Visit Rijksmuseum Amsterdam: Overview & Info

Visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam / Online-Ticket

Amsterdam is one of the most visited cities in the world. It is home to many museums and one of the most famous museums in the world, the Rijksmuseum. Visitors can admire well over 8,000 works of art. Most of them are from the so-called Golden Age of Dutch painters. The museum appears magnificent from the outside and has many pieces from the modern era. It is best to buy tickets online in advance.

But the highlight remains the Night Watch by Rembrandt. The Milkmaid by Vermeer also makes the hearts of art lovers beat faster. The whole museum is a total work of art. Between 2003 and 2013, it was lavishly restored.

Since then, the interior has had a relaxed and calming atmosphere. The lamps set the stage for the exhibition rooms even better. Each work of art and painting is meticulously illuminated and thus presents itself even more impressively to the visitor. The pieces are spread over four floors. In total, there are 80 halls packed with paintings.

Tour of the Rijksmuseum

With so much art, visitors quickly lose the overview. Those who want to enjoy the visit to the museum to the fullest and extensively should allow at least half a day. At peak times, visitors have to stand in line occasionally. This is especially true in the three most famous works. The most renowned painting in the museum is The Night Watch by Rembrandt. The painting was created in 1642 and is Rembrandt’s largest and most famous canvas. It shows people of the vigilantes of Amsterdam. Precisely therein lies the peculiarity of the painting. Rembrandt painted a whole group of people here for the first time.

The whole work is animated because all the people depicted are busy. A large crowd is always at the work of art, Night light in the form of a cat, although the creator is unknown. The sculpture made of porcelain was probably created between 1760 and 1770. It is assigned to the Asian collection.

The work of art is a lantern. If you put a candle in it, the cat’s eyes glow. Many visitors come to the museum only for the collection of antique furniture. The highlight of this section is a desk. It was made between 1758 and 1760 by the Mühlheim craftsman Abraham Roentgen. Roentgen worked in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, among other places.

Entrance fees for the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

The museum is one of the most visited exhibitions in the world. The crowds are correspondingly large. While the number of visitors in the past was subject to seasonal fluctuations, today you can see longer queues at the entrance almost all year round. You should order your ticket online in advance.

Further prices for entrance tickets and combination tickets for museum visits with guided tours are available on the Rijksmuseum Entrance Fees page.

Online ticket holders get priority entry and thus avoid the queues. People under the age of 18 are admitted to the museum free of charge. However, they must still book a ticket and show it at the entrance. Obtaining this ticket is free of charge but should also be done online in advance.

✅ Tickets can also be purchased via another ticket provider, such as GetYourGuide. Minimal price differences usually arise due to different fee regulations.

Ticket holders for the Rijksmuseum can choose the date and time of their visit unless the tickets specify a date and time slot. The tickets are valid for one year.

The Amsterdam Pass from Tiqets entitles you to free admission to several museums. Free access without waiting time also applies to holders of the I Amsterdam City Card. All details can be found on the respective providers’ pages.

✅ Helpful tips to save money: You can find a summary of all the city passes in this blog in the section Amsterdam Passes.

The current ticket prices for the Rijksmuseum and the other major attractions of Amsterdam are expensive but correspond to international standards. The current fees of the respective providers always apply. Cheaper prices can only be obtained through time-limited discounts, City Passes, or combination tickets with another sight or attraction, such as a canal cruise. Combi Tickets usually include the main attractions that are part of the must-see program for an Amsterdam trip and are, therefore, often worthwhile. This also applies to the Rijksmuseum.

Opening hours of the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is open all year round from 9:00 to 17:00. This also applies to Christmas and New Year. More information about the Rijksmuseum’s opening hours.

Waiting times at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

There are waiting queues not only during the season but now almost all year round. In summer and the run-up to Christmas, as well as on public holidays and during the vacation period, the Rijksmuseum gets crowded. Then, one waits at the cash desk for at least 30 minutes or longer. In November and between January and March, there are fewer visitors. Most visitors come in April, May, and August. There is always a wait at the checkroom in the atrium. For those who like it quieter, there are times of day. Before ten o’clock, one can often view the works more undisturbed. After 3 p.m., the museum becomes much emptier.

Waiting times can also be avoided through good planning. Despite everything, purchasing online tickets in advance is generally recommended. Suppose you also want to visit the Van Gogh Museum and the Heineken Experience and take a Canal Cruise without pre-booked online tickets. In that case, you will undoubtedly spend longer in queues during your Amsterdam stay. Unfortunately, the waiting time problem is rarely mentioned in traditional travel guides. Therefore, please do not underestimate!

Online tickets for the museum

The museum is crowded in summer, on weekends, holidays, and, of course, during vacation periods. The long queues form at the museum ticket offices. To avoid waiting times, you should buy your ticket online in advance.

✅ Tickets can be purchased directly on this page. The prices are the same everywhere. As a rule, you get the tickets quickly after booking and payment by email. They can then be printed out at home or loaded on the smartphone. The tickets can all be purchased online with the usual payment options.

The history of the museum

The museum has a long history. It began in 1800 when the museum was still called the National Art Gallery in The Hague. King Louis Napoleon ordered the move to Amsterdam in 1808. At first, the works of art were housed in the City Hall. A few years later, the museum was housed in the Trippenhuis. Again and again, there were discussions about the accommodation because the Dutch demanded their national museum. Thus, in 1876, the architect Pierre Cuypers began the construction of the museum. It was ceremoniously opened in 1885.

But the Dutch were not happy with it. They found the building too medieval. Over the years, more and more paintings were added. Space became scarce, so a hall was added between 1904 and 1916. The museum also got an extension in the 1950s. The first record attendance was in the 1970s, with half a million visitors annually. Most recently, the museum underwent extensive restoration and modernization between 2003 and 2013.

The Rembrandt Experience

✅ Those who want to be transported back to the world of the famous painter Rembrandt should opt for a visit to the Rembrandt Experience. Here, the story of Rembrandt is brought to life with music and special effects. Also, during the guided tour through the reconstruction of his last house, one learns a lot of exciting things about the life story and the works of Rembrandt in an unusual way. Also, it is not as dull for children as a regular museum visit.

For this you can buy the following two tickets:

Address: Weteringschans 2, 1017 SG Amsterdam, five minutes from the Riksmuseum.

Security checks at the museum

After the attacks of September 11, security measures in Amsterdam were also strengthened and adapted to the new dangerous situations. Museums are so-called soft targets. Controls are based on the current situation.

It is generally forbidden to bring suitcases and backpacks. Only handbags under DIN A3 size are permitted. Sufficient drop-off facilities are available for luggage storage during a museum visit.

Practical tips

Access for persons with disabilities

The Rijksmuseum is fully accessible for visitors with reduced mobility. There are elevators, all floors are barrier-free, and electric wheelchairs and other electronic devices are also allowed. A limited number of wheelchairs are also available directly in the museum upon request at the Ticket Office or the Information Desk.

Persons with impaired vision may enter the Rijksmuseum with a guide dog and appropriate canes. An accompanying person is admitted free of charge. This also applies to people who can only move around with the help of others.

Photography

You can only take photos without flash and record videos without additional lighting. Prior permission from the museum management is required for all other types of recordings.

Toilets in the museum

The museum is equipped according to modern guidelines and has sufficient sanitary facilities. These are located near the staircases and are easy to reach. Centrally located are the toilets in front of the Young Rembrandt Hall and front of the William III Delftware Hall. Another restroom is adjacent to the Gabriel, Breitner, and van Gogh halls. There is an accessible toilet in the entrance area in front of the ticket office.

The souvenir store at the museum

You can buy many things related to the museum in the souvenir store. These include, for example, classic Delftware items or reproductions. In addition, the store offers many books dealing with the works and artists of the museum. Photo volumes and biographies can also be found in the integrated bookstore. In addition, the museum store offers a wide range of typical souvenirs, such as printed T-shirts, postcards, or refrigerator magnets. Toys and jewelry round off the offer.

Prices in the museum store are at an average level and not overpriced. The store is located directly at the entrance to the museum. Visitors do not need an entrance ticket for the visit. The entire offer can also be ordered online. The products are delivered worldwide. The museum souvenir store is open 365 days a year from 09:00 to 18:00.

Overall impression of the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is one of the most beautiful museums in the world. This is true not only for its works but also for the building and the location. Even the external view captivates visitors. The site, near the canals, also conveys a picturesque atmosphere. The whole area invites visitors to linger. The building and the entrance area bring a medieval flair. Despite the enormous rush of visitors, the masses need help in the entrance area. Queues form at the checkroom from time to time. However, one can easily overlook this in terms of the overall impression.

The museum staff is very interested in and provides a relaxed atmosphere. With the help of a map, you can find your way around the museum very well and see the famous works right away. In general, the paths are very well laid out, and there is a flow of visitors. This prevents long queues when viewing the individual works. Also, the additional facilities, such as toilets or luggage lockers, harmonize with the results of art and are available in sufficient form.

Location of the Rijksmuseum

✅ Address: Rijksmuseum, Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam

✅ Telephone: +31 (0) 20 6747 000

If you want to combine several museum visits, you will find the famous Van Gogh Museum and the worth seeing Municipal Museum right next door. Also fascinating is the Moco Museum.

Directions to the Rijksmuseum

By streetcar from Central Station – lines 2, 5, 12 – stop at Rijksmuseum

om Zuid Station -line 5 – stop Rijksmuseum

From Amsterdam Sloterdijk -Line 19- Spiegelgracht Station From Amsterdam Amstel -Line 12- Stop Rijksmuseum

Metro stop Weesperplein, then streetcar -line- 1, 7 or 19- stop Spiegelgracht

The Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour also stops in the Museum Quarter. On the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, the stop is Museumsplein/ Rijksmuseum.

There are a few parking lots in the area for those arriving by car. A supervised parking lot is located about a 7-minute walk from the Rijksmuseum. Q-Park, Van Baerlestraat 33b, entrance next to Concertgebouw.

Otherwise, a nearby parking space can also be booked here at Mobypark.

Why is it worth visiting the Rijksmuseum?

Most visitors come to Amsterdam to visit the Rijksmuseum. It parallels the Louvre in Paris or the Guggenheim Museum in New York. This makes it one of the must-see museums for travelers. First and foremost, people are drawn to a museum because of the works. The Rijks Museum also attracts visitors with Rembrandt’s famous Night Watch.

But the museum can not be limited to this alone. It offers a variety of other famous works and shines with its unique location. The entire building is an architectural masterpiece. It towers as princely as the works in its interiors. At this museum, everything harmonizes, and the combination of individual results and exhibitions is something to be proud of. Many visitors even come back again. You can even spend a whole day in the museum and still have a long way to go to see all the paintings. It is guaranteed never to be boring because the results offer something for every taste in art.