RIJKSMUSEUM

There are lots of museums and art museums in Amsterdam, but the most visited and famous museum is Rijks Museum. They present the Dutch art history from the Middle Ages. 

This museum started from the Hague in 1800 and moved to the royal palace located in Dam Square Amsterdam in 1808. In 1815, the name of the museum was changed to Rijks Museum as now, and moved to the current location in 1885. It is a museum and art gallery at the same time with various paintings and sculptures including the most famous Dutch painter, Rembrandt's artworks. 

One of the most instagrammable spots in Amsterdam is I AMSTERDAM SIGN without doubt. This world famous I AMSTERDAM SIGN is just right in front of Rijks Museum. Don't forget to take a photo in front of here. 

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RIJKSMUSEUM FACILITIES

There is a beautiful small garden at Rijksmuseum and it is free to enter for the public. Not only the garden, but also the restaurant, cafe, souvenir shop, and the lobby of museum are open to the public so you can freely enter there without tickets. 

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RIJKSMUSEUM TICKET 

This is the lobby of Rijks Museum. On the second floor, there is a small restaurant and there is a souvenir shop right under it. At the souvenir shop of Rijks Museum, you will find many interesting items inspired by famous paintings in Rijks Museum. On the celing is decorated with an unique and modernized chandelier which you can find only here. A modernism is hidden in this classic building. 

You can buy the ticket online in advance or buy it on the spot. Most of the tourists in Amsterdam buy the Amsterdam City Card or Holland Pass depending on their plan. If you hold a valid Amsterdam City Card, it is free to enter here. If you hold a valid Holland Pass, you can enter here for free with one gold level. Amsterdam.

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RIJKSMUSEUM FREE CLOAKROOM

There is a free cloakroom where they keep your coat and bags for free. As the museum is quite warm, there is a long queue to put their coats and daily bags. After you leave your belongings there, they will give you a key. After visiting the museum, you can come back here to pick up your belongings. There is also a coin locker in Rijksmuseum if you need. 

4

RIJKSMUSEUM CAFE

When you enter the museum, on the ground floor, you will see this small and cozy cafe. When you want to rest a bit before moving to other galleries, you can take a coffee break here or simply sit down on benches near elevators on each floor. 

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RIJKSMUSEUM TIPS 

If you don't have any plan what to see here, the tour can be quite exhausting as the museum is huge with several floors. Before entering the museum, you can get a floor plan map from the information desk in the lobby. Each floor has different collections by period and artists. There are elevators, but you have to wait for it for a long time. Thus, it is more recommendable to start your tour from 3rd floor and take stairs to continue the tour downstairs. For the famous paintings, there are boards with more detailed information on the side. 

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MUST-SEE PAINTINGS IN RIJKSMUSEUM

So, what are the paintings you should not miss here? It is a big museum and they have lots of paintings and sculptures, but we will introduce best 10 highlighting paintings to help your tour in the museum. If you have a tight schedule for the tour, we recommend you to visit 'Gallery of Honour' on the second floor where famous paintings including Rembrandt's Night Watch are gathered. 

1. VINCENT VAN GOGH - SELF PORTRAIT
2. JAN WILLEM PIENEMAN - WATERLOO
3. REMBRANDT - NIGHT WATCH
4. REMBRANDT - THE JEWISH BRIDE
5. JAN ASSELIJN - THE THREATENED SWAN
6. JOHANNES VERMEER - VIEW OF HOUSES IN DELFT(THE LITTLE STREET)
7. JOHANNES VERMEER - WOMAN READING A LETTER
8. JOHANNES VERMEER - THE LOVE LETTER
9. LUCAS VAN LEYDEN - TRIPTYCH WITH THE LAST JUDGEMENT
10. HENDRICK AVERCAMP - ENJOYING THE ICE NEAR A TOWN

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RIJKSMUSEUM LIBRARY

One of the most beautiful libraries in the world is in Amsterdam. This library is open to the public and there are people studying or reading books downstairs. You are not allowed to take photos downstairs, but when you access the library on the second floor, you can quitely take photos. Remember to keep the silence as it is a library. 

O'bon Paris' tip

You are not very familiar with paintings or art? Do not worry at all. There are explanations for each painting, and sometimes more detailed information for famous paintings. Even without any explanation, you will still enjoy your tour by appreciating marvelous paintings with stunning colors in different styles. Appreciating famous paintings and sculptures in front of your eyes is already interesting, but there are plenty of hidden things to enjoy other than artworks. The hallway, interior, ceiling, lights are part of arts to appreciate. As you see in the above photo, the ceiling lights are going up and down fluttering clothes and just looking at this give you a very snug and happy feeling. If you want to discover the true value of the Dutch art, visit Rijks Museum. 

Words and Photographs by Yuna Lee