24 Sep Rijskmuseum Amsterdam – Home of the art

Have you ever wondered what The Night Watch by Rembrandt and Napoleon have in common? If the first thing that comes to your mind is the Rijksmuseum, you’re right!

Rijksmuseum is the National Museum of the Netherlands and it is located in Amsterdam, the capital city. Following the example of the Louvre, the government of the Republic of Batavia decided to establish a national museum. It was founded in The Hague at the end of the 18th century, but in 1808 it was moved to Amsterdam. The museum moved to two locations in the city until it settled permanently at Museumstraat 1 in 1885. Now home to some of the most important paintings in art history, this place is among the most visited museums.

Numbers & facts

The collection of this museum has about one million works of art – many of them from the Dutch golden age. Asian collection is also part of it, it is displayed in Asian Pavillion. The museum’s rich library is considered one of the best for art history research.

The working hours of the museum are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. The price of the ticket for adults is 20 euros, and entrance is free for everyone under 18 years of age. Make sure to book your ticket and visiting hours online, because that is the only way to actually visit the museum.

You will find the museum very easily on the city map. That building marks the beginning of the museum route (Museumstrat), which takes you past the most important art institutions to the museum park (Museumplein). All parts of Amsterdam are well connected by the tram network, and of course by the metro.

Trivia

In the Gallery of Honours, alongside other masterpieces, painting named The Threatened Swan is on display. Besides being monumental in scale, and in emotion and drama, this painting is important because it’s the first ever acquisition of the museum. Around 1650 Jan Asselijn painted it and approximately 200 years later, it was purchased for the Nationale Kunstgalerij, or the Rijksmuseum as we know it today.

Not to miss

It may sound ridiculous that it is even possible to miss Rembrandt’s Night Watch, but it captivated us so much that we simply had to include it in this column.

Grandiose and powerful, 363 cm high and 437 wide, the Night Watch represents the very pinnacle of Dutch painting. The two prominent figures, just in front of you, are Captain Frans Banninck Cocq and his lieutenant, Willem van Ruytenburch. Now that you know their names, you’ll know you’re dealing with an art history connoisseur when someone refers to the Night Watch as Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq or The Shooting Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch. After this painting, make sure you study all of Rembrandt’s works slowly and carefully and absorb all of his genius.

Also, you will be shocked to know that the Rijks is the home of the most famous rhinoceros in history. Yes, you read that right – rhinoceros! Clara, rhino from India, was brought to Netherlands, around 1740, by the director of one the Dutch companies in India. As she grew up, Clara became more and more famous, not only in the Netherlands, but in all of Europe at that time. She inspired many artists, and some of their paintings, drawings, as well as interesting household objects are now in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

Best photo spot

The museum is so spacious and full of spots where you can take amazing pictures. The halls are beautifully lit, if you take any place on the stairs you can make a good museum photo session.

Souvenir shop

You will be impressed by the number of art trinkets you can buy here. From great gift ideas to some amazing home décor, their selection is also tastefully curated. If you’re not sure how to get there, you’re on the right path if you come across a Playmobile figures of Captain and Liutenant from the Night Watch.

After the souvenir shop, visit the RIJKS restaurant that has been crowned with a Michelin star.

Our final impression

This is one of the best-equipped museums we have ever visited. Next to the most important works of art were large maps with detailed explanations of the paintings.

Plenty of places to sit and read through them carefully. The library is also accessible to museum visitors, as long as you stay silent.

Visiting the building itself was also a unique experience because the renovation has created a balance between old and new parts, and you feel as if you have entered another world.