Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most museums require baggage check (usually free, often in coin-op lockers where you
get your coin back).
The following sights are arranged by neighborhood for handy sightseeing.
At the Rijksmuseum (“Rijks” rhymes with “bikes”), Holland's Golden Age shines with the
best collection anywhere of the Dutch Masters—from Vermeer's quiet domestic scenes, to
Steen's raucous family meals, to Hals' snapshot portraits, to Rembrandt's moody brilliance.
Recently much improved after a long renovation, this delightful museum offers one of the
most exciting and enjoyable art experiences in Europe.
The 17th century saw the Netherlands at the pinnacle of its power. The Dutch had won
their independence from Spain, trade and shipping boomed, wealth poured in, the people
were understandably proud, and the arts flourished. This era was later dubbed the Dutch
Golden Age. With no church bigwigs or royalty around to commission big canvases in the
Protestant Dutch republic, artists had to find different patrons—and they discovered the
upper-middle-class businessmen who fueled Holland's capitalist economy. Artists painted
their portraits and decorated their homes with pretty still lifes and nonpreachy, slice-of-life
art.
Dutch art is meant to be enjoyed, not studied. It's straightforward, meat-and-potatoes art
for the common man. The Dutch love the beauty of everyday things painted realistically and
with exquisite detail. Set your cerebral cortex on “low” and let this art pass straight from the
eyes to the heart, with minimal detours.
Cost and Hours:
€15, not covered by I amsterdam Card, audioguide-€5, videoguide
also available, daily 9:00-17:00, last entry 30 minutes before closing, tram #2 or #5 from
Central Station to Hobbemastraat, info tel. 020/674-7047 or switchboard tel. 020/674-7000,
www.rijksmuseum.nl
.
The entrance is off the passageway that tunnels right through the cen-
ter of the building.
Avoiding Crowds:
The museum is most crowded from April to September (especially
April-June),onweekends,andduringmorninghours.Youcanavoidcrowdsbycominglater
in the day (it's least crowded after 16:00—but most visitors will want more than an hour
here).Avoidwaitsintheticket-buying linebybuyingyourticket orpassinadvance. Noone
can completely avoid the security line.
You can buy and print your ticket in advance online at
www.rijksmuseum.nl
.
The ticket
is good any time (no entry time specified). Buying online has the added advantage of letting
you enter through the “direct entry” doorway, scooting you to the front of the security line.
You can also buy tickets at many hotels.
