The Rijksmuseum tells the history of the Netherlands from 1200 to now, spread over four floors full of paintings and other art treasures.
The Gallery of Honor is filled with the Rijksmuseum's 17th-century masterpieces. You will find, for example, The Milkmaid (also called The Kitchen Maid) by Johannes Vermeer, The Jewish Bride by Rembrandt and Portrait of a Couple by Frans Hals.
The most famous painting in the Rijksmuseum is The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn. You can find this painting in the Night Watch Gallery, at the end of the Gallery of Honor. The painting shows the Amsterdam rifle company of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch. Originally The Night Watch was larger, but pieces were cut off in the early 18th century to make the painting fit for its then location.
The journey through history begins on the ground floor with Medieval art. On this floor you will also find the Special Collections, a collection of surprising objects from the museum's collection, including collections of miniature silver, musical instruments, Delftware and ship models.
The largest painting in the Rijksmuseum, The Battle of Waterloo by Jan Willem Pieneman, hangs on the first floor. This floor is dedicated to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. There are also some paintings by Vincent van Gogh and you will find unusual dollhouses. Be sure to visit the Cuypers Library, the largest and oldest art-historical library in the Netherlands.
The third floor is not large, but interesting; you will discover the twentieth century here. In addition to some avant-garde paintings by Karel Appel, among others, you can admire Dutch Design furniture and a complete aircraft here.
If you've seen the inside of the Rijksmuseum, you're far from done. The gardens of the Rijksmuseum are the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. In the summer you can follow daily drawing workshops at the Teekenschool, the educational center next to the main building. Do you want to experience the taste of the Low Countries? Then book a table in RIJKS, the restaurant (with one Michelin star) of the Rijksmuseum where chef Joris Bijdendijk is inspired by products from Dutch soil.
A visit to the Rijksmuseum should not be missed during your visit to Amsterdam. So quickly book a local private guide from Aroundfriends and get the most out of your visit.