The Rijksmuseum is one of the highlights for anyone visiting Amsterdam. If you only have time for one museum, this is the one to see.
There are over 8,000 items in the Rijksmuseum collection from the Middle Ages to today. The museum’s highlights include the Dutch Golden Age paintings featuring famous artists like Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, and Frans Hals.
Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” is the major attraction inside the museum. 2,200,000 visitors come to the Rijksmuseum every year to marvel at this masterpiece, estimated to be simply “priceless”.
Beyond the paintings, the museum has many artifacts showing life in the Netherlands throughout history. The collections include antique Delftware, beautiful Asian art, antique weapons, musical instruments, jewelry, and even periodic rooms.
The Most Famous Paintings In The Rijksmuseum Every Visitor Should See
If you’re visiting The Rijksmuseum for the first time, there are a few highlights you should see. I highly recommend taking your time to explore the collections, but if time is scarce, make sure to see these famous paintings in the Rijksmuseum at least.
“The Night Watch” by Rembrandt (c. 1642)
Arguably the most famous painting in the Rijksmuseum, this masterpiece by Rembrandt van Rijn is like a theatrical piece. The dramatic use of light and shadow and sheer magnitude make a lasting impact on the viewer. “The Night Watch” depicts a troop of city guardsmen and captures a moment of intense activity, making it an icon of Dutch Golden Age painting.
The combination of scale, artistry, original composition, and historical relevance has elevated “The Night Watch” to one of the most famous paintings in art history.
While writing this article, The Nightwatch is going through research and conservation. You can witness this exciting conservation project, Operation Night Watch, in the Rijksmuseum Gallery of Honor.
“The Milkmaid” by Vermeer (about 1660)
“The Milkmaid” by Johannes Vermeer exemplifies his ability to depict ordinary life in a brilliant and personal manner. This deceptively simple picture of a young woman pouring milk from a jug is praised for its excellent use of color and ability to attract the viewer’s attention.
The painting demonstrates Vermeer’s distinctive use of light. The soft, diffused light fills the surroundings, creating a harmonious feel.
There’s something very calming about The Milkmaid. Year after year, the painting attracts visitors to admire its beauty and soothing atmosphere.
“The Girl in the White Kimono” by George Breitner (c.1894)
Breitner created thirteen paintings of a girl in a kimono between 1893 and 1896, inspired by Japanese prints. In the paintings, the girl wearing the kimono strikes various poses, and her kimono is always of a different color.
In this painting, she wears a white silk kimono with red-trimmed sleeves and an orange sash. The girl is Geesje Kwak, a sixteen-year-old seamstress and regular model for Breitner.
“The Threatened Swan” by Jan Asselijn (about 1650)
This powerful picture by Jan Asselijn depicts a swan defending its nest against a dog. It’s not just a portrayal of nature but also of Dutch resistance to foreign challenges in the 17th century.
The swan, often regarded as a symbol of the Dutch nation, fiercely protects its territory against the perceived danger posed by the dog, symbolizing foreign invaders.
“Isaac And Rebecca,” also known as “The Jewish Bride” by Rembrant (c. 1667)
This beautiful painting is just another jewel in Rembrandt’s extensive body of work. “The Jewish Bride” shows a sweet moment between a man and a woman, typically understood as a picture of love and compassion.
“View Of Houses In Delft” by Vermeer (c. 1658)
View of Houses In Delft, known as ‘Het Straatje’. This is a rare painting in Vermeer’s work and noteworthy for its time as a picture of typical households. The composition is both thrilling and well-balanced. The location on the painting is Vlamingstraat 40–42 in Delft. Vermeer’s aunt Ariaentgen Claes and her children lived in the house on the right from roughly 1645 until her death in 1670.
“Woman Reading a Letter” by Vermeer (c. 1663)
“Woman Reading a Letter” by Johannes Vermeer, painted around 1663, is an exquisite glimpse into the everyday life of the Dutch Golden Age. The artwork portrays a woman, illuminated by soft natural light, as she reads a letter. The Vermeer’s attention to detail and mastery of light and shadow creates a sense of intimacy.
Watching the painting, you feel like you’re witnessing something very intimate. Is it a love letter that the woman is reading or something else? That we’ll never know.
“Still Life With A Gilt Cup” by Willem Claesz. Heda (c. 1635)
Still Life With A Gilt Cup is a magnificent example of a still-life painting from the Dutch Golden Age. In this artwork, Heda pays excellent attention to detail, arranging objects on a table. What makes this painting special is how Heda uses light and shadow to make everything look real. The contrast between light and dark adds depth and makes the objects seem lifelike. It’s impressive how centuries ago, at a time when artists had to make their paints from scratch, something this special was created.
It’s an absolute masterpiece and a must-see in the Rijksmuseum if you ask me.
“The Merry Drinker” by Frans Hals (c. 1628-1630)
Frans Hals’ lively and exuberant portrait, A Militiaman Holding a Berkemeyer, also known as “The Merry Drinker,” is a delightful example of his genre paintings. The person’s happy face, along with Hals’ energetic painting style, creates a sense of pure joy that’s hard to resist.
The Haarlem-born Dutch Golden Age master Frans Hals is known for his quick, short brushstrokes, which you can notice in the Merry Drinker’s lace collar.
“Winter Landscape With Ice Skaters” by Hendrick Avercamp (c. 1608)
“Winter Landscape with Ice Skaters” by Hendrick Avercamp, painted circa 1608, displays a vibrant Dutch winter landscape. The picture shows people of different ages and societal backgrounds participating in various activities on a frozen river, including skating, playing games, and fishing.
At first glance, the atmosphere seems to be joyful, but a closer look reveals some grim details, like a horse carcass eaten by a dog and crows and a man drowning in ice.
Dedicate extra time to discover all the exciting details in this painting!
“Man Handing a Letter to a Woman in the Entrance Hall of a House” by Pieter De Hooch (c. 1670)
A finely dressed man presents a letter to a woman in the front room of an Amsterdam canal house. The entrance door is open, and you can see the canal and the opposite street, possibly Kloveniersburgwal.
Paintings of common, everyday situations like these were popular during the Golden Age. Just like his Golden Age Master colleague Vermeer, Pieter De Hooch was a master at these so-called Genre Paintings.
“The Battle of Waterloo” by Jan Willem Pieneman (c. 1824)
The painting shows us a view of the battlefield of Waterloo on June 18th, 1815, capturing Napoleon’s defeat. The English commander Wellington learns that Prussian assistance is on its way. On the left, the injured William II, Prince of Orange, is being taken away. The commanders and other officers are on horseback with injured and dead troops around while fighting rages on in the background.
This painting was originally intended for Wellington but William I bought it as a gift for his son. It’s the largest painting on display in the Rijksmuseum.
Self-Portrait by Vincent van Gogh (c. 1887)
While the neighboring Van Gogh Museum houses the largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings, you can admire his magnificent artwork in the Rijksmuseum, too. In this self-portrait, painted in 1887, right after moving to Paris, he portrays himself as a well-dressed Parisian. This self-portrait is one of many he painted during his lifetime, mainly to escape paying for a model.
The Rijksmuseum is home to some of the most important Dutch artworks and historical items. The famous paintings in the Rijksmuseum, such as Rembrandt’s “Night Watch,” Vermeer’s “Milkmaid,” and Van Gogh’s self-portrait, are a must-see for anyone visiting Amsterdam.
