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Explore the Rijksmuseum Collection | What to See, Highlights, and More
What's Inside the Rijksmuseum?
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam houses the largest collection of Dutch artworks that span 800 years, including Rembrandt's The Night Watch, Vermeer's The Milkmaid, and Van Gogh's Self-Portrait. With its 80 galleries, the museum hosts artworks ranging from the 1200s to modern paintings, and a collection of Asian artworks making it a must-visit for over 2.7 million visitors each year.
Inside the Rijksmuseum | What to Look Out For?
Paintings
The Rijksmuseum is a treasure trove of landscapes, portraits, still and daily life, Biblical scenes, history scenes, and even paintings of myths and symbols, dating back to the 14th century. Fast forward to the 17th century, artworks by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, and other Dutch masters have also made their way to the Rijksmuseum. In fact, the Rijksmuseum is the biggest museum in the Netherlands, boasting over 6000 paintings on canvas and panels, and a dream come true for art lovers.
Sculptures
The Rijksmuseum is home to a whopping 1000 sculptures, including wood, bronze, and alabaster to ivory, marble, terracotta, and even sandstone sculptures. From Middle Age Dutch sculptures and Renaissance sculptures from Europe to Asian sculptures, adding a diverse touch to the mix.
Furniture and interiors
The furniture collection at the Rijksmuseum is a time-travel machine to the home decor of the past. From tapestries, carpets, and wall hangings to chairs, sofas, beds, and writing tables, the Rijksmuseum is home to Dutch, German, French, South Netherlandish, Italian, and English interiors from the 17th to the 19th century. The real showstoppers are the fully furnished dollhouses so keep your eyes out for these.
Fashion
The fashion collection at the Rijksmuseum is a closet lover's dream, with over 10,000 costumes and accessories, 500 pocket watches, and over 1000 pieces of jewelry, going back to the 17th century. This Fashion History 101 collection consists of not just opulent upper-class outfits but also the everyday wear of the lower classes.
Applied Arts
The everyday items at the Rijksmuseum are anything but ordinary. From over 15,000 tableware and household goodies made from metal, glass, ceramic, and textiles, the collection has both objects from ordinary homes and decorations from palaces, homes of nobles, and even churches.
Weapons and ship models
The Rijksmuseum also houses 1800 ship models and a whole arsenal of over 1600 weapons, from firearms and cannons to daggers, sabers, and armor. While most of these are straight out of 17th and 18th century Netherlands, there's a mix of modern weapons in the collection, including weapons used by Napoleon and Michiel de Ruyter.
Works on paper
A bookworm's paradise, the Rijksmuseum is home to half a million prints, 50,000 drawings, 140,000 photographs, and a library with 350,000 books, periodicals, and catalogs. Since some of these are as delicate as grandma's china, they're on display on very few days, being stored in acid-free cardboard boxes in regulated humidity and temperature conditions on most days.
Asian Art
Did you know that the Rijksmuseum is the only museum in the Netherlands with a collection of Asian art? We're talking over 8000 objects from all periods, with most objects from China, Japan, India, and Indonesia. Some of these were traded with Europe and boast a touch of Western flair; the majority, however, were meant for local trade and are a slice of Asia right in the heart of the Netherlands.
Rijksmuseum Artworks
The Night Watch
Artist: Rembrandt vin Rijn
Year: 1642
Location: Nightwatch gallery
Syndics of the Drapers' Guild
Artist: Rembrandt vin Rijn
Year: 11662
Location: Gallery of Honour
The Milkmaid
Artist: Johannes Vermeer
Year: 1660
Location: Gallery of Honour
The Windmill at Wijk bij Duurstede
Artist: Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael
Year: 1668 - 1670
Location: Gallery of Honour
Self-portrait
Artist: Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen
Year: 1533
Location: Room 0.6
The Regents of the Spinhuis and Nieuwe Werkhuis
Artist: Karel du Jardin
Year: 1669
Location: Room 2.18
Landscape with Waterfall
Artist: Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael
Year: 1668
Location: Gallery of Honour
The Hunter's Present
Artist: Gabriël Metsu
Year: 1658 - 1661
Location: Room 2.25
Militia Company of District VIII under the Command of Captain Roelof Bicker
Artist: Bartholomeus van der Helst
Year: 1640 - 1643
Location: Nightwatch gallery
Frequently Asked Questions About What's Inside the Rijksmuseum
What is inside the Rijksmuseum?
The Rijksmuseum has paintings, sculptures, fashion, furniture and interiors, applied arts, weapons and ship models, Asian art, and works on paper.
How big is the Rijksmuseum collection?
The Rijksmuseum has over 1,000,000 artworks of which only 80,000 are on display.
Is the entire Rijksmuseum collection on display?
Not all items in the collection are on display. Of the 1,000,000 artworks, only 80,000 are on display.
How long will it take to see the entire Rijksmuseum collection?
On average, visitors spend about 4 to 5 hours exploring the Rijksmuseum collection, but you can explore the museum for much longer.
What are the most famous paintings at <POI>?
The most notable works of art are Rembrandt's The Night Watch, Vermeer's The Milkmaid, Van Gogh's Self-Portrait, and Frans Hals' The Merry Drinker.
What types of paintings are part of the Rijksmuseum collection?
The Rijksmuseum has a rich collection of drawings, paintings, landscapes, portraits, still life, Biblical scenes, daily life, history scenes, and paintings on myths and symbols.
What are the most famous sculptures at the Rijksmuseum?
The most famous sculptures are Triton Blowing a Conch Shell by Adriaen de Vries, The Nativity by Hans Kamensetzer, Christ as Saviour by Giovanni Battista Caccini, and the Portrait of Eleonora of Aragon by Giovanni Christoforo Romano.
What types of sculptures are part of the Rijksmuseum collection?
The collection consists of both Western and Asian sculptures from various time periods made out of wood, bronze, alabaster, ivory, marble, terracotta, and even sandstone.
What are the types of furniture and household items on display in the collection?
The collection has dollhouses, tapestries, carpets, wall hangings, chests, cupboards, chairs, sofas, beds, and writing desks. There are also other household items made of metals, glass, terracotta, marble, and ceramics in the Applied Arts collection.
What kinds of works on paper are at the Rijksmuseum?
The collection has over half a million prints, 50,000 drawings, 140,000 photographs, and a library with more than 350,000 books, periodicals, and catalogs.
What kind of Asian art is at the Rijksmuseum?
The Rijksmuseum has close to 8000 sculptures, paintings, works on paper, and interiors, mainly from China, Japan, India, and Indonesia, among other regions.
Can I take pictures inside the Rijksmuseum?
Yes, you can take photos inside the Rijksmuseum for personal use on handheld devices. Lighting, props, tripods, and selfie sticks are not permitted. Professional photographers can shoot photos inside the Rijksmuseum if their application has been approved.
Is there a dress code to be followed inside the Rijksmuseum?
No, there is no mandatory dress code to be followed. However, we do suggest wearing comfortable clothing and shoes for a more enjoyable experience.
