Rijksmuseum

1. The passageway

When you arrive at the museum for the first time, the passageway will caught your eye. The transparency, atmosphere, kind hosts and street musicians’ sounds make a great entrance.

2. The Night Watch, Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1642)

The Night Watch is Rembrandt’s most famous (and largest) canvas, made for the Arquebusiers guild hall. He was the first to paint lively figures in a group portrait.

3. The Milkmaid, Johannes Vermeer (1660)

Vermeer’s famous work depicts a maidservant pouring milk, totally absorbed in her labour. The whole painting is still, except for the stream of milk; Vermeer knew how to use colors to make fluids appear lively

4. Self-portrait, Vincent Van Gogh (1887)

Vincent moved to Paris in 1886, after hearing from his brother Theo about the new, colourful style of French painting. Wasting no time, he tried it out in several self-portraits. He did this mostly to avoid having to pay for a model. Using rhythmic brushstrokes in striking colours, he portrayed himself here as a fashionably dressed Parisian.

5.Pierre Cuypers Sculpture

The Rijksmuseum reopened on the 13th of April 2013, after a decade-long renovation. However the first official opening took place in 1885. The building’s architect was Pierre Cuypers, who received a lot of criticism for his design. The general opinion was that it was ‘too much Renaissance and Gothic, not enough Dutch’. Cuypers, who included himself in the design as a stone sculpture, peeking around the corner.

6. Banquet at the Crossbowmen’s Guild in Celebration of the Treaty of Münster, Bartholomeus van der Helst (1648)

Bartholomeus van der Helst painted his most famous work in 1648, depicting the signing of the Treaty of Münster (which marked an end to the war with Spain). The banquet takes place at the Amsterdam crossbowmen’s guild. It is a symbolic meal of peace, where Amsterdam’s reconciliation politics are highlighted. The captains shake hands, the drinking horn (peace chalice) is passed, and the poem on the drum tells about the militia’s joy that their weapons can be laid to rest.

7. The Singel Bridge at the Paleisstraat in Amsterdam, George Hendrik Breitner (1896)

Breitner often took photos to prepare future paintings – a technological development that 19th century painters could benefit from. Along with the innovative painting’s perspective, I find its changed appearance interesting too.

8. The Battle of Waterloo, Jan Willem Pieneman (1824)

Colossal size, unrealistic – yet very realistic looking – portrayal of the scene. The Battle of Waterloo was an impetuous fight, but Pieneman apparently chose to give the soldiers a rather relaxed look. The painting was supposed to be displayed in the palace of Brussels.

9. Reception room from Haarlem, Abraham van der Hart (ca. 1793-1795)

The mantelpiece is from Italy, the carpet from Belgium, the furniture from Amsterdam, the silk stringing from France and the chandeliers from England. The room was designed for merchant and art collector Willem Philips Kops, and was used for big evening receptions. When looking into the reception room – and listening to the classical music –you can imagine yourself in the 18th century.

10. The Cuypers Library

The Cuypers Library is the biggest and oldest historical art library in the Netherlands. After the ten year-renovation, it has been brought back to its original state: just as Cuypers had in mind. Apart from the permanent exposition, the museum hosts unique exhibitions of contemporary artists and painters throughout the year.