Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum and Museumplein -- Must See Sights for Amsterdam Visitors
Click any picture below to see more works by the artist
Frans Hals -- "The Merry Drinker"
Frans Hals -- "The Wedding Portrait of Isaac Abrahamsz Massa and Beatrix van der Laen"
Johannes Vermeer -- "View of Houses in Delft"
The van Gogh Cafe
New Grassy Hill above Albert Heijn Grocery Store at Museumplein -- Amsterdam's Highest Point ;>)
Across van Baerlestraat is the Netherlands Music Hall, the Concertgebouw
RELATED PAGES:
Rijksmuseum and Museumplein Photos
Arts & Museums Home Page
How to visit a museum anywhere
How to visit the Rijksmuseum
Dutch Painters Page
Rijksmuseum Location, Directions
Located at 42 Stadshouderskade, one way to get to the Rijksmuseum is to catch the #5 tram and get off at Hobbemastraat. The conductor will not announce the Rijksmuseum, so if you're coming from Centraal Station through Leidseplein, get off one stop past Leidseplein. The #2 tram also works.
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Near the Rijksmuseum are many interesting places and things. The museum is located on the newly renovated Museumplein. The van Gogh and Stedlijk museums are also located on Museumplein. Past the Stedlijk is a wedge-shaped grassy hill which you can use for picnics on good days. Below the grassy hill is a new Albert Heijn market.
This market is one of the Albert Heijn's which may remind you of an American-style supermarket. This store can be reached by taking the escalator down next to the parking garage. As you get off the escalator, to your left is a deli counter which serves prepared foods, often including chicken pieces, noodle and rice dishes, and more.
Up Jan Luijkenstraat and Hobbemastraat from the Rijksmuseum is Peter Corneliesz (PC) Hooftstraat. While Kalverstraat and Niewespiegelstraat are the "commoners" shopping area (that means you and me), if you are stuffed with money you should shop on PC Hooftstraat. It's the most expensive shopping to be found, including a Hugo Boss store and an Armani store.
While you're at the corner of PC Hooftstraat and Hobbemastraat, visit the van Gogh Cafe. Even though the owner dislikes me for making a distasteful crack about the Russian River area in California, I still think he has great food that will fit American and European tastes. trackandtrain.com recommends it too, and you can see a van Gogh menu there as well as other recommendations.
One more interesting place nearby is the Concertgebouw, the Dutch Concert Hall. Located just across van Baerlestraat from the Albert Heijn and Museumplein, the Concertgebouw is an excellent example of Dutch architecture. See the pictures at the left.
Rijksmuseum Open Hours
General Museum -- Every Day, 10am - 5pm.
Study Collection -- Painting/Decorative Arts Mon - Sat 1pm - 5pm
Study Library / Print Room -- Tues - Saturday 10am - 5pm (limited service 12.45 and 14.00)
Visit the excellent Rijksmuseum Website, www.rijksmuseum.nl (don't forget to come back!)
How to Visit the Rijksmuseum
The main entrance is on Stadshouderskade. There is an east and west entrance on this street. I suggest that you visit after 3pm on a weekday to avoid schoolchild and tour bus overload. Should there be a huge line (or anytime) you might want to use my favorite entrance. Walk around the right side of the museum, preferably through the gardens if the gates are open. Off Jan Luijkenstraat is the South Wing Entrance. This entrance is almost never crowded, and takes you into the Asiatic Art section first.
The Rijksmuseum has all the trapping of most other large museums. You can check coats, eat at the cafe, and upstairs near the main gallery is the gift shop. See my general suggestions about visiting museums.
Rijksmuseum history and development
The Rijksmuseum collection was originated in 1800 as the National Art Gallery, housed in the Huis ten Bosch in the Hague.
When Napoleon conquered the Low Countries he placed his brother Louis in charge of the Netherlands. Louis was an unexpected benefactor, helping the museum to expand its collection before being ousted from office.
Around the same time in 1808 the collection was moved to Amsterdam from Den Haag, where it was first housed in the Royal Palace on Dam Square, just up Damrak from the Centraal Station. Later the collection was moved to the Trippenhuis.
In 1885 the collection was merged with the Dutch Museum of History and Art and both collections were housed in the newly erected Rijksmuseum building. The Dutch Museum collection expanded the total collection from just paintings to include sculpture and applied arts like furniture. This is also when the Dutch History section was created.
Today the Rijksmuseum is comprised of these departments:
- Dutch painting from 15th to 19th century
- Dutch and foreign prints and drawings
- Dutch History
- Sculpture and Decorative Arts
- Museum of Asiatic Art