Rijksmuseum Tickets Amsterdam

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Duration3 hours
Open onEvery day
Meeting pointThe Rijksmuseum entrance in the passage on Museumplein

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Overview

This is a timed-entry ticket to the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands on Museumplein in Amsterdam. You choose your entry time and then explore the permanent collection at your own pace, from Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid to Delftware, ship models and eight centuries of Dutch history. It suits art lovers, first-time visitors and families. The visit is independent; the ticket includes museum entry and the cloakroom, while the multimedia tour and guided tours are extra.

Highlights

Rembrandt's The Night Watch in the Gallery of Honour, with the restoration work visible to visitors
Vermeer, Frans Hals, Jan Steen and other Golden Age masters in one museum
Eight hundred years of Dutch art and history in the permanent exhibition
Delftware, dollhouses, ship models and the famous library hall
Timed entry with the cloakroom and free Wi-Fi included
Wheelchair-accessible museum on Museumplein, next to the Van Gogh Museum

Full Description

The Rijksmuseum building on Museumplein

The Rijksmuseum was designed by Pierre Cuypers and opened in 1885, a red-brick palace of galleries with turrets, arches and a passage through the middle for cyclists. After a decade-long renovation it reopened in 2013 with brighter halls and a clearer route. The museum now welcomes millions of visitors and is the best-known art museum in the Netherlands.

If you want to know how to get to the Rijksmuseum, take tram 2 or 12 from Amsterdam Centraal to the Rijksmuseum stop, or walk about twenty-five minutes. The Rijksmuseum is on Museumplein, so you can combine it with the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum in the same district.

The Night Watch and the Gallery of Honour

Rembrandt's The Night Watch, completed in 1642, is the museum's most famous painting. It hangs at the end of the Gallery of Honour, a long hall lined with masterpieces, and it is enormous: about four metres wide. The painting shows a militia company setting out, with a dramatic play of light and shadow that made Rembrandt's reputation.

A major research and restoration project on the painting takes place in the museum, and visitors can watch conservators at work behind glass. Many people ask how long they need to see the Night Watch at the Rijksmuseum; the answer is that the painting deserves at least fifteen minutes, and the gallery is best approached early or late in the day.

Vermeer, Frans Hals and the Golden Age

Beside the Night Watch you can see Vermeer's The Milkmaid and Little Street, Frans Hals's laughing portraits, Jan Steen's chaotic households and Rembrandt's Jewish Bride, which Van Gogh admired so much that he said he would give years of his life to sit before it. Together they show how the Dutch Republic became the richest country in Europe in the seventeenth century.

If you are looking for the highlights, the museum's own route takes about two hours. The paintings are set among portraits, silver and furniture, so you understand the world in which the artists worked.

Beyond the paintings: Delftware, ships and the library

The Rijksmuseum is more than a painting gallery. The collections include Delftware, dollhouses with miniature furniture, ship models and objects from the Dutch trading empire, as well as sculpture, Asian art and fashion. Modern additions such as a Mondrian-inspired dress by Yves Saint Laurent show that the collection keeps growing.

The Cuypers Library, one of the most beautiful reading rooms in Europe, is a good place to pause. Your ticket covers museum entry and the cloakroom. The multimedia tour is offered on site for an extra charge and is not included. Opening hours can change, so check your date; the ticket desks close earlier than the galleries.

Itinerary

Arrive at your entry timeGo to the entrance on the ground floor beneath the passage and scan your voucher within 15 minutes of your slot.
Cloakroom and orientationLeave coats and bags and pick up the floor plan, about 10 minutes.
Middle Ages and RenaissanceStart with the early art and objects on the ground floor, about 30 minutes.
The Gallery of Honour and the Night WatchSee Rembrandt's masterpiece and the works around it, about 45 minutes.
Golden Age roomsLook at Vermeer, Hals and Steen, about 45 minutes.
Delftware, ships and the libraryFinish with the decorative arts and the Cuypers Library, about 30 minutes.

What's included

Museum entry with timed ticket
Access to the permanent exhibition
Cloakroom
Free Wi-Fi
Booking fee included

Not included

Multimedia tour (available to buy at the museum)
Guided tour
Food and drinks

Is this right for you?

Great for

A half-day plan — about 3 hours
Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.7/5 by past travellers

Not suitable for

Visitors who want a guided tour; only entry and a cloakroom are included
Visitors who expect the multimedia tour to be included, because it is sold on site
Anyone bringing pets, mobility scooters or smoking materials, none of which are allowed

Meeting point

The meeting point is the Rijksmuseum entrance at Museumstraat 1 on Museumplein in Amsterdam. Show your voucher at the entrance at your chosen time; you may enter up to fifteen minutes after your slot. There is no hotel pickup. Tram 2 and 12 stop right outside at the Rijksmuseum stop, and Amsterdam Centraal is a short tram ride away.

Important information

Bring your voucher on your phone; the ticket is valid for entry at the time you chose.
You may enter up to 15 minutes after the time on your ticket and stay until closing.
Photography is allowed, except with flash or a selfie stick.
Pets, smoking and mobility scooters are not allowed inside.
The museum is open every day, and the ticket desks close about half an hour before the galleries.
The multimedia tour and guided tours are not included.
A companion for a visitor who cannot move independently can collect a free ticket at the desk.

Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.

How much does a Rijksmuseum ticket cost?

It depends on the date and the age category. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for adults and for children.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. This is an entrance ticket only. Tram 2 and 12 from Amsterdam Centraal stop at the museum.

How long does a visit take?

Plan two to three hours for the highlights, or a full half day if you want to see the collection in depth.

Is the Rijksmuseum suitable for children?

Yes. Children enjoy the ship models, the dollhouses and the Night Watch. There is a child category for visitors aged 18 and younger; check it in the booking panel.

What should I wear and bring?

Comfortable shoes and a light layer. Bring your phone voucher and leave large bags in the cloakroom.

Can I book for today or tomorrow?

Often yes, subject to availability of time slots. Choose your date and entry time in the booking panel.

Is the audio tour included?

No. The ticket includes museum entry, the permanent exhibition and the cloakroom. The multimedia tour can be bought at the museum.

Is the Rijksmuseum worth visiting?

Yes. It is the best place to see Dutch Golden Age painting, and the Night Watch alone is worth the visit.

What is the best time to visit the Rijksmuseum?

Early morning or late afternoon on weekdays are the quietest times, especially in the Gallery of Honour.