Rijksmuseum
Ideal: Ideal for art history, classic museum visits, and first-time visitors to Amsterdam.
The 1885 Cuypers building reopened in 2013 after a ten-year renovation costing €375 million. Rembrandt's 1642 Night Watch was trimmed at the edges in 1715 so it would fit on a wall in the town hall; for years the painting has been studied and restored in a glass case in full view of visitors. The bicycle tunnel running through the middle of the building is the outcome of years of dispute between cyclists and the museum during renovation — the tunnel could not be closed.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1800
- Opened
- 1885
- Architect
- Pierre Cuypers
- Annual visitors
- 2.4 million
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Why does a cycle path run through the middle of the museum?
When the building opened in 1885 the passage beneath it was designed as a public road. An attempt to close it during the ten-year renovation was defeated by organised protest from cyclists, and the tunnel remains open.
Is The Night Watch really a night scene?
No. Centuries of darkened varnish made it look nocturnal; cleaning revealed a daytime scene. The name survives from that mistaken impression.
Why was The Night Watch once cut down?
In 1715 it was trimmed on all four sides to fit a new spot in the town hall, losing a significant strip including two figures on the left. In 2021 the missing parts were recreated with AI assistance and displayed alongside the original.
Why go?
- To see masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer
- To understand Dutch Golden Age art and history
- For one of Amsterdam's most important museum buildings
Travel tip
The museum is large — choose sections in advance and set aside extra time for Rembrandt.
