Visit the national museum of the Netherlands: the impressive Rijksmuseum.
Staff favourite
Rijksmuseum
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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
For more information and opening hours, go to rijksmuseum.nl
Accessibility
Getting there
Public Transport
The nearest stops are Vijzelgracht (metro 52 and tram 24) and Museumplein (tram 2 & 12).
Parking
You can park at a reduced daily rate with Qpark via this link.
About
If you’re going to visit one museum in Amsterdam… this is the one.
With the Explore Pass Amsterdam, you get access to the legendary Rijksmuseum the Netherlands’ most famous museum and home to some of the greatest artworks ever created. Located at Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum is more than a museum. The stunning 19th-century building alone is an artwork, so get ready to see what is inside!
You’ll walk through 800 years of Dutch art and history, from medieval masterpieces to the Dutch Golden Age and beyond. Learn about Dutch culture and history, as told by these artworks.
Meet the Masters
The Rijksmuseum is world-famous for its collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings, including:
- The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn
- The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer
- Collection of works by Frans Hals, Jan Steen and other Dutch legends
Besides the brilliant paintings, roam around to see the picture perfect Cuypers library, the collection of Delft Blue pottery, armour and much more. And the collection doesn't stop once you are done inside. The Rijksmuseum gardens are dreamy palace-like gardens filled with sculptures and colourful flowerbeds.
Add Rijksmuseum to your Explore Pass itinerary and discover the ultimate Dutch masterpieces!
Reviews
684 reviews
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.
Tour
Very interesting, booked the tour and really enjoyed the information.
A must-do
While in Amsterdam the last weekend (Feb. 8), I opted for the Guided Tour The best of the Rijksmuseum". The guided tour lasts one hour, but afterwards you can stay in the museum for as long as you like. In my opinion, the guided tour is a must because it gives you a better understanding of the works and the guide can answer your questions, which the audio guide cannot do. The group consisted of 20 people. There are obviously the "Masterpieces" such as the famous Night Watch which is Rembrandt most famous canvas or the Milkmaid by Vermeer or Self-Portrait by Van Gogh. However, the museum is full of outstanding pieces such as navy models (level 0), the Gallery of Honor (level 2) with the masterpieces. I was very impressed with the Doll's Houses (which actually are not toys). Important: the museum (like all the museums in Amsterdam) closes at 5pm. Therefore, make sure you arrive early to enjoy the museum. Reservation is highly recommended.
Absolutely incredible - a must see in Amsterdam!
I’m not usually one for spending hours in museums, but the Rijksmuseum is just something else. I went in thinking I’d stay for an hour and ended up staying for nearly four. The building is huge and honestly feels more like a palace than a gallery. The Night Watch is obviously the main event and seeing it in person is pretty wild because of how massive it actually is, but don't sleep on the other rooms. The old library looks like it’s straight out of a movie set and the collection of old model ships was surprisingly cool even for someone who isn't an art buff. One tip: definitely book your tickets online before you go. The line for people trying to buy them at the door was crazy long, but we walked right in with our QR codes. It gets busy around the famous stuff, but the place is so big that you can always find a quiet corner to just take it all in. If you’re in Amsterdam, this is definitely worth the money. One of the best things we did all trip!
Excellent museum with a calm layout
The building is impressive and the galleries are easy to follow. Some rooms get crowded, but there are plenty of quieter sections. Great choice even if you are not an art expert.
Rijksmuseum visit
Visiting the Rijksmuseum was really impressive. The building itself is beautiful, and there’s so much to see that it never felt boring. I especially liked how clearly everything was laid out, so you can take your time without feeling lost. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Amsterdam.
Must see, comfortable, elegant, simple, well laid out and easy to navigate.
Incredibly easy to navigate, the simple guide alone is sufficient to get you well oriented, and includes suggestions of pieces of art as "must see", which was very useful, since otherwise you can easily invest 4+ hours here. Night Watch, Van Gogh Self Portrait, The Milk Maid and a dozen others are must see of course, but the "Doll House" exhibit is something you absolutely must see. Waterloo is another must see impressive drawing. The Cuypers Library, the largest art history library in the Netherlands with an interior that looks like it's from Harry Potter .. it will blow you away. My only "regret" is not having gotten the Amsterdam Card as my admission fee and instead paid the €25. Since I visited this museum, MOCO, took a Canal cruise and wanted to do the Rembrandt museum as well, it would have worked out. I had the 9am time slot to enter, so basically had the whole place for myself. By the time I completed my visit it was after 12pm, and even a bit earlier, it started to fill up a bit, but it was very sparse and non disruptive.
Beautiful museum, easy to enjoy
The building is impressive and the galleries feel well paced. I liked that it has famous works but also plenty of quieter rooms where you can slow down. It felt organized without being strict, and the staff were helpful when I asked for directions. If you only have a short visit, pick a few sections and do them thoroughly.
Rijksmuseum is nice
The Rijksmuseum was absolutely amazing and way bigger than we expected. Seeing the Night Watch in person was unreal and def the highlight for us. The museum is super well organized and easy to walk through, even if you’re not a huge art person. We spent hours there and still felt like we couldve stayed longer. 100% a must do when you’re in Amsterdam.
LOVE
we absolutely loved this museum and would recommend for all (even if not particularly into art/history). it’s a well organised museum with so much to look at and keeps you occupied with each section. the perfect size to get around in a couple of hours (if looking at every section). there’s a lovely gift shop and cafe also.
Excellent
This museum is huge and has an enormous collection of exhibits over several floors. There is also a cafe and a large gift and bookshop. No visit to Amsterdam is complete without visiting here. It might take several visits to view and appreciate everything as there is so much to see. Staff are friendly enough and the location is easy to get to using public transport and is close to several other museums, all only several minutes walk away. Looking forward to another visit on my next trip to Amsterdam.
Great masterpieces
Recently visited and thoroughly enjoyed the experience with the self-guided audio tour of the highlights of the masterpieces, free to download via the App. Use of cloak room was great & easy secure entry. Well worth a visit when in Amsterdam.
Enjoyable Even for Casual Visitors
Not usually someone who spends a lot of time in art museums, but this was well worth it. I went right when they opened on a Monday and it was very manageable until late morning, when it started to get crowded. The building itself is impressive and the exhibits are easy to enjoy without feeling overwhelming. The Night Watch is currently under restoration, which was a bit disappointing, but still interesting to see the work in progress. Overall, definitely worth a visit
One of the best in the world
Rijksmuseum is one of the best museums I've been to in the world. The outdoors around the museum has items of interest with sculptures and gardens. I went midday on a Monday and it wasn't too crowded. I will be back!
Rijks
We loved the kids activity. It was really fun! The night watch was spectacular! Very close to the Van Gogh museum as well.
Must visit when in Amsterdam
An amazing art museum. We had only one day in Amsterdam, and everyone advised that we must make time to visit it. It’s massive, so wear shoes to suit! The building itself is worth the visit. I’m not a big fan of art, particularly art from the middle ages up to the 1700s. But I have to admit that even I began to appreciate Rembrandt. There are free lockers for coats etc. We went in the morning, and it wasn’t too crowded. By the time we left in the early afternoon it was getting quite crowded. The cafeteria was busy but worth the short wait to get in — really excellent food.
Lots of Dutch paintings to explore
Turned up on the day and bought tickets. Massive museum with lots of different collections. Great highlights include seeing the night watch by Rembrandt and a number of Van Gogh paintings Potentially you could spend all day if you wanted to.
Don’t miss out the Rijksmuseum
Despite the size and impressive architecture, the museum doesn’t feel too overwhelming or impersonal, on the contrary. In addition to selected parts of the permanent collection, I also checked out the temporary exhibition (Life in the 17th century) which was really interesting. A nice surprise and bonus !
Super museum
When in Amsterdam, we always visit here as their range of artefacts are so wide that you can spend hours in there on each floor. Well worth a visit !
If coming to Amsterdam then put the Rijksmuseum on your must see list.
This is a must do visit. Lots of art and artefacts some good and some great. I personally don’t like the Rembrandt paintings as I find them gloomy but I still appreciate the mastery of the craft. De Nachtwacht was under renovation behind glass when we visited. The Vermeer paintings on the other hand are fantastic and show great wizardry capturing light on the subject. Lots of wonderful furniture pieces, other artists work, model ships and an exhibition of 17th Century living were on show when we visited. The Dolls House was fantastic. The cafe is great with excellent service and the museum staff were very knowledgeable and ready to help. So much to see you might need an entire day.
Bandya Mama - a perfect blend of world-class art.
Great museum. Hadn’t been for a few years, better than I remembered. Amazing art spread over four floors in the heart of the museum area. Saw huge works of art, great sculpture too and even an aircraft up on floor 3. And a condom that dates back to 1830 A must see. Only takes a couple of hours to get a good feel. You can then return to explore more.Had a wonderful guided tour led by Jorinde, who beguiled us with lots of interesting tidbits and amusing tales of some of the lesser known works, before I wandered the museum alone. The Night Watch is being restored, and will be for the next 10 years(!), and it was fascinating to see the restoration in process. The building itself is interesting, albeit a bit difficult to navigate at times, but given the history, it makes sense.
Dutch artists and Dolls House exhibits and lovely restaurant
This is an Historic museum with DUTCH ARTISTS such as REMBRANT and VERMEER of note in addition to exquisite DOLLS HOUSES on display and a lovely cafe
Incredible Exhibition Of Paintings
I must have spent 2-3 hours inside the museum, it was great to see some masterpieces from Van Gogh and Rembrandt. Was near my accommodation and was easy to get to.
Rijksmuseum – Amazing collection, but crowded experience dulls
The Rijksmuseum is undoubtedly rich in history and art, but I did not fully enjoy the experience. There was a lot of crowd inside, so some important paintings such as The Night Watch could not be seen properly. The ticket price was a bit high. The number of exhibits is so large that it is difficult to see everything at once. Museum cafes and shops are fine, but seating is limited. Great for those with a keen interest in the arts, but can be a bit overwhelming for casual visitors. So that's three stars.
Realy worth a visit.
Lots to see , get there early, Free lockers. a lot to take in .Its a national museum after all. It covers a lot so pace yourself. Book on line 25 euro pp. Take some food the cafe gets really busy and you have to wait in line.
Fast paste exploration stop for Rembrant(renovation on Night Watch) and Vangoh
Sąd part that they dont give discount no tickets because one of the main printing is on renovation But in All It’s was realy nice But Louvre i linkęs more But IF u are in Amsterdam u should visit ir☺️
Worth the money
Took us probably 30sec-1min to get inside the museum. Lots of stuff to see and not just paintings but ships, vases, furniture etc. We spent around 2hours here:) Worth the money👍
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