Spending Holiday In Rijksmuseum

The magnificent national museum of the Netherlands possesses nearly seven million works of art, only a fraction of which is on display. It was established by King Louis Napoleon in 1808 in the Royal Palace on the Dam, moving later to the Trippenhuis on Kloveniersburgwal. In 1865, the architect P J H Cuypers designed a new home near the Vondelpark; the Rijksmuseum opened in 1885. The main building is being renovated (until 2008) and only the Philips Wing is open.

The museum’s dull self-service restaurant is by the right-hand front entrance hall. You might prefer to head for Indonesian Sama Sebo, on P. C. Hoofstraat, or Café Americain. Be prepared: this is a difficult museum to get to grips with in a single visit. To make matters worse, in late 2003, the main building closed for restoration, during which the Philips Wing will stay open, showing a selection of works. Until then, works of art are liable to move around.

Top 10 works in Rijksmuseum:

1 St Elizabeth’s Day Flood

2 The Night Watch

3 The Jewish Bride

4 The Milkmaid

5 Gallant Conversation

6 The Windmill at Wijk

7 Winter Landscape with Skaters

8 Delftware

9 Dolls House of Petronella Oortman

10 Portrait of Woman in Turkish Costume

There are three entrances, two at the front, either side of the central driveway which runs under the building, and one in the Philips Wing on Hobbemastraat. At peak visiting times, it’s quicker to use this entrance, housing Asiatic Art, European Paintings, Costume and Textiles and temporary exhibitions, then make your way through to the main building. The museum’s highlight collections – Dutch Paintings and Dutch 17th-century Sculpture and Decorative Arts – are on the first floor.