Rijksmuseum
Location
Essentials
- Discover Dutch masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh
- See the world-famous The Night Watch and Milkmaid
- Includes access to selected special exhibits
Practical info
Children
Child ticket for 0-18 year olds
Opening hours
Monday - Sunday: 9.00 - 17.00
Languages
Free tours are available in the Rijksmuseum app in English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Mandarin
Ticket information
Ticket directly available on smartphone
Tickets cannot be rescheduled or cancelled
More information
The Rijksmuseum has her own privacy policy, terms and conditions, and guidelines for a safe visit. Please review them before visiting the Rijksmuseum.
For questions about the product, please contact [email protected]
Accessibility
Getting there
Public Transport
The nearest stops are Vijzelgracht (metro 52 and tram 24) and Museumplein (tram 2 & 12).
About
The Dutch national museum
The Rijksmuseum is the largest art museum in the Netherlands and boasts an impressive collection of world-famous works by such masters as Vincent Van Gogh, Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Rembrandt van Rijn. With the help of both artworks and historical artefacts, the national museum of the Netherlands tells the story of 800 years of Dutch art and history.
The collection contains more than one million pieces and has about 8,000 objects including paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts on display, spanning from the year 1200 to the present. Some of the most notable art works on display include Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (1642), Vermeer’s The Milkmaid (1647), and one of Van Gogh’s untitled self-portraits (1887).
Visit one of the best museums of Amsterdam
The Rijksmuseum takes you all the way from the Middle Ages to Mondrian. As well as featuring beautiful art work, some of the top attractions in the museum also include their collection of doll’s houses, model ships and armoury. And the Cuypers Library is the largest and oldest art historical library in the Netherlands. Visitors, students and art historians alike are welcome to use the library to delve deeper into the Rijksmuseum collection.
The current building of the Rijksmuseum, designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, first opened its doors in 1885 and has been a national heritage site since 1970. The most recent renovation project has made sure the museum continues to function as a connection between the past and the present as it combines the old with the modern. The atrium features a high glass ceiling and spacious, contemporary architecture that blends uniquely with the traditional red-brick walls.
Get your Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Tickets!
The Rijksmuseum is one of Amsterdam’s must-see attractions. Get your Rijksmuseum tickets online and make sure you don’t miss it on your visit to Amsterdam! A visit to the impressive Rijksmuseum is a perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of the lively centre and spend a relaxed afternoon gazing upon some of history’s most famous and influential masterpieces. If you wanted to you could spend all day at the Rijksmuseum, so the best time to start your visit might be in the morning.
The building is located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Museumplein, where you’ll also find the Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum, as well as the Royal Concerthall, which is often regarded as one of the best concert halls in the world. Book your tickets today and discover the wonders of this Dutch national treasure!
Reviews
719 reviews
A journey through Dutch Art and History
Fantastic museum with a huge collection of Dutch masterpieces. The museum is on 4 levels starting with the middle ages on the ground floor and working up to more modern art on the 3rd floor. You definitely see a change in styles through the centuries with the best works largely on the 1st and 2nd floors. They offer guided tours and self guided audio to help you absorb it all. It takes at least 2-3 hours to get through it all. Recommend buying tickets a day or two ahead as tickets are timed entry and they sell out quickly
Wow wow wow!!
I spent 3 hours in this museum and I could have stayed longer. Make sure to get the headphones to learn more about the painters and their work or take a tour with the many tour guides. The restaurant is also an added attraction. The gift shop is also definitely worth visiting, with great ideas for family gifts.
Beautiful!
This was a huge museum! We went on a whim, as we were just wandering around the city. It had so much art, you truly could spend hours in there. If you’re an art nerd, it is definitely worth going. Lots of Rembrandt pieces, among several other notable artists and pieces from the 1600s-1900s. Very cool!
Nice Museum
We were there for three hours and didn’t really spend the time the museum deserves. The Nigth Watch paint from Rembrandt is under restoration so be aware of it you won’t be able to see it. Adults are $25 and kids under 18y/o are not charge. The security is very tight since my daughter was tired and they don’t accept you seat to close your eyes. It was very busy with some school groups but it is a wonderful museum to visit.
Historical Netherlands Art Museum
When visiting Amsterdam, you must visit the Rijksmuseum. The museum houses Dutch art and artifacts from the middle ages through the 20th century. Paintings and other art work from Rembrandt, Vermeer and other prominent artists of the time. This is a large museum that could take you all day to explore. A good time element would be 2 to 4 hours so not to be overwhelmed.
Great museum
Beautiful museum with so much to see. The building itself is amazing, and the art collection is seriously impressive.
Good Visit
We did not reserve tickets online as they were sold out. There was a queue outside but no signage as to where to wait to buy tickets. Once inside, there were no directions for the lift (although the staff were very helpful). Only one set of bathrooms in the basement. Apart from that, wonderful experience. I would say you need at least 3 hours. Across the street at the Cobra Cafe they have a cell phone charging cabinet. Brilliant!! I dont know if they are all over Holland but such a good idea.
Extensive collection, attractive building, crowds, Night Watch off for restoration
The Good 1) Large collection in an attractive building 2) The map is useful and points out highlights 3) A free downloadable app provides museum commentary on various works for free 4) Online timed entry actually allows you to come up to two hours before or after your slot. You can also buy at a kiosk near the door, but more efficient online. 5) They recycle museum paper maps at exit The Bad 1) Admission is expensive 2) Building has been subjected to various renovations so flow is not always optimal, or finding and getting to a washroom 3) Will be crowds especially around famous works 4) Night Watch is down for years of restoration. You can see them at work. 5) Not really a lot of refreshment options with enough seats
Amazing Experience
One of the best museums I have ever visited. Amazing facility and collections. The staff were very helpful. Well done.
A walk through time
Visiting this museum felt like stepping into a living storybook of art and history. Inside, the space is breathtaking with high ceilings, beautiful natural light and a layout that invites you to wonder rather than rush. Inside, the space is breathtaking — high ceilings, beautiful natural light, and a layout that invites you to wander rather than rush. Every room feels thoughtfully curated, making it easy to get lost (in the best way) among centuries of Dutch art and culture. Of course, seeing masterpieces like The Night Watch by Rembrandt in person is unforgettable. There’s something surreal about standing in front of a painting you’ve seen countless times in books and online — the scale, the detail, the presence… it all hits differently. What I loved most was how the museum balances grandeur with intimacy. You’ll find massive, dramatic works alongside smaller, delicate pieces that pull you in quietly. It never feels overwhelming — just immersive. Overall, the Rijksmuseum is more than just a collection of art; it’s an experience that stays with you. Whether you’re deeply into art or just curious, it’s absolutely worth visiting.
Always excellent
Another fantastic visit to this amazing museum. This time the temporary exhibition Metamorphoses was the highlight along with finishing off seeing the permanent collection from previously. Friendly avd welcoming staff throughout. Free entry with Museumcard.
A must for art lovers
Some wonderful old works of art on display in a very modern building
Not a museum to be missed
This is a superb educational site. So many art artifacts you need a complete day to look around whereas we only had a couple of hours. So many paintings from Masters, so much to see on so many floors. We queued to but tickets outside the museum and then queued to get in. We were not disappointed with our time there and need to return to see more. The place was crowded and the cafeterias packed.
One of the Top Art Museums in the World - Amsterdam Priority Visit
When you first start thinking about a visit to Amsterdam, this is or ought to be at the top of your list. It is definitely one of the top 10 Art Museums in the world, possibly Top 5. There was a time in the 17th century when the renowned, respected and famous artist in the world were Dutch with their own style of painting and a school to teach it. This was the time of the Dutch Masters such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Frans Hals and many of their paintings are here. The Rijksmuseum was first founded in 1798 in the Hauge to promote and preserve this moment of Dutch Cultural history and moved to Amsterdam in 1808 to showcase its amazing collection in Holland's lead city. In Amsterdam's second golden age at the end of the 19th Century, the community and country decided to build the collection its own building specifically to highlight the art in a building that was just as exceptional as the art. For this they hired Pierre Cuypers who was designing many of the great civic buildings of this age like the Centraal Train Station. In many places, like the Great Hall and the Library, the building is just as impressive as the art. Today, that building displays over 8,000 pieces of art and history out of its collection over a million and more than 2 million people visit annually to see them. The heart of the collection is displayed in the Great Hall which are the most famous and recognized paintings of the Dutch Masters. Whether the painting or the building, you have to plan a visit here. A prudent plan would be to buy reservation tickets for a certain before your visit. Plan to see the Van Gogh or Stedelijk around the same time as they are all next to each other in the Museum Quarter. We visited the Van Gogh first at 9:30 and then the Rijksmuseum at 11:00. We then when walked for lunch nearby at 1:15. I strongly suggest you get reservations for all three as it will make your time flow more efficiently. Also note that Vondel Park is nearby as well in the planning for your day. Whether you like art or not, you need to make time for this museum and others in the Museum Quarter. They are that incredible, and I am not the biggest art person.
A Must-Visit Treasure of Art and History
The Rijksmuseum is an absolute gem. Its stunning architecture and world-class collection, including masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer, make every visit unforgettable.
A day in the Dutch cultural history
Very nice building and enormous art collection. You could spend easily an entire day in this museum. It is very well organised and the staff is very nice and polite. Do take a vist for a drink in the well maintained garden.
A must visit
Disappointed that the night watch was covered by scaffolding for restoration, and no mention of this on the museum website. Loads of other great pieces to see though.
Beautiful Building, Amazing Collection!
The central atrium of this museum, with its restaurant and gift shop is quite impressive - large, open, and very grand. I started the day with the temporary exhibition, "Metamorphoses" and very much enjoyed its use of Ovid's writing as a unifying framework as well as the exhibition's division into themed rooms, such as Medusa, Pygmalion, Narcissus, Leda and Jupiter, etc. The major works of the permanent collection, such as the Vermeers and the Rembrandts, were oppressively crowded with the selfish/selfie crowd, who monopolize the areas in front of these masterworks to take their photos. It's a museum, not a photography studio. BUY A BOOK, and let those who are there to actually appreciate the art enjoy their visit.
Super Museum
Huge museum with too much to see.
Very crowded, but with extensive displays of artwork
The museum has a lot to see and you may not finish everything in a few hours. Go early if you wish to visit everything. It gets really crowded with no available lockers, so try to go there with a small and light bag. If not, try the cloak room. Get the app or audio guide if you need to, so that you can view the artwork from wherever you are rather than squeeze with everyone at the front. The admission fee is ok considering how extensive the works are. The directions may not be clear but you don't necessarily have to follow everything in sequence. Don't let that dampen your experience.
Beautiful building filled with treasures
There is too much here to experience in one day-so plan ahead to enjoy your visit. We did Van Gogh from 9am to 11:15 so planned Rijksmuseum from 2pm to 5pm to enjoy less crowds at closing. 1) Download the free app and enjoy the mapping, audio description etc with your own headphones or ear buds. 2) We started in the less popular areas we wanted to see and finished in the most popular Gallery of Honor. Between 4:15 and 5:00 it was relatively uncrowded. 3) We used the App’s highlight by department (as well as searching descriptions by artwork #) and skipped around according to our interest. The rooms do not always connect numerically in an easy to follow manner so it required checking the doorways for gallery numbers. Additionally we got in the entrance line about 15 minutes early and were allowed to enter at that time.
A fantastic building
We wanted to see the Night Watch and the Van Goghs - which we did- although the night Watch was being renovated it was quite interesting to see!
Visiting the Rijksmuseum in April
The Rijksmuseum is well worth the visit. Recommend taking the tour offered by the museum. We didn’t originally plan for it, but glad we did. Sasha was an excellent guide and pointed out so much in each of the paintings she took us too. Made it a memorable visit to a large art museum. There is a lot see. Go early!
Do not miss this!
I am not an art expert but was blown away by the art in this museum and the setting and they way everything was displayed.
Must do when in Amsterdam
My wife and I visited the Rijksmuseum recently whilst on long weekend in Amsterdam. It is a must do if in Amsterdam. It is beautiful building and lot to see. Buy tickets ahead of time and reasonable admission fee. It was busy but very spread out so did not feel too crowded. Recommend to see Night Watch by Rembrandt and the history around it. There is large hall that is must see. Art ranges across multiple centuries. Allocate enough time to see things including the gardens.
Fabulous museum, luggage advice .
Fantastic museum. Download the free Rijskmusuem app , take headphones if you have them to save paying €6 audio guide. If your bags are medium / large there is a locker (€11/day min charge ) just beyond the Van Gogh museum on an intersection which is also an underground car park . If you have a small backpack there is a free locker and cloak room at Rijskmuseum. Don’t walk round holding a water bottle or carry anything on your back or you will be told off , like I was. No signs indicating either was discouraged . The Night Watch is half obscured by renovation platform which was disappointing but there is a life size copy on both sides as you leave the original . I spent 6 hours here and loved it , except for the grumpy female staff member. Oh and my rucksack would definitely have fitted in the free locker but we had to walk 400m to the paid one . Be consistent!
App was useful
The app worked quite well; layout is slightly confusing. We didn't manage to see everything - you'd need a whole day I think! Some beautiful artwork.
An amazing collection
An imposing entrance with helpful guides. It does cost 25 euros to get in and there are no older person discounts. Overall a real picture of Dutch culture unfolds on different floors and in different time zones. A helpful picture guide is provided. Worth a visit if a bit expensive dedicated floors for different times
Nice afternoon visit.
Two to three hours tops. Pretty inside and outside. Make sure to walk around outside the museum, as well!
a must-see museum
One of the best museum i‘ve been too, right next to the Louvre, the Prado, the Uffizi galleries but better organized (not enough toilets for that quantity of tourists though). Don‘t miss it when in Amsterdam.
Highly recommended
The building alone is fantastic! Wonderful experience to see Dutch masterpieces.
An Amsterdam Must
The only reason this is not a 5 is because we didn’t have enough tome to see even 1/2 the museum. The central exhibit with the Dutch masters is very impressive. The Night Watch is being renovated which, frankly, was kind of cool to see how the work was being done. The museum is large and note the ashiest to navigate but the collection is amazing. We were lucky enough to be in Bruges on a beautiful sunny day. Walking around the park outside and having a snack at the food trucks made it all the better.
It took at least 5 hours to go round, but I’m sure we missed some things
I’m not really into art. But I can assure you this was an awesome museum. It’s huge and it’s very easy to get lost. Just remember there is a north, south, East and west side all of which have multiple floors. Lots of walking. There is a great cafe and I found a small coffee shop. It was €50 for two people, but because of the size of the place this became completely understandable .
Impressive
Amazing place, but it was extremely crowded and noisy. It didn't help that at the time of my visit several.school groups were visiting, and the school staff didn't make any effort to teach them how to behave in a place like that. There is no such thing as too young to learn about good manners, especially when visiting a museum. The museum itself is extremely impressive and it hosts a large variety of art work. Of course, Rembrandt and Van Gogh were the favourites and it was well worth it. Make sure you allocate 3-4 hours for it.
Don’t miss the gardens!
An amazing place! Don’t miss the gardens! There are benches and chairs for people watching!
An artist's utopia.
An art lover could easily spend all day here, there's so much to see. There are many other fascinating objects aside from the paintings. The library is amazing! It's one of the world's greatest art museums, and not very crowded on weekdays. The staff are very relaxed, and are very approachable. I loved it here, and hope to be back soon.
Those Dutch can paint!
Shocklingly fabulous. Left without the usual museum tried, I was energetic! The paintings, and architecture, and the whole experience was how all museums should look and run.
Wonderful
Huge museum with variety of art. Specifically went to see the newly "discovered" Rembrandt. Glad we bought tickets in advance there was a line to get in to buy tickets and this was on a weekday. Had soups at the cafe that were absolutely delicious.
Rijksmuseum
Visited the museum was about 20mins stroll from our hotel, was 25 euros each which was quite steep I think, lots to see Rembrandt art was being cleaned so only able to see a little of it
Great experience seeing the Dutch Masters in real life (February 2026)
I visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in February 2026 together with an American friend, and we spent about half a day there. The main goal of our visit was to see some of the iconic works, especially Rembrandt’s Night Watch and the Van Gogh paintings, and it did not disappoint. Seeing these masterpieces in real life is a completely different experience compared to photos — definitely a highlight of our trip. We didn’t take the audio tour and instead focused on the key works, which worked well for a half-day visit. The museum is well laid out and easy to navigate if you plan your route a bit in advance. One downside was that it was quite busy, even in February. Around the most famous paintings, it can get crowded, which takes away a bit from the experience. That said, the Rijksmuseum remains a must-visit in Amsterdam, especially if you’re interested in Dutch Golden Age art, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh. The collection is world-class and very impressive. In summary: Pro. Incredible artworks (Night Watch, Van Gogh) Pro. Well organized museum Con. Can be crowded, even outside peak season
excellent value
It was well worth the money,spent several hours,going through all the rooms,have to say,one of the most impressive,museum I have ever visited
Amsterdam 2026
This is one of the finest Museums i have ever been to! Not just Priceless works of Art, but Everything you can imagine that belongs in a museum .
The first of many return visits!
I went to the Rijksmuseum twice this month and would go back again next week if I lived closer! The layout of the museum makes you feel like you’re travelling through time, and you learn a lot about the evolution of Dutch art and upper class culture. I didn’t expect to be as wowed by the fashion as I was, the pieces were in astounding condition and the display cases still let you get very close and examine all the details. The rooms were spacious and well designed so that even on busy weekend days there was breathing room. The only room with crowding was the hall of masters but that was to be expected! I left both times feeling inspired to create. Definitely would recommend a visit!
A beautiful visit
An exceptional experience - a well made webpage and an app (very modern, i love it), great staff, wasn’t packed (in spite of the size of the collection and it being in the centre). You reserve a ticket choosing a specific time slot to enter (1h) and the day is yours to explore. Beautiful presentation of art and history.
Fantastic museum
The Rijksmuseum is a superb museum. I thoroughly enjoyed the Metamorphoses exhibition (I recommend the audio guide) which is not something I would normally have gone out of my way for. It was great seeing the Old Masters. The (human) guide at Rembrandt's The Night Watch gave us some very interesting information about the picture being de-varnished and the frame that has been made especially for it. We also enjoyed the 20th century galleries. The 40 minute 1931 video about Phillips was absolutely fascinating! The Rijksmuseum building is itself magnificent. There was no way we could do the whole museum but picked the bits we particularly wanted to see. Definitely worth it.
A must see place
What a beautiful place and lived up to all of my expectations. Particularly enjoyed seeing the Great Masters. Worth booking and getting in early on in the day as it was very busy by the time we left.
The art is good the place does not have the same feet as the Mauritshuis which I would recommend.
Visited here for the day after booking timed tickets online, which is a must. The place gets quite busy and is situated in the city itself. However, it's easy to find and get to. We walked here from our hotel and picked up some breakfast on the way. The place is full of old masters over three floors. The best thing to do is start at the top and work your way down. You can pick up a floor map before you start and I would advise you do this. One of the most famous paintings here is the Nightwatch. This was painted by Rembrandt and is smaller than it's initial completion. Apparently it was too big to fit on the intended wall so sections were cut from the left edge as you look at it and from the top. The painting is about 400 years old and currently going through a period of repair to remove the old varnish and replace it so conserving the piece for generations to come. Sadly, it is behind glass with people working on it, but you can still get a decent view so sit back and enjoy while you can. For those interested in getting up close there is a copy on the wall at the top of the stairs so can can still get a great view, although not of the original. There are other famous masters here including Van Gogh and Vermeer, although these collections are small but there is a self portrait of Van Gogh. Such a pity he only sold 1 painting in his lifetime as his paintings collectively are now worth hundreds of millions. Again. you can get right up close to the art. There are also tapestries to see for those interested in this. We took most of the day to walk round and were somewhat disappointed in comparison with the Mauritshuis. There is a cafe on site but the queues were tremendous so we didn't get to have a drink. Finding the Van Gogh's were tricky as they were not in the main area. You have to walk back down and then up another staircase to the right before turning to the left. Sadly, there were few paintings of his great works. However, there are lots of masterpieces to view but it just didn't have the feel to it like The Hague and we left at the end of the day feeling a little let down overall. There is a gift shop inside as well as one outside, but there's nothing special in them to be honest. Overall, a bit of a letdown but I'm glad I went.
Must see for art lovers.
A must see for art lovers. A return visit for us to see some masterpieces. The restaurant is very good too.
Great museum for art and history lovers
Amazing museum full of wonderful works of art and lots of variety to keep you interested. Staff were very helpful and the cloakroom was efficient and a great idea so you’re not trudging round in your coat all day! Lovely cafe and reasonably priced. Would definitely recommend a visit if in Amsterdam.
Rijksmuseum Trip 2025
We pre-booked tickets but noticed people were easily buying tickets in a day. So much to see and we didn’t have enough time to look all the way round so maybe consider more than one days visit. A highlight for me was the Exhibition: ‘American Photography’. And viewing some of the Vermeer paintings.
