Rijksmuseum is a sort of a misnomer, as it actually means “state museum,” and refers to any Dutch national museum. In general, however, Rijksmuseum has become the standalone name for the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, the museum generally considered to be Amsterdam’s primary national art museum.
Originally housed in The Hague where it was founded in 1800, the museum contained the art collection of the Dutch heads of State. In 1808, King Louis Bonaparte, ordered that the museum be moved to Amsterdam on the orders of brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, and it has resided in its current location in Museumplein since 1885.
The Collections:
The museum houses a wide collections of art an historical pieces, but its best known for its collection of paintings by the Dutch Masters, including Johannes Vermeer, Jan Steen and Rembrandt, as well as those of Rembrandt’s pupils. This collection includes The Night Watch, one of Rembrandt’s most famous works.
Another excellent exhibit features the massive dollhouse belonging to Petronella Oortman, a wealthy wife of a silk merchant. The amount she spent on her dollhouse could have purchased an actual house along the canals in Amsterdam.
The Rijksmuseum also hosts traveling exhibitions. To find out what’s currently on display, check their museum website for more information.
Renovations:
The museum is currently undergoing massive renovation, which are scheduled to be completed in 2013. While these renovations take place, the museum has on exhibition an abbreviated “greatest hits” of its collection. Due to the reduced size of the exhibition, a full day isn’t needed to explore the museum; if fact, a few hours should suffice.
Location:
The Rijksmuseum
Jan Luijkenstraat 1
Hours:
Open daily from 9:00 to 18:00 (ticket counter closes at 17:30)
Closed: January 1
Admission
Adults: €12,50 (or free with the I amsterdam card or Museumkaart)
18 and under: free
The museum also offers an in-depth interactive site with more information on their collection, exhibitions and services offered by the museum (link).
Rijksmuseum Schiphol
The Rijksmuseum also operates a small annex at Shiphol airport. If you’re at the airport on a layover, take a look at this impressive collection, located behind passport control. Admission is free, and the museum is open from 7:00 to 20:00.
For more information on current exhibitions at Rijksmuseum Shiphol, take a look at their website.
