If you’re an art lover, the answer to this is unquestionably yes. I fell in love with Dutch art during a high school philosophy class. That love was reinforced with visits to Amsterdam and while working for a Dutch cruise line.
Consistently listed as one of the top Amsterdam attractions, even if you simply appreciate good art, the Rijksmuseum is well worth a visit to enjoy a full Amsterdam experience. The Netherlands, after all, is known for its long history of producing great artists, including Golden Age masters Rembrandt and Vermeer, and Modern Age pioneers Vincent van Gogh and M.C. Escher.
The Rijksmuseum at a Glance
The ornate Neo-Gothic and Renaissance revival facade of the Rijksmuseum adorned with exhibition banners in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Originally opened in 1800 as the National Art Gallery in The Hague, the Rijksmuseum—translated directly as “State Museum”—has stood in its current location in Amsterdam since 1885. A bicycle path cuts through the stunning Gothic and Renaissance-style building, as the museum was, at the time, planned as a gateway connecting the old town to the new residential areas.
The museum’s collection includes approximately 1 million works of art, historical artifacts, and craft items created over 800 years of history. About 8,000 of these items are on display, offering visitors a chance to view works not only by the Dutch masters, but also by others, including Rubens, El Greco, Botticelli, and Caravaggio.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Rijksmuseum is just 15 minutes by metro from De Ruijterkade, the river cruise dock, making it convenient if you arrive in Amsterdam on a river cruise.
It’s also a pleasant 40-minute walk through the city. You should plan to spend two to three hours exploring the museum, but if you have just one day in Amsterdam, you can visit the museum’s highlights in about an hour. Be sure to stop by the new sculpture garden, which is free to explore.
Scenes of the Netherlands Depicted in Art
From Rembrandt’s “The Night Watch,” depicting Dutch civic militia guards, to Jan van Goyen’s paintings of Dutch landscape scenes, walking through the Rijksmuseum is a walk through Dutch history and its countryside.
It’s also a preview of some of the scenery you’ll enjoy on a Rhine River cruise or, if you’ve already disembarked, you’ll be transported back to your time onboard and in the towns visited along the way.
Marvel at the view of Dordrecht, Netherlands, from a river ship and compare your memory to “View of Dordrecht at Sunset” painted by its native son, Aelbert Cuyp, one of the most celebrated landscape painters of the Dutch Golden Age.
Visit Maastricht on a river cruise today, and the scenery is much different than that depicted by various artists in the paintings and sketches of the Siege of Maastricht during the Eighty Years’ War.
Must-See Artwork
Should you have limited time or need more specifics about why you might want to visit the Rijksmuseum, here are some must-see works of art on display.
The Night Watch by Rembrandt
Rembrandt’s Baroque masterpiece The Night Watch depicting Captain Frans Banninck Cocq leading his civic guardsmen, housed within the Rijksmuseum.
At over 12 feet high and 14 feet wide, and weighing about 337 kilograms, The Night Watch is Rembrandt’s largest piece of art. Made for one of several halls of Amsterdam’s civic guard, the city’s militia and police, Rembrandt was the first to paint figures in a group actually doing something, rather than simply posing.
The Milkmaid by Vermeer
Along with his famous painting, The Girl With the Pearl Earring, which is housed in the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, The Milkmaid is one of Vermeer’s most iconic works. Like The Girl With the Pearl Earring, The Milkmaid uses warm blues and golds.
Well known for his paintings of everyday household scenes and use of light, Vermeer’s The Milkmaid depicts the daily chore of a woman employed to milk cows and make dairy products. But if you look closer, you’ll notice some of what makes Vermeer’s artwork so brilliant: his subtle attention to background details, including a broken window, mold on the plaster wall, and a rusted nail hole. Since there are only 35 paintings attributed to Vermeer, it’s a treat to see even one in person.
Self-Portrait by van Gogh
While Vermeer is only believed to have painted 35 works, Vincent van Gogh painted about that many self-portraits alone. He painted himself simply because he couldn’t afford to pay for a model. Many of these were produced while living in Paris during the height of the Impressionist movement, where he met Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Monet. These self-portraits are among his most famous works and you can see one while visiting the Rijksmuseum.
The Great Hall by Cuypers
The backbone of the Rijksmuseum, the Great Hall is a masterpiece in itself. Designer Pierre Cuypers created it to honor the glory of Dutch art and history. The walls display scenes from Dutch history and ideals such as faith, charity, and justice. The mosaic floors highlight the four elements and the four seasons, symbolizing earthly life.
But it’s the stained glass windows that draw your attention. With a cathedral-like feel, the windows were designed to pay homage to the arts. Large windows on the left and right are dedicated to the art of painting and to sculpture, respectively. The central window honors architecture, while smaller windows pay tribute to writers and philosophers.
Visit the Rijksmuseum Before or After a River Cruise
An arched passageway beneath the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, framed by ornate brickwork and vaulted ceilings.
Spend more time exploring Amsterdam with Celebrity River Cruises℠ Before and After Stays. Beginning in 2028, guests can choose to stay in Amsterdam for a few days prior to or just after their cruise.
But you won’t be on your own (unless you choose to be). Before and After Stays include intimate tours each led by a Local Storyteller℠, a stay in your choice of a premium or ultra-premium hotel, ship transfers, and daily breakfasts.
Enjoy a stay in a Deluxe room along the Singelgracht canal at the premium Clayton Amsterdam. Only a 10-minute walk from the Rijksmuseum, with other top sites, including the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, and the Heineken Experience, less than 20 minutes away, you’ll be in the center of it all. Be sure to enjoy a cocktail or meal in their restaurant, Café Americain. This Art Deco grand café was an iconic meeting spot in the 1950s and ‘60s for Amsterdam’s art and cultural community.
Choose a Deluxe room in the castle-like, ultra-premium Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium just across the street from the Van Gogh Museum and down the road from the Rijksmuseum. After a long day of touring, relax in the spa’s Finnish dry sauna, steamy hammam, and heated Watsu pool designed for weightless water therapy. Enjoy afternoon tea under the glass ceiling in The Lounge.
Rijksmuseum FAQs
Is the public or private tour of the museum worth it?
Adriaen de Vries’ Mannerist bronze sculpture Triton Blowing a Conch Shell dynamic in its muscular rendering at the Rijksmuseum.
Guided tours are offered in English as well as Dutch, and the museum’s free app includes audio tours. Don’t forget to bring your headphones!
What are the Rijksmuseum hours?
The Rijksmuseum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Booking a start time through the museum’s website is required. You should do so as early as possible, especially during the busy spring and summer seasons.
How much does the Rijksmuseum cost?
Entry costs €25 per person. Free for those 18 and under.
Is the Rijksmuseum a good place for families to visit?
Yes! The building looks like a castle, and they offer children’s art programs and Family Quest, a game where families explore the museum, working as a team to solve puzzles and complete challenges to save the museum’s stories.
Does the Rijksmuseum have a restaurant?
It has two. The upscale Rijks boasts one Michelin Star and is open for lunch and dinner. You’ll want to reserve a table. For a quick bite or a cup of coffee, try the Café.
How do I get to the museum?
The river cruise dock is next to the Central Station, where you can take the Metro 52 for two stops. From there, it’s just a five-minute walk to the Rijksmuseum.
Visit the Dutch Masters and So Much More at the Rijksmuseum
An intricate 17th-century Dutch warship model framed against a dramatic oceanic backdrop within the exhibition galleries of the Rijksmuseum.
Amsterdam has as many things to experience as it does canals. Surely, the Rijksmuseum is one of those must-dos for art lovers, or simply for those who want to view some of the world’s most famous works of art.
Browse river cruises to Amsterdam and visit the locations that inspired the Dutch masters.
