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Museum · Amsterdam

Rijksmuseum Tickets & Guide 2026 | Amsterdam Art Museum

The red-brick Rijksmuseum building seen across the Museumplein reflecting pool
Photo: Marco Almbauer, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

By Emma · Updated · 2 min read

TL;DR
  • Book a timed ticket online to skip the ticket desk
  • Head to the Gallery of Honour first or late in the day
  • Under-19s go free
  • Combine with the Van Gogh Museum on Museumplein, but not on the same morning
Type
Museum
Where
Amsterdam
Time needed
2-3 hours
Admission
around €25 for adults (2026), under-19s free, book ahead

The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands and one of the great art museums of Europe. Its neo-Gothic home, designed by Pierre Cuypers, opened in 1885 and reopened in 2013 after a ten-year renovation. It is a must on any city break in Amsterdam.

What you'll see

The heart of the museum is the Gallery of Honour on the second floor, lined with masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age:

  • Rembrandt's The Night Watch (1642), the museum's most famous painting. A long-running research and restoration project, Operation Night Watch, has taken place in full view of visitors, so check what is on show when you visit.
  • Vermeer's The Milkmaid and other works by the Delft master.
  • Frans Hals, Jan Steen and Jacob van Ruisdael, among many others.

Beyond the paintings, look for the intricate 17th-century dolls' houses, the model ships, Delftware, and the stunning Cuypers Library, the largest and oldest art history library in the Netherlands. The gardens around the building are free to visit and host sculpture exhibitions in summer.

Practical information

  • Tickets: around €25 for adults in 2026; under-19s go free. Buy timed tickets online on the official website and check current prices. Museum card holders get in free.
  • Opening: open every day of the year.
  • Getting there: trams 2 and 12 stop at Rijksmuseum, or it's about a 20-minute walk from Dam Square. A cycle path runs right through the building's central passage.
  • Best time to go: first thing in the morning or after 3pm. Weekday mornings outside school holidays are quietest.

Download the free Rijksmuseum app for audio tours, including a short highlights route if you only have an hour or two.

The Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk are next door on Museumplein, and the Anne Frank House is about 20 minutes' walk away. Our Netherlands guide has more trip ideas.

Where is Rijksmuseum?

Open in OpenStreetMap · 52.36000, 4.88530

Frequently asked questions

How long do you need at the Rijksmuseum?

Two to three hours covers the highlights. Art lovers could happily spend a full day.

Can you see The Night Watch?

Yes, it is normally on display in its own gallery at the end of the Gallery of Honour, though conservation work may affect how it is presented.

Is the Rijksmuseum good for children?

Yes. Under-19s get in free, and the museum runs family trails and activities.

Written by

Emma City breaks & deals editor

Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.

More from Emma

Opening times and ticket prices change often; check the official website shortly before you visit.