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Rijksmuseum tickets and tours

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Rijksmuseum entrance ticket
Attractions & guided tours

Rijksmuseum entrance ticket

Get your Rijksmuseum entrance ticket and discover Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals paintings as well as the costume exhibitions.

Validity Flexible
Instant Confirmation
Fast Track
Amsterdam Combo: Rijksmuseum & 1-Hour Canal Cruise
Activities

Amsterdam Combo: Rijksmuseum & 1-Hour Canal Cruise

See the extensive art collection of the Rijksmuseum and relax on a 1-hour cruise through the famous canals of Amsterdam.

Duration up to 24 hours
Instant Confirmation
Fast Track
I Amsterdam City Card for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours
Attractions & guided tours

I Amsterdam City Card for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours

Explore Amsterdam with the I Amsterdam City Card! Get free entry to museums, take a canal cruise, enjoy unlimited public transport and save money.

free cancellation
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Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum private guided tour
Attractions & guided tours

Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum private guided tour

Join a 5.5-hour private guided tour including two of Amsterdam's most popular museums, the Rijksmuseum Van Gogh Museum.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr, es 

Rijksmuseum and Rembrandt’s home semi-private combo tour
Activities

Rijksmuseum and Rembrandt’s home semi-private combo tour

Visit the Rijksmuseum, followed by an afternoon focusing on the life of world-famous artist Rembrandt on a 5.5-hour small group tour with entrance tickets included.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Go City I Amsterdam All-Inclusive Pass with 40+ Attractions
Attractions & guided tours

Go City I Amsterdam All-Inclusive Pass with 40+ Attractions

Visit as many Amsterdam attractions as you like, all on one pass. Best of all you'll enjoy great savings compared to buying individual tickets.

free cancellation
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Amsterdam guided mini city bike tour
Activities

Amsterdam guided mini city bike tour

Bike along the Amsterdam canals and see the city's highlights on this guided tour. Explore in true Dutch fashion and hear more about the city's history.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Rijksmuseum guided tour: old masters and the Golden Age
Attractions & guided tours

Rijksmuseum guided tour: old masters and the Golden Age

Get a guided visit to the Rijksmuseum and visit a vast collection of artworks. Dive into the Golden Age and discover the secrets of famous artists' paintings.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Rijksmuseum entry ticket
Attractions & guided tours

Rijksmuseum entry ticket

Get your Rijksmuseum entrance ticket and discover Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals paintings as well as the costume exhibitions.

Validity Flexible
Instant Confirmation
Entrance Fees Included
Amsterdam private bike tour
Activities

Amsterdam private bike tour

Discover Amsterdam like a local on this 2-hour private bike tour. See the famous Anne Frank House and many more popular sites.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Rijksmuseum
Attractions & guided tours

Rijksmuseum

free cancellation
Available in:

es 

Amsterdam canal cruise and Rijksmuseum ticket
Activities

Amsterdam canal cruise and Rijksmuseum ticket

Enjoy a 75-minute canal cruise of Amsterdam, along with entrance tickets to see the Rijksmuseum's internationally revered collection.

Flexible
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, ar, +8  de, pt, ru, nl, ja, pl, zh, ko

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Netherlands

4.5/5 (1675)

About the Rijksmuseum

For a small country, The Netherlands has punched far above its weight in the world of art. Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh, and the Bruegels are just some of the masters who’ve changed the face of painting. So, it goes without saying that the country’s national gallery, the Rijksmuseum, is packed with world-class art. It houses more than 8,000 artworks, spanning from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

The Rijksmuseum was founded in The Hague in 1800 but moved to Amsterdam eight years later. It’s been housed in its current building on the Museumplein since 1885. Unusually, the museum’s art did not originate as a royal collection but has been built up by purchases and donations.

Its most famous work is undoubtedly Rembrandt’s The Nightwatch… which was originally called Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq. It got its popular name because it was so dark. In fact, it’s set in the daytime. Among its many secrets, is that Rembrandt hid a self-portrait of himself in the painting. It was recently restored in the museum, with visitors able to watch the restorers at work. And be prepared for other surprises about this larger-than-life masterpiece.

Things to know before your visit

  • You need to book a start time unless visiting as part of a guided tour

  • Entry is free for visitors under 18

  • The museum is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility

  • Photography is allowed, but flash and tripods are prohibited

  • Animals are not permitted, except for guide dogs

  • The Rijksmuseum has a café and a Michelin-starred restaurant, which is open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and on Tuesday to Sunday for dinner

  • Use of the cloakroom is free

  • The museum is cashless – you can only pay by card in the dining areas, gift shop and so on

Opening hours

The Rijksmuseum is open from 09:00 to 17:00 every day of the year, including public holidays

The museum’s gardens are open only during summer, from 09:00 to 18:00

How to get there

By tram – lines 2 and 12 from Amsterdam Centraal Station stop at the Rijksmuseum

By bus – line 397 stops at Museumplein

By metro – Noord/Zuid (52) line at the Vijzelgracht or De Pijp stops

By car – Q-Park Byzantium parking garage is opposite the Rijksmuseum

On foot – the museum is centrally located in Museumplein and is a pleasant walk from Leidseplein and the city center

Get ready to visit the Rijksmuseum

What should I really see at the Rijksmuseum?

It goes without saying that The Nightwatch is a must-see. Rembrandt’s revolutionary masterpiece has a room all to itself, adjacent to the Gallery of Honor. You can see Vermeer’s The Milkmaid there and admire his technique in creating the illusion of flowing milk. Thanks to the influence in the Netherlands of the Reformation, which frowned upon religious painting, the Dutch Golden Age is associated with portraits, and there’s no shortage of them in the Rijksmuseum. As well as those by Rembrandt, there’s one by Van Gogh. As a particularly Dutch handcraft, Delftware has a section all to itself. Admire beautifully crafted blue-and-white pieces, often inspire by Japanese motifs.

What are the best ways to visit the Rijksmuseum?

The Rijksmuseum is one of Amsterdam’s top draws. It operates a strict time-based admission process to ensure you enjoy your experience. We recommend a private guided tour so that you get all the background information on the artists and their works. You can also visit the museum as part of a combined ticket, such as in conjunction with a canal tour or with the Van Gogh Museum across the Museumplein. Or you can simply wander around at your own pace with a general admission.

How much time do I need for visiting the Rijksmuseum?

An attraction such as the Rijksmuseum demands devotion, so it’s no surprise that average visits are more than 5 hours long. And with such fine dining on offer, many have been known to stay much longer.

What is the best time to visit the Rijksmuseum?

Arrive as early as possible in the morning, with the hours between 09:00 to 12:00 having the lowest footfall. The busiest times are generally between 12:00 and 15:00. Mondays and Tuesdays are quietest, while Fridays and Saturdays have the most visitors.

Why are there so many portraits in the Rijksmuseum?

During the Reformation, portraiture flourished across Europe. Rulers’ portraits, emphasizing their attire and possessions, served as remote symbols of authority. What’s more, as the middle class rose, portraits expanded beyond royalty to professionals, depicted with tools denoting their occupations. Calvinism’s minimal emphasis on saints and the Virgin Mary further influenced art themes. The affluence accumulated during the Golden Age, especially by merchants who traded with Dutch colonies, amplified portraiture’s appeal, with Amsterdam’s exclusive Grachtengordel exemplifying the desire to display wealth.

How to get there

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Netherlands
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Reviews Rijksmuseum

  • Anonymous

    - February 2016

    Great

    Overall rated

    4/5

  • Anonymous

    - January 2016

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    The new Rijksmuseum is nationalistic to a ridicolous degree. It should not be a "look how interesting, cool , fine and great the Netherlands are" - mu ...

  • Anonymous

    - December 2015

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    Booking was easy with informative follow up emails. The relatively recently reopened Rijksmuseum was easily entered with our online tickets...and an o ...

  • Anonymous

    - December 2015

    Great

    Overall rated

    4/5