Rijksmuseum Amsterdam: tickets, opening hours and masterpieces to see

Updated on October 1, 2026

The Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, fills the large neo-Gothic brick building designed by Pierre Cuypers and opened in 1885 on the edge of Museumplein, in the museum quarter. More than 8,000 works and objects tell 800 years of Dutch art and history, from Rembrandt's The Night Watch to Vermeer's The Milkmaid, alongside Frans Hals, Jan Steen and four paintings by Van Gogh, including a self-portrait. The museum is open every day from 9am to 5pm, public holidays included; an adult ticket costs €25 and entry is free for visitors aged 18 and under. According to the museum, one hour is enough to see the masterpieces; allow half a day to explore the other floors.

Highlights

The Night Watch

Painted by Rembrandt in 1642, this group portrait of an Amsterdam civic guard company hangs in the room at the end of the Gallery of Honour. The painting is undergoing the largest research and restoration project in its history, Operation Night Watch: the restorers work inside a glass chamber in full view of visitors and are currently removing the old varnish. The surface may therefore look duller during this phase.

The Cuypers building and its gardens

Seen from Museumplein, the 1885 building combines brick, towers and painted decoration. Reopened in 2013 after ten years of renovation, it is surrounded by gardens with free entry, open in summer from 9am to 6pm.

The passage under the museum

A vaulted gallery runs straight through the building and links the city centre with Museumplein. Cyclists and pedestrians use it freely, without a ticket; it is also the shortest bike route between the Singelgracht and Museumplein.

The Gallery of Honour

This long corridor leads to the Night Watch room. Its alcoves bring together the great painters of the 17th century: Vermeer's The Milkmaid, Rembrandt's The Jewish Bride, portraits by Frans Hals and genre scenes by Jan Steen.

Willem de Kooning at the Rijksmuseum

From 9 October 2026 to 17 January 2027, the exhibition "Willem de Kooning at work" shows more than 120 works by the Rotterdam-born painter, mostly drawings. During that time, two of his best-known canvases, Woman I and Woman and Bicycle, hang in the Gallery of Honour.

Infos pratiques

Tips

All visitors must book an entry time, including Museumkaart holders; only Friends of the museum and ICOM or ICOMOS card holders are exempt. A few tickets are sold at the entrance while they last, but booking online guarantees your chosen slot. Once inside, you can stay as long as you like until closing time. Prices as of October 2026: adults €25, free for ages 18 and under and with the I amsterdam City Card, half price at €11.25 for CJP and EYCA card holders. Payment is by card only throughout the museum. The free Rijksmuseum app offers hundreds of audio stories. Between 5pm and 6pm, the shop and café are open without a ticket.

How to get there

Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam. Tram 2, 5 or 24 to the Museumplein stop; tram 7 to Spiegelgracht. Metro 52 to Vijzelgracht, then less than 10 minutes on foot. From Central Station, trams 2, 5 and 24 run directly to Museumplein. By bike, the passage under the museum takes you from the centre to Museumplein; by car, the Q-Park Museumplein underground car park is at Van Baerlestraat 33b.