceptionally welcoming and friendly. The museum is vast, offering a journey through Dutch and European art masterpieces. Unless you have ample hours to spare, I would recommend being selective about what you wish to see. Nevertheless, you will discover some remarkable masterpieces to appreciate. The museum can become quite crowded, particularly around the more famous pieces of artwork. The café is often busy, but there are plenty of eateries in the local vicinity. The shop is charming, with a good selection of items available, and there is also a bookshop. It's a must-visit for history, art, and museum enthusiasts.
This is not a place to be rushed allow at least 3 hours and take your time. The focus is on art rather than history of development of the city. Well worth it.
The Rijksmuseum is an absolute must-visit—every single time! Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, there’s always something new to discover. The art exhibitions are stunning, showcasing a perfect mix of iconic masterpieces and fascinating temporary collections. It’s become a beloved tradition in our family to visit every Christmas, and it’s always such a charming experience. The museum feels festive and full of life, and it’s the perfect place to make lasting memories together. Despite the crowds, there’s always enough space to enjoy the art without feeling cramped, and the staff is incredibly helpful and welcoming. Plus, it’s fantastic for kids—engaging, educational, and fun for all ages. A true cultural gem that never disappoints. I can’t wait to go back again and again!
Amazing museum!!!! Upon arrival, the staff was so nice! The exhibitions were amazing. From Rembrandt to American Photographs, every work of art was breathtaking. A don't miss in Amsterdam.
This museum surpassed our expectations. We went into this feeling like we kinda had to do this one but were more excited about the Van Gogh museum, and this one ended up being our favorite and then some! We did a 1hr guided tour to get started - highly recommend as it got us a general lay of the land and showcased some history of the beautiful building itself as well as key art pieces we wanted to see. It was such a fantastic way to spend a morning in Amsterdam. Highly recommend.
It is one of the best museum for paintings. Only Night Watch is enough to visit. If you really look every pieces it will take 4-5 hours, so you can rest at the museum cafe may be visit 2 floor then continue:)The shop is expensive.
This museum is high quality and has many different types of art and collections. I was in awe with many of the paintings and enjoyed every room. This was worthwhile visiting.
The Dutch are an excellent people, organisation is one of their finest qualities, and the Rijksmuseum is as tight as a drum. My partner needs a wheelchair to move around, and all the staff couldn’t have been more helpful, friendly, welcoming, professional and informed. Huge lifts everywhere, the museum is organised in two huge buildings ( pink and green sides ) either side of a massive, beautiful, arched concourse. It is also organised by the century. Whatever your physical impairment may be you can visit the Rijksmuseum with ease, and I heartily recommend you do!
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