No surprise, this stellar national museum gets crowded. Consider purchasing a skip-the-line Rijksmuseum ticket, which lets you head right inside. (Be aware, blockbuster exhibitions sell out way in advance.) To maximize your experience, opt for a Rijksmuseum tour to visit with a licensed art historian, either as a private guide or on a group tour. Or combine a canal cruise with a skip-the-line ticket, allowing you to see the museum on your own schedule.
Allow at least a half-day for your visit, to see just some of the highlights of the Rijksmuseum’s huge collection.
You do not need a ticket to visit the gardens, shop, or café.
The museum has free Wi-Fi.
Flash photography, selfie sticks, and videos with lights are not allowed.
The Rijksmuseum is located in Amsterdam South on the Museumplein (“Museum Square”), at Stadhouderskade and Museumstrasse. It's easily accessible via tram to Hobbemastraat. Nearby attractions include the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and the Royal Concertgebouw. The Red Light District is also within walking distance.
The museum is open daily, with the busiest months being April, May, and August. From morning to mid-afternoon, the estimated wait time at the ticket office is about 20–30 minutes, so it’s best to book a skip-the-line ticket. The last admission is 30 minutes before closing time.
The Dutch Golden Age in Holland was a time of prolific art and powerful commerce, and some of the most famous paintings on display at the Rijksmuseum include works from this time period. Be sure to see Night Watch by Rembrandt (1650), showing the militia led by Frans Banning Cocq. Other featured 17th-century Flemish and Dutch masters include Jan Vermeer (The Milkmaid, Woman in Blue Reading a Letter), Frans Hals (The Merry Drinker), and Jan Steen (The Merry Family). Beyond the celebrated paintings, other notable galleries include Sculpture and Applied Art (Delftware, dollhouses, porcelain, furniture), Dutch History, and Asiatic Art in the Asian Pavilion, which includes the famous 12th-century bronze statue of a dancing Shiva.
