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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 -
See the world-famous The Night Watch and Milkmaid -
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
I began following this museum on Instagram about a year ahead of our trip. Their Instagram feed was very helpful to recognize the magnificent works they hold. Entry is through the tunnel. There are lockers, audio guides, restrooms and an elevator tucked into a corner. Larger bags and water are not allowed in the galleries. You will be checked for items not allowed. There are three floors divided by century. Floor plan pamphlets are available at the entry. This museum has so much to see it might be impossible to do it in one visit. I know I certainly didn't see much in the half day I had there. Of course, I wanted to see the most famous so spent my time on the second floor missing the third. There is a garden to see also. The gift shop has much of the same kind of merchandise you find in any museum shop. They are cashless, even for small purchases.
Great museum. Lots of great pieces from the last 5 centuries. Not just painting too. There is art of all kinds. Well worth visiting.
I would have given this museum 10/10 EXCEPT … I have walking problems. The 2 girls on reception were incredibly rude and hostile to being asked for assistance as to how to access the lift. It really is very difficult to find the lift. It Also has 4 stairs going up BEFORE you can access the lift. Their assistance was SO rude and bad that I asked for the manager. Who was sympathetic and helped. BUT this is one of the main art galleries in the world you should have a designated person to assist those with hearing, sight or physical disability. I nearly cried with the pain after struggling down the stairs. Poor show guys. But the art is spectacular.
Some great paintings and a great place to visit. Although the Night-watch was undergoing restoration it was still awesome. The cafe was surprisingly good and affordable.
If you can only go to one museum in Amsterdam this should be the one. It is a National Museum and tells the story of the people of the Netherlands. The art is amazing - Van Gogh, Vermeer, Rembrandt - they're all here and the galleries are wonderful. Spend at least a morning or afternoon inside. It is well worth the visit.
I don’t consider myself into art but this was an amazing experience. We spent an afternoon here and didn’t cover it all. Could easily spend a few afternoons here but don’t take your kids.
Amazing museum, a little bit of everything, went there twice. You can easy spend 3 hours there, because it is a big place, 4 floors, air conditioner. Nice staff, walk around the outside part, they have lockers, you do not need to book in advance, if you want you can online but if you buy at the ticket shop they ask you if you want to go straight away.
This museum is a must see for a trip to Amsterdam. The sheer amount of content inside makes it well worth the value. The architecture of the building itself is beautiful too.
Signed up for a skip the line private tour. Tour intended to support up to eight guests. We were lucky and ended up being the only guests. Our tour guide hit all the right notes and expertly guided us through all the exhibits. Her knowledge of the painters, their style and interesting tidbits about most of the paintings provided a unique perspective. Guide was personable and very professional. Unfortunately 2.5 hours does not do justice to this great museum.
Worth seeing this museum .we booked the tickets before as we were adviced by a friend who came here two years back.It was amazing old things kept very well. The history was amazing.Everything looked as new.
This museum is a must for all art lovers as it houses some of the finest works of art by some of the greatest artists of all time, all in a beautiful building which is in many ways like a work of art in itself. We had pre-booked tickets online and also booked a guided "highlights of the museum" tour, which I would thoroughly recommend. Our guide, Esme, was knowledgable, entertaining and clearly passionate about the artists and art works on display. The tour lived up to its name, taking in paintings by Van Gogh, Vermeer and of course Rembrandt's famous Night Watch. It would have been easy to spend all day in the museum as there are several floors of art works as well as a garden to explore. We did stop briefly for a coffee and a delicious blueberry muffin in the cafe and also bought a few things in the gift shop, which was crowded, our fault for leaving it until the end of the day to pop in. The staff were generally friendly and helpful throughout the museum.
Great - we all did the kids audio tour for team spirit. It led us to areas we might not have bothered visiting which was lovely. It moves at a pace which is good. Nice to also see a Van Gogh, Vermeer and Rembrandt in one place. We also went up to the top floor to see the Mondrian and Rietveld chair. Four not five stars because they didn’t tell us we wouldn’t be able to see most of the Night Watch due to repairs and a film crew standing in front of it.
Visited this museum 2 years ago with friends and decided to go again this time. Would highly recommend booking tickets as this museum gets very busy, I booked for 11am and found it to be an ideal time. It's also worth downloading the Rijksmuseum's app as the audio guide is free and very informative. On the first visit we chose to listen to 'The best of the Rijksmuseum' tour, this was essentially a highlights tour and took us around the whole museum. The tour includes the famous 'Night Watch' painting by Rembrandt, which is currently under restoration - definitely one of my favourite parts of the museum. On this trip I opted for the 'Colonial Past' tour which focused on Dutch colonial history, trade and slavery. Highly recommend doing this thematic tour if this is of interest to you. By the time I was leaving the museum was very busy so I was unable to try the cafe, however, this is a great museum with some great history - a must do while visiting Amsterdam!
Stunning building and very grand. We came early at 0930 and found the staff very helpful and accommodating unlike some of the reviews. Went straight to the Night Watch which is slightly obscured due to restoration work but the scale and magnificence are still visible. Studied all the paintings in this area and was mesmerised by the skill and genius of the artists on show. Their skill and work is of another dimension - it has to be. We found it easy to navigate once we got our bearings and the map was excellent. I think the descriptions by the paintings could be much larger as people crowded close to try and read what they were looking at and who painted it. We stayed about 4 hours but could easily have stayed longer. I did expect more Vermeers, Rembrandt's, Van Gogh (maybe that was my wishful thinking) but left satisfied and in total awe of these magnificent works of art and the artists who created them.
Beauty is inspiring, and it is also a blessing. I guess it is simply natural to be inspired when you are surrounded with so much natural beauty as I am at this moment at the stunning Greek Island of Kythira. A special place with its own unique kind of beauty. But 'beauty' is a meaning and a value that is rich enough to encompass and subsume many types and kinds which although different they remain related and attached to the same meaning and value, that of beauty as such. In beautiful Kythira, I remembered another beautiful place which I visited briefly and for the first time this year in late June. This place is Amsterdam. Despite the short visit, I was able to recognize and appreciate the 'beauty', which, although different yet equally inspiring. I would personally label Amsterdam as a cool and artful city. Art is indeed possibly the keyword and meaning that defines the city and, more broadly, its culture. The beautiful and very friendly people of Amsterdam also added to this same beauty and artfulness with a good sense of humor and a healthy sense of ease. My visit to the Rijksmuseum during my stay in Amsterdam was a must visit. Other than complementing my aesthetic experience of Amsterdam, it also introduced me to the most prominent Duch artists (and not only) through their important and priceless works of art. I will not list the names of these artists as they are, indeed, many and very well known to most of us. I would rather simply say that there is no better place and building, which in itself is a rare 'piece of art' than the Rijksmuseum which can very adequately and respectfully host and exhibit the valuable work of all these established artists. Art criticism is not my profession. What I could state, however, as a mere receiver and appreciator of good art is that ginuenly talented painters and artists of all kinds help us as viewers, not only enjoy and appreciate the beauty of their art, but also the beauty of nature and more broadly of the life that artistically inspired them. And equally the 'beauty' of 'their nature' as artists enabling them to appreciate and interpret the simple and 'magical' details and uniquely depict and present these through their art. Visit the Rijksmuseum and you will definitely revisit again!
We were here for over 3 hours and started to run out of steam. The collection is incredible, but it is enormous so does take a lot of time. The gardens are also lovely and great street artists on the way through
Am amazing collection of art covering all things Netherlands - Van Gough, Rembrandt, etc. But also really enjoyed the dolls house, musical instruments, and the Asia house. Download the app and some tours before you get there!
This was well worth the money. We found our own way around as the map the museum gives you and the cards at every display gave enough information to suit our needs. We did what was suggested and went at 9am when it first opened and were glad we did so as the lines and people increased after 11am as we were leaving. The map highlights the main things to look out for on each floor, this helped our planning otherwise you could wander for a long time. The Night Watchman was huge but photos disrupted by the research and restoration that is happening with it at present. Overall was a great experience.
The collection is rather large. They even own an assortment of Chinese china and figurines from Asia. The remainder is primarily made up of historical artifacts and European artwork, including a weapons area. Outstanding pieces by artists like as Vermeer and Rembrandt may be seen in the Main Gallery. Not to mention the main gallery's stunning architecture. I used to spend as much time staring at the ceiling as I did painting.
This place is a must. The art work on display is amazing, ranging from well known classical artists to modern works. Be sure to book before you go. It is too big to take it all in one go, choose wisely where you start from. The information desk people are a great source of advice. The cafe there is extremely well run, great service staff, with good food.
Lots of history facts. If you are a history fanatic, you should definitely go. Lots of information to take in so would go again!
We were lucky to buy tickets from the ticket office located between the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum, some people were turned away after us. I would recommend you buy tickets a couple of days (at least) in advance as otherwise you’re hoping for cancellations or last minute extra releases. We gave ourselves about 2 - 2.5 hours to go through the museum and we managed to see everything that was on offer at the time. We weren’t able to read all the information plaques but managed to have a look at most. The collections within the museum are extremely impressive, with some of the pieces being impressive on both skill of the artist and in size of the piece too! The building itself is a piece of art! Staff were very friendly and able to point us to the areas for specific pieces we were keen to see and some provided interesting information that isn’t immediately available from the information plaques associated to the piece. There are lots of facilities (a shop, cafe and plenty of toilets). There are also lifts to allow easier access to certain levels and pieces which was nice to see as it meant more people could enjoy this museum. Overall, if you’re in Amsterdam and looking for a museum to visit, this is the one! I would recommend that you give yourself a morning or an afternoon in here to enjoy it at a leisurely pace. But most importantly, book your tickets in advance!
We didn't make reservations, which put us in danger. There was a wait, and the personnel preferred that reservations be made online. We completed this quickly and entered right away. A tour was provided by the headset we had. We found the tour itinerary to be unclear, therefore we didn't follow it. It was simple to listen in this way since the paintings that caught our attention had numbers next to them.
I always enjoy going to the Rijk, a very beautiful museum with an amazing art collection. Staff were friendly and attentive. And ofcourse the area around the museum itself, is out of this world! My only criticism, and it's usual for most art galleries, is that crowd control is awful.
A must visit in Amsterdam if you enjoy the Dutch Masters. Really amazing works of art. The staff leave you alone (unlike in Berlin where they annoy you) unless you are dumb and try to touch the art. First class experience. The Night Watch is behind glass this time either for safety or repair. The only issues with this museum: it is hot (lack of adequate cooling) and in the summer it is much too crowded with annoying tourists.
A must see in Amsterdam - great museum although Travelling in mid-summer, the museum was packed. The exhibits were fantastic, but with so many people they were often hard to get in front to photograph. Photos are allowed as long as you don't use a flash
This is a good experience in Amsterdam! It is quite expensive at €22.50 per person. There is some really interesting art inside but it could be considered overpriced
The Rijksmuseum is one of Europe's foremost museums/art galleries. The main draw is Rembrandt's "Nightwatch" but there are so very many more wonderful paintings and other works of Art, too numerous and indeed too famous to list here. The 2012 alterations have opened up the entrance atrium and enhance the whole experience. The staff are very helpful and the galleries are wheelchair accessible. Pre booking is essential and even with limited numbers the main attractions are quite crowded.
Very big impressive museum. Beware the Cafe, Fancy titles for very expensive food. I ended up with what was essentially a chicken sandwich for 14 euros. Take a picnic if you can
What to say about the Rijksmuseum? Thé Rijksmuseum? The Dutch art icon and home of the Dutch Masters. Rembrandt’s ‘Nachtwacht, Vermeer’s Milkmaid, and so much more. Must Visit, Must See Museum. Truly a must.
Rijksmuseum is a must-see for art and museum lovers. Their collection is extensive and we probably saw only about 50% after just over 2 hours of walking. There is a cafe and restaurant inside if you wanted to take a break and then continue exploring the museum, but we wanted to enjoy the nice weather outside. The one negative is that you can’t enter the gift shop without a ticket, so we were not able to go back to the gift shop after we exited following our visit. In contrast, the Van Gogh museum gift shop is open to everyone. Aside from that we absolutely enjoyed our visit. The museum itself is beautiful inside and out, and you can sit and relax in the garden even if you are not visiting the inside.
An excellent collection of works by Dutch artists from the last several hundred years. The building is impressive as are th grounds surrounding it.
A beautiful museum with amazing exhibits. We definitely underestimated how long it would take us to see the things we wanted to. I’ll definitely be back again!
Such an iconic museum. it is very easy to get lost and would definitely think about joining a tour group if we return. The café looks lovely but it was unfortunately full when we looked at siting down.
What a great museum! We bought tickets in advance and downloaded the app to plot out our visit. Many famous things, such as night watch but literally around every corner, was something new and interesting. We only had the afternoon you could easily spend all day here
Visited on 6th May All staff very friendly and helpful. There was so much to see! One of the best museums I've ever been to! Lost or interesting and unique pieces. I especially loved the dolls houses. Would definitely recommend for all ages :)
We lived for almost a year in Amsterdam and for part for this time my kid didn't attend school. During this time I visited Rijksmuseum almost daily - sometimes with a special cushion and colour pencils to make our visits more experiential and creative. I appreciate this place for its beauty, great collection and for being not too overcrowded. And of course we loved museum shop and cafe!
This museum is massive! Lots to see and even then you won't see it all. We didn't realise we couldn't buy entry tickets at the door so luckily we had brought our phones and could buy some from a nearby cafe. If you want to see it all you will need the whole day and walk alot!
May 2024 - a great museum. Easy online tickets from official museum website, as my title says - make an booking to enter at opening, line to enter forms earlier, have a plan for viewing, get museum cafe snack or lunch before noon, if possible go on a weekday. All to avoid the crowds: it’s worth the effort to be in the Gallery of Honour with like 5-7 other people there. Guided tour would be great but they were booked out a month ahead of our visit. Added on to our ticket (free) visit to the special Franz Hall exhibition. Download the app for the free audio guide (please take your own headphones - really annoying listening to others blast their phone speakers). Thoroughly enjoyed this world class museum! Staff friendly and helpful, plenty of info online for planning, lots to do in the museum zone. My only complaint was the very specific instructions on the museum website for bags, purses, backpacks, etc ( no larger than an ‘A 4’ sheet of paper - letter size) was completely ignored by staff at the entrance on our visit. We abided the rule only to be smacked around by backpacks as the galleries became crowded. Minor detail but annoying.
A visit to Amsterdam is not complete without a stop at the RijksMuseum. In general, this space is not well signed and not easy to get around without alot of unecessary walking in circles. The map is not exactly clear. The elevator is constantly full so caution to those with challenges, have patience when waiting for the elevator. BUT the art exhibits are stellar. DO get tickets in advance DO get a snack at the coffee shop inside A lovely stop. Saw a Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh.
Wonderful experience. We only were able to see just a small fraction of the collection! Easy access to get around the museum for those on crutches.
Guided 1 hour tour (7.50 extra) after free entry via I Amsterdam app was great. Lovely staff. Great work to see. Worth 2 hours minimum visit. Loved hearing the stories behind the painting from knowledgeable staff. Guided tour has headphones system for human to speak to you thorough (rather than self guided) so you don't miss anything. The Dutch know how to provide a good experience
Fantastic museum. We spent 4 hours here and was nowhere near enough, the museum is vast - will have to make a 2nd trip! Do take a "highlights of the Rijksmuseum" guided tour! A special thanks to Hugo who was brilliant in the hour tour we had with him - we both learnt so much from him about the history of the museum - and some of the significant artworks by Vermeer and Rembrandt. Highly recommended.
We spent 5 hours in here & I don't believe we saw everything. One gallery after the next had fabulous pieces. Recommend going early in the day if possible as the famous pieces such as the van Gogh pieces & The Night Watch can be crowded
This is the biggest and most complete must visit museum in Amsterdam. It has all collections from all ages and history of the country. An immersive culture program with different interests from classic paintings , clothes, sculptures, objects, maritime life etc. It has also pieces of Van Gogh and Rembrandt , so in case you didn’t book in advance Van Gogh museum , you can still enjoy this visit! Around 2h for a quick visit !
We had a guided tour through Viator that made all the difference with seeing the art. Head to the 2nd floor for the must see art! If you don’t go in, at least bike or walk through the passageway.
Definitely worth a visit. The collection of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh paintings were terrific! We thoroughly enjoyed the lower level galleries too - a must-see exhibition of everything from maritime models and musical instruments, to French fashion and ancient weapons! Amazing variety and so interesting. The in-museum cafe also serves delicious food and coffee whenever you need to refuel your group!
Wonderful museum and tons of amazing works. We focused on the second floor and had a paid guide. The guide really brought it all to life, but also there are some wonderful laminated large cards that point out key things about some of the more significant works. You could spend weeks here taking it all in. We enjoyed the cafe after the tour. The food was fresh and there were a variety of options. The service was excellent and the system of ordering with the QR code was efficient.
An amazing museum with a lot of pieces from different eras. It's big and stunning. Especially the öibrary was amazing. A must visit.
Loved the museum. I was glad I pre-ordered tickets, but it wasn't necessary. Just means the line is smaller. There's a lot of stuff to see, so we prioritized: Giving ourselves time to look at the building and the stained glass inside Vermeer Rembrandt Delft pottery Ship models (these were super cool and very unique to this museum) Dollhouses (yes!) If you have more time, see more, but for my family, the like to know what are the must-see's.
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