Description

Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

The Rijksmuseum is the largest art museum in the Netherlands. It boasts an impressive collection of  works spread out over more than 80 halls. World-renowned masters such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Van Gogh, Johannes Vermeer and Frans Hals are all on display. The building is situated in the heart of Amsterdam’s museum district, where you can also find the Stedelijk and the Van Gogh Museum. The Royal Concert hall located opposite to the Rijksmuseum is considered to be one of the finest concert halls in the world.

The Rijksmuseum was designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers and was opened to the public in 1885. Since 1970 the museum has been Dutch national heritage. In 2013 an extensive 10-year renovation was completed. The new interior of the museum is a perfect blend of the old with the modern. The atrium over the entrance hall features a high glass ceiling and spacious, modern architecture that’s uniquely combined with the traditionally red coloured brick walls.

Rijksmuseum Paintings

The collection of the Rijksmuseum contains more than a million pieces and has around eight thousand paintings on display, sculptures and historical art objects, ranging from the year 1200 to the present. Some of the most remarkable works include Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (1642), The Milkmaid by Vermeer (1647) and one of Van Gogh’s self-portraits (1887).

Rembrandt

Rembrandt was born in 1606 in Leiden, Netherlands. He was an artist who painted portraits, landscapes, religious subjects, and self-portraits. His paintings were considered revolutionary at the time because he used light and dark colors to create his works.

He died in 1669 at the age of 42. Rembrandt’s art has been collected by museums around the world and is worth millions of dollars.

Van Gogh

Van gogh was born in 1853 in the french city of venoge. He died at the age of 37 after he cut off his ear. His paintings were mostly done during his early 20s. He was an artist who had a unique style and technique. He used thick paint strokes and bright colors.

Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer was born in 1632 in Delft, Netherlands. He died in 1675. His paintings were mostly religious subjects, such as The Prodigal Son, Christ Healing the Sick, and The Milkmaid.

Vermeer painted his Girl Reading at an Open Window in 1668. It is considered one of his masterpieces. This painting has been called the first example of Dutch Golden Age painting.

Rijksmuseum Library

The Dutch architect Cuypers had various principles in building Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. Cuypers was interested in connecting modern components with artisanal craftsmanship.

Furthermore, he wanted the fundemental anatomy of the Rijksmuseum to remain visible. In Rijksmuseum’s library, the iron load-bearing construction is plain to see. A lot elements were restored to their original state during the renovation. Did you know that Cuypers designed a large skylight to make it possible to read by daylight? When the Rijksmuseum opened in 1885, reading by daylight, rather than by flickering gaslight, was super modern. Cuypers also designed Amsterdam’s Central Station by the way.

Rijksmuseum Tickets

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