When visiting Amsterdam, the Museum Quarter is always on top of the list of place to see before leaving the city.
There are two museums here that visitors never miss out on and one of these is the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam in Amsterdam – Netherlands.
Location
The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam in Amsterdam – Netherlands is located at Jan Luijkenstraat 1. It is at the southern section of the city, within the Museum Quarter.
Getting There
To reach the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam in Amsterdam – Netherlands, you can take tram number 2 or tram number 5 from the Central Station. If you will be coming from the Zuid-WTC Terminal, take tram number 5.
Alternatively, you can also take tram number 12 from the Sloterdijk Terminal and from the Amstel Terminal, take the Metro going towards Weesperplein. From here, you can take tram number 6, tram number 7 or tram number 10.
What to See and Do
The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam in Amsterdam – Netherlands has a wide collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age.
The exhibition titled The Masterpieces has the “Burgomaster of Delft and His Daughter” by Jan Steen done in 1665, “River View in Winter” by van der Neer circa 1655-1660, and Jan Steen’s “The Feast of St. Nicholas” circa 1665-1668, among many others.
The most famous paintings here however are those by Rembrandt, particularly his masterpiece, “The Night Watch” circa 1642 as well as those by Johannes Vermeer, particularly his “The Milkmaid” circa 1658-1660.
There are also temporary exhibits displayed in the museum, based on different themes.
Photographs and publications are also found here. For those who wish to learn more about the arts or do a bit of research on various artists, there is a library within the museum that is open to the public.
Brief History
The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam in Amsterdam – Netherlands was established some time in the 1800s and was originally located in The Hague. The museum was established for the purpose of exhibiting the collected paintings of the Dutch stadtholders.
Stadtholders play the role akin to a French Lieutenant or an English Lord Lieutenant.
The museum was then called National Art Gallery. In the year 1808, the National Art Gallery was moved to Amsterdam upon the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother, King Louis Bonaparte.
The city’s own collection of paintings, including Rembrandt’s “The Night Watch” became part of the museum’s collection.
Construction for what was to become the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam in Amsterdam – Netherlands began in the year 1876. It was officially opened to the public on the 13th of July in 1885.
Cost
Entry fee to the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam in Amsterdam – Netherlands is 12.50 Euros per person. Visitors aged 18 years and below get free admission.
Access to the library, print room and reading room is free.
Other Information
The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam in Amsterdam – Netherlands is open daily, from 9 in the morning up to 6 in the evening. The museum is closed every 1st of January.
Taking pictures and videos inside the museum is strictly prohibited.
