Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum “1 kilometer Route”

Finding your way in a museum can sometimes be difficult. Fortunately, the Rijksmuseum has come up with something very clever and fun! With the “1 Kilometre Route” visitors enjoy a kilometer long of centuries of artworks and artifacts that the museum has in its collection. There are also all kinds of puzzles to solve: an array of interesting questions and games to keep the visit to the museum as fun as possible.

350 Years of Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum

A visit to the Rijksmuseum is a rare opportunity to dive into the world of renown Dutch masters, one of which is Rembrandt. View the largest collection of Rembrandts work ever in one exhibition and discover why Rembrandt is still one of the greatest artists in the world.

The Rijksmuseum is home to both permanent and temporary exhibitions and has recently launched one called “Alle Rembrandts.” For the first time ever, the museum will show all of Rembrandt’s works in their collection — simultaneously in one exhibition. No fewer than 22 paintings, 60 drawings and 300 prints can be enjoyed and admired by visitors from all over the world. Since the Rijksmuseum has the largest and most prominent collection of Rembrandt’s work in the world, “Alle Rembrandts” is, therefore, a unique opportunity to see his intimate self-portraits as well as grand scenes and special sketches at the same time and to discover why he still considered a brilliant Dutch artist.

A visit to the Rijksmuseum also presents visitors with a chance to see masterpieces from Dutch and Spanish masters during the “Rembrandt-Velázquez” exhibition. Thanks to a unique collaboration with the Museo del Prado in Madrid, paintings by Spanish masters such as Velázquez, Murillo, and Ribera can be seen for the first time along with Dutch masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Hals.

Isn’t it wonderful and rare that Spanish and Dutch masters can be admired side by side so that you can clearly see what people in the Netherlands and Spain thought about religion, beauty, and emotion? A visit to the Rijksmuseum is a real must for lovers of art from the Golden Age! Don’t miss this opportunity!

Visiting the Rijksmuseum with your family

Of course, children are always fascinated by Dutch art and history and this is one of the reasons why the Rijksmuseum has fun and interesting tours for families with children. These tours involve a lot of watching listening and engaging activities. There are so many ways for families to explore the Rijksmuseum and with the help of special tools such as ‘family guides.’ The family guide is a fun and attractive activity book that provides everyone in the family with an opportunity to read, puzzle and learn about the world of Rembrandt and Vermeer. The guide also contains fun facts about the history of the Netherlands and the artworks of Dutch masters in the museum. There is also a treasure hunt through the museum in the form of a 3D puzzle and the family game in the Rijksmuseum multimedia tour.

Children’s Activities in the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum also has children’s activities and courses that are both fun and educating. There are courses and workshops for children from 6 to 8 years and for children from 8 – 12/14 years! These activities take place in the Teekenschool, within walking distance of the museum. Don’t forget to sign your children up for these activities and courses because they teach them about the world they live in, its history and of course, art.

Rembrandt’s Drawing Lessons for the Kids

Every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., children can come and draw for free in the Picnic Area of the Rijksmuseum. Freestyle and draw a landscape or a shell, or maybe try to sketch an animal in 1 minute! Sketch just like Rembrandt used to. You don’t have to reserve, all you have to do is join and participate at any time you want (excl. Museum ticket).

Would you like to draw under supervision? Then come on Sundays between 2 and 4 pm or on the public holidays from 11 am – 4 pm. Every school year, Rijksmuseum offers all kinds of different creative workshops and courses for children. Also accessible with an I Amsterdam City Pass! All this workshop and courses take place in the Teekenschool, at Hobbemastraat 25.

Master Classes for the Kids

Masterclasses are also regularly held at the Rijksmuseum on Sunday mornings and well-known Dutch artists and illustrators give a master class for children on the last Sunday of the month. This is perfect for children who have the ambition to become an illustrator or an artist.

The Rijksmuseum regularly organizes tours, drawing workshops, or even special youth theatre programs for children. There is also a Rijksmuseum kindergarten tour for children from ages 4 – 12. Children also get to play in the Rijksmuseum’s gardens, especially in the fountain, so it is highly recommended to bring a towel. There is also the “You and the Golden Age” which is actually an exciting experience with a quest through the museum in which the collection of the Dutch golden age, the 17th century, plays a central role. It is a theatre show in the museum and the lively and funny actors all make it special for the kids.

Tickets for the Rijksmuseum Family Day

It is not necessary to reserve tickets for the special activities at the Rijksmuseum. Would you like to combine the special family day activities with a tour through the Rijksmuseum? Then order your regular tickets via the blue bar on this page. Children up to the age of 18 and museum card or city pass holders can enter for free! Do you have another type of card? Ask at the front desk if you can also enter for free!

The Rijksmuseum Escape Game – Crack the codes in the Rijksmuseum

There is a new edition of the Rijkmuseum Escape Game: In the shadow of Rembrandt. The Escape Game is suitable for 2-5 people and for children from 6 years. It tells the exciting story of Rijksmuseum employee Bart, who is still busy with his research into Rembrandt after closing time. As he turns a page, he sees an old sketch with a very strange date …

This is the start of a game that takes you straight through the museum, meant for real code crackers. Can you help Bert in his discovery? Take part in the escape game and see how far you can go. It’s all more fun when you do it as a group of friends or as a family.

Opening hours Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is open 7 days a week 365 days a year, including national holidays like King’s day, Christmas day and New Year’s day.

Rijksmuseum Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I visit Rijksmuseum, what’s there to see?

If you’re into art or history, you definitely don’t want to miss out on Rijksmuseum. The museum is home to 8,000 artistic and historical objects tell the story of 800 years of Dutch history, from the year 1200 right up to the present. There are pieces to be seen by the most influential artists in Dutch history. The must-sees according to the Rijksmuseum are:

• Night Watch, Rembrandt van Rijn’s most famous painting.
• Gallery of Honour with paintings of Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Vermeer, and Rembrandt.
• A gorgeous collection of Delft Blue pottery ranging from tea sets to vases.
• Cuypers Library, the biggest and oldest art history library in the Netherlands.
• Unique dolls’ houses that provide a detailed view of everyday life in the 17th century.
• Complete collections of miniature silverwork, musical instruments, glass, porcelain, an impressive armory and a large number of ship models.

How long do I need for my visit?

This depends totally from person to person, but we advise at least 1.5-2 hours as there is so much to see. If you really want to go a little bit more in-depth with the artifacts to be seen and some more background information, one can spend up to 4 hours easily.

Where is Rijksmuseum located?

Rijksmuseum is located at Museum Square in Amsterdam. See the location on the city map here or visit 9292ov to find out how to get there by public transport.

Who built the Rijksmuseum?

The majestic building that houses the museum was opened in 1885, after 8 years of construction. The building was designed by Dutch Architect Pierre Cuypers. Between 2003 and 2013 the building has been completely renovated.

Can I take photos in Rijksmuseum?

Yes, you are allowed to take photos in the museum.

Am I allowed to take my luggage into the museum?

Only handbags and purses, no bigger than an A4 paper are allowed in. There’s a cloakroom where you can leave small-sized backs and daypacks free of charge. However, you can not leave large size suitcases at the cloakroom. In case you have checked out of your accommodation, we advise you to find a luggage storage point in Amsterdam to store your luggage.

In addition to a visit to the Night Watch, what should you really not miss when you visit the Rijksmuseum?

There is the Grandfather’s clock, the medieval prayer nuts, the ring weapon, the model ship William Rex, the dollhouses, the library, the jewels of the special collections, the dioramas of Suriname, the milkmaid, the temple guards, the Nova Zembla clock, the girl in blue, the collector’s cabinet, etc.

Address, Contact Information and Route to the Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum is located on the popular Museumplein. As the museum is located in the city center, so it is advisable to use public transport, a bicycle or just go on foot. From de Leidseplein (Leidse Square) it’s just a 10-minute walk to the Rijksmuseum. The Stedelijk, Van Gogh and Moco museums are also within walking distance.  Scroll down to find information on public transport and a city map to find the museum either by foot or by bike.

Address
Rijksmuseum
Museumstraat 1
1071 XX Amsterdam
+31 (0) 20 6747 000

Public Transport

From lots of areas in Amsterdam, there trams available to take you to the Rijksmuseum. Depending on where you hop on the tram you either have to get out at the stop Rijksmuseum, Museumplein or Spiegelgracht. The following trams will take you to these stops:

From Amsterdam Central Station:

• Subway 52, heading to Station Zuid, stop Vijzelgracht
• Tram 2, heading to Nieuw Sloten, stop Rijksmuseum
• Tram 12, heading to Amstelstation, stop Rijksmuseum
• Tram 24, heading to VU Medisch Centrum, stop Vijzelgracht

From Amsterdam Sloterdijk:

• Tram 19, heading to Diemen Sniep, stop Spiegelgracht
• Train to Amsterdam Central Station, follow instructions from thereon.

From Amsterdam Amstel:
Tram 12, heading to Amsterdam Central Station, stop Rijksmuseum

From Amsterdam Zuid WTC:

• Subway 52, heading to Noord, stop Vijzelgracht
• Tram 5, heading to Van Hallstraat, Rijksmuseum

Are you not sure where you are located at this point or which tram to take? Please use the button below to get accurate, real-time travel advice based on your current location.

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