Delve into the rich culture and history of the Dutch, by paying a visit to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam! The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands, and it covers the history of the country from the Middle Ages to the present day. Covering 800 years of history and culture, the Rijksmuseum houses more than 8,000 objects in 80 galleries!
On your Rijksmuseum guided tour, you will get the opportunity to admire masterpieces created by Dutch masters such as Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. So go ahead, and book your Rijksmuseum tickets for the guided tour today!
Advantages of a Rijksmuseum Guided Tour
Enter as per your Convenience
With your Rijksmuseum guided tour tickets, you can visit the museum at your convenience. Choose a time slot that works for you, and pre-book your tour tickets for the Rijksmuseum. You can skip the line on the day of your visit and enjoy your guided tour of the Rijksmuseum for as long as you want!
Expert Guide
As your expert guide accompanies you on your Rijksmuseum guided tour, you will be able to visit and admire all the pieces housed in the galleries and the exhibitions that are regularly held at the Rijksmuseum. Your guide is well-versed in different languages and is extremely knowledgeable about all the artworks that are on display at the Rijksmuseum. With your expert guide always by your side, you will be able to cover all the important and must-see attractions of the museum on your Rijksmuseum guided tour.
Multilingual Guide
If you prefer to explore the Rijksmuseum on your own, your multimedia guide will tell you everything that you need to know about all the wonderful paintings that are displayed at the Rijksmuseum. The guides are available in English, Spanish, Italian, German, and French. Choose the multilingual guide that works best for you, and you are all set to have your very own Rijksmuseum guided tour!
The Best Best Rijksmuseum Guided Tour
Guided Tours
Combo Guided Tours
Choosing the Best Rijksmuseum Guided Tour
Before planning your visit to the Rijksmuseum, take a look at all the guided tour options that are available for you.
1Small Group Guided Tour
Enjoy your two-hour-long Rijksmuseum guided tour with a small tour group. Your Rijksmuseum tour tickets can help you skip the line and easily enter the museum on the day of your visit. Your expert guide will take you through the different galleries at the Rijksmuseum and tell you all there is to know about the different masterpieces on display. If you can’t make it, simply cancel your Rijksmuseum guided tour tickets 24 hours before your visit.
2Skip the Line with Multimedia Guide
Get skip-the-line access to the Museum on your Rijksmuseum guided tour with these tour tickets. Apart from exploring the artworks on display, you can even get access to the permanent and temporary exhibitions held at the Rijksmuseum throughout the year. Simply enter the Museum, pick up your multimedia guide, and start exploring the Rijksmuseum with your guided tour tickets.
Rijksmuseum Tours Deconstructed - A Typical Guided Tour Experience
Whether you are visiting the Rijksmuseum with family, friends, or just on your own, the museum has something for everyone! However, don’t forget to visit these must-see attractions on your guided tour of the Rijksmuseum!
The Gardens
Before entering the Rijksmuseum, spend some time in the museum’s green ‘outdoor gallery’ of the Gardens. Spread over 14,500 square meters, the expansive gardens of the Rijksmuseum boast a post-war playground, a glass greenhouse, and a fun water maze. The Gardens at the Rijksmuseum are open to everyone, so do stop there before proceeding for your Rijksmuseum guided tour.
The Doll’s House
The Rijksmuseum is home to three wonderful doll houses. All three of these houses give you an insight into how affluent houses were furnished during that time. The first 17th-century doll house belonged to Petronella Oortman. Oortman had everything built to scale inside her dollhouse. The second 17th-century dollhouse belonged to Petronella Dunois and contains readymade furniture and miniature silver. The third dollhouse is from the 18th century and unlike its counterparts, this dollhouse is not a cupboard but a model of a real house.
The Cuypers Library
The Cuypers Library in the Rijksmuseum is one of the oldest and largest libraries in The Netherlands. The library is open to visitors, students, and art historians. The library has free WiFi and even iPads that can be used by guests to learn more about the artworks inside the Rijksmuseum.
‘The Night Watch’ by Rembrandt Van Rijn
Located in front of the glass house, Rembrandt’s ‘Night Watch is the first painting that shows the military in action. The painting features a Captain giving orders to his Lieutenant to march the company of soldiers. The Rijksmuseum had an ‘Operation Night Watch’ wherein technology was used to restore this masterpiece.
‘The Milkmaid’ by Johannes Vermeer
Displayed in the Gallery of Honour at the Rijksmuseum, Vermeer’s oil painting shows a maidservant totally engrossed in pouring milk. Vermeer created the painting in 1660, and if you look closely, you can see that except for the stream of milk that the maidservant is pouring, everything else in the painting has been painted still.
‘The Threatened Swan' by Jan Asselijn
Another oil painting displayed in the Gallery of Honour is Asselijn’s ‘The Threatened Swan.' This painting depicts a swan fiercely protecting her nest from a dog. Many centuries later, this painting was believed to be a political allegory that symbolized how Dutch Statesman, Johan De Witt, protected his country from enemies. This painting was the first painting to be acquired by the Nationale Kunstgalerij-the predecessor of the Rijksmuseum.
‘The Wedding Portrait of Isaac Massa and Beatrix Van Der Laen’ by Frans Hals
Hals’ oil painting named ‘The Wedding Portrait of Isaac Massa and Beatrix van der Laen’ can be seen at the Gallery of Honour in the Rijksmuseum. Hals created this masterpiece in 1622, and his oil painting depicts a happy and smiling couple sitting comfortably close to each other. The painting has hidden references to love and devotion. The ‘garden of love’ painted on the right symbolizes this and so does the eryngium thistle or the ‘mannentrouw’ that is painted on the left.
Are Rijksmuseum Tours Really Worth It?
Rijksmuseum guided tours are great value for money for guests who want to visit the Museum! The skip-the-line tours give you priority entry into the Rijksmuseum on the day of your visit. By pre-booking your tour tickets online, you can choose the time slot that works best for you and plan your trip accordingly. You even have the freedom to choose between an expert guide, who will accompany you throughout the museum, or a multimedia guide that you can use yourself. Priority entry, a hassle-free visit, and a guided tour-all these make the Rijksmuseum guided tours truly worth it!
Rijksmuseum Practical Information
Opening Hours
The Rijksmuseum is open from 9am to 5pm on all days of the week. The museum also remains open on public holidays.
Getting to Buckingham Palace
- By Car: You can directly reach the Rijksmuseum by car. However, there is no parking inside or outside the Museum. Park your car at the underground Q-Park car park, which is located under the Museumplein.
- By Tram: If you are taking the Tram from Central Station, take line 2 or 5 and then exit on Hobbemastraat. If you are taking the Tram from elsewhere in the city, take lines 6,7, or 10 and exit at Spiegelgracht.
- By Bus: Take bus numbers 145, 170, and 172 and get off at the Hobbemastraat stop.
Insider Tips
These insider tips will come in handy when you visit the Rijksmuseum for your guided tour.
- Since you’ll be walking a lot, we recommend that you wear comfortable footwear for your Rijksmuseum guided tour.
- Visitors up to the age of 19 years are allowed free entry into the museum.
- Photography and filming are allowed inside the Rijksmuseum as long as you do not use flash, lights, or a tripod.
- Free WiFi is available throughout the Museum.
- You will have to pre-book your Rijksmuseum tickets online. The start time mentioned on your ticket is the start time for your visit to the Museum. Once you enter the Museum, you can stay for as long as you want.
- All the areas of the Rijksemusem are open to visitors. The Museum also stays open on public holidays.
- Only digital payments are accepted throughout the museum. So make sure you carry your debit or credit card when you visit the Rijksmuseum.
- For a self-guided tour of the Rijksmuseum, download the latest version of the Rijksmuseum app and carry a pair of earphones or headphones.
- The Rijksmuseum is accessible to people with reduced mobility. You can borrow wheelchairs, rollators, pushchairs, a walking cane, and a foldable museum stool from the Information Desk.
- The Gallery of Honour inside the Rijksmuseum houses some of the must-see masterpieces and tends to be very busy and crowded. For a quieter and less crowded experience, you can visit the areas marked in green on the floor plan.
