Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

The Rijksmuseum is the granddaddy of the city's impressive museum scene. Rijksmuseum just means "State Museum," but when anyone in Amsterdam says it, they mean the huge one on Museumplein.

The building opened in 1885, designed to show off the country's greatest art and treasures, and it's still the best pick if you only have the time or patience for one big museum. It's much larger than the nearby Van Gogh Museum and holds far more, even though the two now charge the same 25 euros. Think of it as the Netherlands' answer to the Louvre.

Quick facts (as of September 2026)

• Address: Museumstraat 1
• Hours: daily, 9:00 to 17:00
• Tickets: 25 euros for adults, free for 18 and under
• Booking: a start time is required for everyone
• Audio guide: free through the Rijksmuseum app

Source: the Rijksmuseum's visitor page.

The renovation is long over

Earlier versions of this page talked about a renovation "until 2010" and a temporary collection called The Masterpieces. The work ran much longer than planned. The main building closed in December 2003 and reopened in full on 13 April 2013, and the whole collection is back in the main building. The passage that runs through the middle of the building, open to cyclists and pedestrians, is worth walking through even if you aren't going inside.

What to see

The most famous painting here is Rembrandt's The Night Watch. It's one of the famous Dutch Master paintings, like on the cigar boxes, but there are plenty more. Vermeer's The Milkmaid is here too. Even if you don't know the names, you'll recognize the paintings. And even if you don't recognize the paintings, you'll tell people you did, because that's what people do in museums.

Operation Night Watch

Since 2019, The Night Watch has been the subject of a huge research and restoration project called Operation Night Watch, carried out in a transparent glass chamber in front of visitors. Conservators began removing old varnish at the end of 2024. You can still see the painting, and watching the restorers at work is part of the fun, but don't expect an unobstructed view.

Beyond the Golden Age paintings

The Gallery of Honour, with the big 17th-century names, is where the crowds are. Wander off to the ship models, Delftware, dollhouses and the grand library, and you'll often have rooms nearly to yourself. The Rijksmuseum Gardens around the building are free to walk through.

Tickets and booking

Adult admission is 25 euros, and anyone 18 and under gets in free. Everyone needs to book a start time, including Museumkaart holders. The museum says tickets may still be sold at the entrance if there's space, but on a busy day you'll be turned away or waiting, so book online at rijksmuseum.nl ahead of time.

Guided highlights tours are available, and the free Rijksmuseum app has hundreds of audio stories. The app does the job the old 4-euro headset used to do, at no cost, so bring headphones and a charged phone.

Tips for visiting

• Go early. The first slots at 9:00 are the calmest, especially in summer.
• Allow two hours. The museum says you can see the highlights in about an hour, and just between you and me that's true, but the collection deserves longer if you like art.
• Pair it up. The Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk are at the other end of Museumplein, and the Heineken Experience is a short walk away. Doing two big museums in one day is tiring. Most people are happier splitting them.
• Getting there: it's about a 30-minute walk from Centraal Station through the canal belt. Several tram lines stop close by, and see our getting around Amsterdam page for how to pay.

If you're planning several museums, compare the cost of single tickets with the I amsterdam City Card before you buy, and see our guide to Amsterdam's main attractions for what else is nearby.