Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't Miss
The House
The house dates from 1606. Rembrandt bought it for a fortune in 1639, made possible by
his wealthy wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh. On the ground floor you'll see Rembrandt's liv-
ing room/bedroom and the anteroom where he entertained clients.
Studio & Cabinet
Climb the narrow staircase and you'll come to Rembrandt's light-filled studio, laid out as
though he's just nipped down to the kitchen for a bite to eat. Artists give demonstrations
here on how Rembrandt sourced and mixed paints. Across the hall is Rembrandt's 'cabin-
et' - a mind-blowing room crammed with the curiosities he collected: seashells, glass-
ware, Roman busts and stuffed alligators.
Etchings
The top floor is devoted to Rembrandt's famous etchings. The museum has a near-com-
plete collection of them (about 250), although they're not all on display at once. Expect to
see between 20 and 100 inky works at any one time, depending on the exhibition. Demon-
strators crank up an oak press to show etching techniques several times daily.
Bankruptcy
The house ultimately caused Rembrandt's financial downfall. He was unable to pay off
the mortgage, and in 1656 the household effects, artworks and curiosities were sold to
compensate his creditors. It's thanks to the debt collector's itemised list that the museum
has been able to reproduce the interior so authentically. Rembrandt lived the rest of his
years in cheaper digs in the Jordaan.
Top Tips
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Crowds are lightest right at opening time or after 3pm.
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You can buy advance tickets online, though it's not as vital here as at some of the other big museums.
