Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum: which one to choose?

If you only have half a day for Amsterdam's museums, the choice is between two big names five minutes' walk apart: the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. The first tells eight centuries of Dutch art and history, with Rembrandt and Vermeer; the second is devoted to a single painter. This comparison puts side by side what you see, the price, the duration, booking and the cards, so you can decide in two minutes. Prices are those recorded in October 2026.

At a glance

	Rijksmuseum	Van Gogh Museum
What you see	Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, historical objects	Van Gogh: paintings, drawings, letters
Adult ticket	€25	€25
Free	Under 18, Museumkaart, I amsterdam City Card	Under 18, Museumkaart
Opening hours	Every day 9 am-5 pm	9 am-5 pm or 6 pm depending on the period, Friday until 9 pm
Duration	1 hour for the masterpieces, half a day for the rest	2 to 3 hours on average
Booking	Compulsory (entry time)	Compulsory, no tickets sold on site

The Rijksmuseum: the big panorama

The façade of the Rijksmuseum

Choose the Rijksmuseum if you want to understand the Golden Age and see famous masterpieces: Rembrandt's The Night Watch, Vermeer's The Milkmaid, portraits by Frans Hals. The museum also covers eight centuries of history, with ship models and dolls' houses, which appeals to visitors who do not only like painting. According to the museum, one hour is enough to see the masterpieces. Prices, the current exhibition and the restoration of The Night Watch are on the Rijksmuseum page.

The Van Gogh Museum: one artist, in depth

The Van Gogh Museum on the Museumplein

Choose the Van Gogh Museum if he is mostly who you came to see. The museum holds more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters, and follows his life from the dark peasants of Brabant to the Sunflowers and the Almond Blossom. Smaller and more linear, it takes two to three hours. The Starry Night is not on show here: it is at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. See the Van Gogh Museum page.

Depending on your profile

First trip, one visit only: the Rijksmuseum, broader and rooted in the country's history.
Van Gogh or Impressionism fans: the Van Gogh Museum, without hesitation.
With children: the ship models and dolls' houses of the Rijksmuseum go down better than the Van Gogh galleries; see also our guide Amsterdam with children.
Little time (half a day): only one of the two. One museum in depth beats two museums at a run.
Rainy days or big crowds: book the first morning slot at either.

Can you do both?

Yes, starting at the Rijksmuseum when it opens, then booking the Van Gogh in the early afternoon after lunch in the district (see where to eat near the Rijksmuseum). Beyond two museums a day, tiredness wins. Our Amsterdam in 2 days itinerary spreads the visits over several half-days.

Cards and booking

The Museumkaart (€75 for an adult in 2026) gives access to both museums with a booked slot; the I amsterdam City Card includes the Rijksmuseum but not the Van Gogh Museum. Both cards pay off only if you string together several visits: compare them in our guides to the museum pass and the tourist passes. To book without falling for fake tickets, see booking tickets in Amsterdam.

Our verdict

If you can only do one: the Rijksmuseum for a first trip, the Van Gogh Museum for enthusiasts. The simplest option is still to book both at different times of the day and keep a break in the Vondelpark or on the Museumplein. For a walk around the museums, follow the route Around the Rijksmuseum.