If you visit Amsterdam for the first time, the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam or simply Rijksmuseum is a must-see! It is the most important museum in the Netherlands, as well as the maximum emblem of Dutch identity. As a perfect abstract of art and history of the region, this national museum includes 80 galleries that house 8,000 art objects which tell a story from the distant 1200 until the 2000s. It's no wonder, the Rijksmuseum is among Amsterdam's top tourist destinations, so if you are going to visit it on your own or take a guided tour, you better take care of the tickets in advance.
Founded in The Hague in 1800, it was moved eight years later to Amsterdam at the behest of Louis Napoleon, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Rijksmuseum houses the largest collection of works from the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age, as well as a collection of Asian art. The current building that houses the vast collection was designed by Pierre Cuypers in Gothic and Renaissance style and was inaugurated in 1885. The museum has been renovated for 10 years and reopened in 2013, distinguishing as the most visited museum in the Netherlands.
Conveniently located in Museum Square, close to Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk and Concertgebouw, the Rijksmuseum will enchant you with its masterpieces that are crowned by the famous painting "The Night Watch" by Rembrandt. Do not miss also the paintings by Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals and Jan Asselijn.
