Rijksmuseum★★★
Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam
Täglich 9–17 Uhr, keine Schließtage
Erwachsene 22,50 €, unter 18 kostenlos. Museumkaart gültig.
The Rijksmuseum is the most important museum in the Netherlands and one of the most significant art museums in the world. After a 10-year renovation (2003–2013), the magnificent building by Pierre Cuypers shines in new splendor — and the collection is overwhelming.
The Highlights
- Rembrandt's Night Watch (De Nachtwacht) — The most famous Dutch painting of all time. 3.63 × 4.37 meters of drama, light, and shadow. Since the restoration (Operation Night Watch) in a special room with high-tech glass protection. This painting alone is worth the visit.
- Vermeer's Milkmaid (Het Melkmeisje) — The quiet masterpiece of light painting. Vermeer's ability to transform everyday life into pure poetry is at its peak here.
- Gallery of Honor — A 30-meter-long hall full of masterpieces from the Golden Age: Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Jacob van Ruisdael. The presentation is breathtaking.
- Asian Pavilion — Surprisingly strong: Japanese samurai armor, Chinese porcelain, Indonesian art — testimonies of Dutch trade history (VOC).
- Cuypers Library — The most beautiful library in the Netherlands: neo-Gothic splendor with colorful tiles and wrought-iron railings. Photography allowed!
Plan at least 3–4 hours — to see everything, you need a whole day. The museum shop is one of the best in Europe. The museum gardens (free) are perfect for a break between the halls.
💡 Tipp
Buy tickets online and be there at 9 am — then you have 30 minutes almost alone in front of the Night Watch. On Fridays, the museum is open until 10 pm (fewer visitors, cool atmosphere with a DJ in the atrium).
