The Rijksmuseum: How to See the Best of It in Two Hours

The building itself, designed by Pierre Cuypers and reopened in 2013 after a decade-long renovation, is worth admiring before you even reach the art. Its cathedral-like atrium and cycle tunnel running underneath the building are two of the more unusual architectural quirks of any major museum in Europe.

The collection spans eight centuries of Dutch history and art, from medieval altarpieces to Golden Age masterpieces to twentieth-century design, but most visitors are here for one room in particular.

The Night Watch and the Gallery of Honour

Rembrandt's Night Watch hangs at the far end of the Gallery of Honour, a long corridor lined with the museum's greatest seventeenth-century hits, including Vermeer's Milkmaid and Woman Reading a Letter, and Frans Hals' group portraits. This gallery is the spine of any visit and should be your first stop.

The Night Watch has been undergoing public conservation work in recent years, visible to visitors behind glass, so do not be surprised to see scaffolding or equipment around it; it is still on full display and remains the single most photographed painting in the country.

A realistic two-hour route

1. Start in the Gallery of Honour and take in Vermeer, Hals, and the Night Watch first, while your energy is highest.
2. Move into the adjoining Golden Age rooms for still lifes and group portraits.
3. Head down to the medieval and Renaissance galleries on the ground floor for contrast.
4. Finish in the twentieth-century and design wing, which is usually far quieter and includes furniture, Delftware, and a Schiphol-adjacent aircraft cabin exhibit.
5. If time allows, step into the Rijksmuseum Gardens before you leave.

The library

The Rijksmuseum Research Library, visible through a glass wall on one of the upper floors, is one of the most photographed interiors in the building, a soaring cast-iron and wood reading room stacked with books. You cannot enter the library itself as a general visitor, but the viewing point is free and takes only a minute, and it is easy to miss if you do not know to look for it.

The gardens

The Rijksmuseum Gardens wrap around the building and are free to enter even without a museum ticket, with sculptures, fountains, and quiet benches. They are a good spot to decompress after a couple of hours indoors, and a pleasant shortcut between the museum and Museumplein.

Quiet hours

The museum tends to be busiest between about 11am and 3pm, especially in the Gallery of Honour. The first hour after opening and the final ninety minutes before closing are consistently calmer, and weekday mornings are quieter than weekends year-round.

Family route

Children generally respond better to objects than to paintings, so the Rijksmuseum's collection of model ships, weapons, and dollhouses tends to hold their attention longer than the picture galleries. The museum also runs a family trail with an activity booklet, available at the information desk, that turns the visit into a scavenger hunt through select rooms; see our wider Amsterdam with kids guide for more ideas.

Tickets

Tickets are sold online with a timed entry slot, and while walk-up availability sometimes exists outside peak season, booking ahead is strongly recommended, particularly for weekends and the summer months. A Museumkaart or I amsterdam City Card, covered in our best museums in Amsterdam guide, both include Rijksmuseum entry. Check current prices on the official site before you book.

Getting there and combining your visit

The Rijksmuseum sits on Museumplein, a short walk or tram ride from the city centre, right next to the Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum. Many visitors combine a Rijksmuseum morning with a Van Gogh Museum afternoon, and the pairing slots neatly into our Amsterdam 2 day itinerary.