Rijksmuseum

The predecessor of the Rijksmuseum, the Nationale Kunst-Galerij, opened in The Hague in the year 1800 and was intended to be the equivalent of the Louvre in Paris. A handful of years later in 1808, the museum was moved to Amsterdam on the orders of Louis Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, and paintings owned by the gallery were combined with those of the city of Amsterdam to form the basis of the collection that visitors enjoy today. The current building was designed by Pierre Cuypers and was completed in 1885. The collection is dedicated to art, crafts, and historical objects from around the world, with a special focus on Dutch art. Its most famous artworks are over 2,000 pieces from the Dutch Golden Age, including works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Frans Halls, and Jan Steen.

It isn’t necessary to take a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum. The Rijksmuseum app means that you can access more information about the most important pieces in the museum without having to spend extra on a guided tour, and you’ll have more flexibility. However, there are some fascinating guided tours available on specific subjects, including the Highlights of the Golden Age, the fashion of the Golden Age, eating and drinking, the differences and similarities between the Dutch and Spanish masters and more! If you’re an art buff and one of these catches your eye then make sure to book your place in advance. There are also special guided tours for visually impaired visitors, International Sign Language tours for Deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors, and adapted tours for visitors with dementia.

It depends on your level of interest. You can see most of the famous art in an hour and a half, but if you want to take a more thorough approach then you could easily spend four hours or more exploring. Most of the guided tours take about an hour, while the audio content is slightly more thorough. There’s no time limit for your visit, so take your time and stop for refreshments in the café if you feel yourself starting to flag!

There are several ways that the museum makes its exhibitions more engaging for young visitors, although the majority are aimed at children aged 6 and over. Family group tours are available during the summer vacation, and private family tours are available all year round as long as you book in advance. Both the private and group versions take an hour and can include up to 15 participants. Family text guides to the exhibits can be bought for 12.50 from the ticket desk, museum shop, or Multimedia Tour desk and are available in English, Dutch, German, and French. The picnic room is a family-friendly space where children can draw, relax, and have a snack away from the main galleries. It’s open from 11 am to 4 pm on weekends, and daily during school holidays. There’s also a Multimedia Family Game for 2-4 players available to rent from the Rijksmuseum. It takes about an hour to solve 8 art-related puzzles on your way around the gallery. In terms of practical tips for visiting with children, there is a private room where you can express milk or breastfeed, and there’s a changing area for infants near the restrooms. There is a special children’s menu in the café and there’s also space to eat your own food in either the Atrium or the Picnic Room. Strollers and pushchairs are allowed inside the museum, but back baby carriers must be left at the cloakroom where they can be stored free of charge. You can borrow a pushchair from the cloakroom, though numbers are limited.

Yes. The floorplan clearly marks the best routes for those who want to avoid stairs, and all floors of the museum are served by elevators. Wheelchairs, folding stools, walking sticks, and rollators are available to borrow, but it’s best to reserve these items in advance of your visit by contacting the museum. Assistance dogs wearing harnesses are welcome inside the galleries. There are several accessible toilets in the building, but at this time there are no adult changing facilities. However, you can use the first-aid table in a private room, just ask members of staff to show you the way. Visitors with hearing aids can download the Rijksmuseum app to access audio and multimedia content. There is also a hearing loop in the auditorium, so if you are attending an event in the auditorium please ask a member of staff if you need assistance. Those who wish to visit the museum using a mobility scooter are welcome to do so but are asked to visit either between 9 am and 11 am or between 3 pm and 5 pm to avoid the busiest times. You may also be asked to demonstrate your ability to maneuver the scooter in tight spaces so that staff can be sure that you, the art on display, and other visitors, will be safe. Disabled visitors who require a companion to help them during their visit can bring one free of charge. Companions will need to collect a free ticket from the ticket office or information desk before entering.