The Hermitage in Amsterdam is an art museum located on the Amstel river. It is a branch of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, one of the largest museums in the world. A great lover of art, Catherine the Great founded the Russian counterpart in the eighteenth century. The location in Amsterdam is used to showcase some of the more than three million pieces of art that were once housed in the original museum. Today, almost 400,000 visitors visit the impressive Hermitage Amsterdam annually.
Initially a women’s retirement home, the Hermitage Amsterdam building has stood for over 250 years. The interior of the structure was renovated into an art gallery in 2009, costing around €40 million at the time of its completion. The remodelers took care to insure that the exterior appears much the same as it did when it was first built, helping preserve the Dutch culture of the past. The restoration has also allowed the museum to become part of multiple sustainability projects to reduce energy consumption.
A brief summary below will provide you an introduction of all the beautiful exhibitions that are being held right now at the Hermitage.
Portrait Gallery of the 17th Century (Permanent Collection):
In this exhibition, the Hermitage and the Rijksmuseum have brought their collections together for the first time, for an overwhelming experience of thirty colossal group portraits from the 17th century. For more than 30 years during this time, the Netherlands were world emperors. Known as the Golden Age (or Gouden Eeuw), this period marked a turning point in Dutch history.
Outsider Art Museum (Permanent Collection):
This exhibit, standing for power and religion, showcases over 200 stunning art works by both and amateur and international artists, such as those of Chinese and French descent.
Panorama Amsterdam (Permanent Collection):
A brand new exhibit that allows visitors a chance to see Amsterdam as a panoramic timelapse. See how Amsterdam looked when it was first founded in the Middle Ages, all the way to the present look and feel of the city, with each image from the vantage point of the Hermitage building!
Jewels! (September 14, 2019 – March 15, 2020):
The Hermitage is showcasing their impressive collection of jewels in the new exhibit subtitled The Glitter of the Russian Court. See the jewellery and gowns worn by royalty before the Russian Revolution.
