★★★★★ 5.0
Discover
Rijksmuseum
That red brick facade you're admiring took Pierre Cuypers nine years to balance on 8,000 wooden stilts. In 1876, he faced nothing but swampland here on Museumstraat and created what locals call "the most expensive house of cards in the Netherlands." Here's what most tourists completely miss - that bicycle tunnel slicing straight through the building? Not Cuypers' idea at all. The city forced him to add it so cyclists could zip from Museum Square to Vondelpark without stopping. Because art appreciation shouldn't interrupt Amsterdam's bike traffic. Step through those Gothic archways and you'll discover the Great Hall's magnificent "frescoes" are actually oil paintings on canvas - a restoration secret that fooled art critics for years. Those original wooden piles beneath your feet? Still keeping Rembrandt's Night Watch from sinking back into the bog.
Did You Know?
- Opened in 1800 in The Hague, the Rijksmuseum was originally called the National Art Gallery and was intended as a 'prestige project' to inspire Dutch patriotism—its first purchase, Jan Asselijn’s 'The Swan' for 100 guilders, remains a highlight today. The museum’s relocation to Amsterdam in 1808 was orchestrated by Louis Napoleon, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who moved the collection to the Royal Palace on Dam Square, where it was displayed alongside masterpieces like Rembrandt’s 'The Night Watch'.
- The iconic current building, designed by Pierre Cuypers, opened in 1885 after nearly a decade of construction and public debate—critics called it 'too medieval' and 'too Catholic,' but Cuypers’ blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles, rich with national symbolism, ultimately created a landmark that visually narrates Dutch history. The building’s grandeur was enhanced by stained glass windows celebrating Dutch artists and philosophers, and it was deliberately built to rival Europe’s great art galleries, making a bold cultural statement for the Netherlands.
- The Rijksmuseum is not just about paintings: it houses over 1 million objects, with 8,000 on display, including Delftware, ship models, and even historical weapons—perfect for sparking children’s curiosity. During World War II, the museum played a heroic role by secretly protecting and preserving artworks from Nazi looting, and after the war, it helped recover stolen art. Today, it continues to innovate with digital access and family-friendly activities, ensuring Dutch heritage is both preserved and accessible to all.