Rijksmuseum Tours & Tickets

The Rijksmuseum is open 365 days a year. The museum is open during all public holidays including Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Opening hours are 9.00am to 5.00pm every day.

Visitors without a ticket can also visit the Rijksmuseum Gardens, Shop and Cafe from 9.00am to 6.00pm every day.

The Rijksmuseum's address is as follows:
Rijksmuseum
Museumstraat 1
1071 XX Amsterdam
Telephone: +31 (0) 20 6747 000

There are many ways to get to the Rijksmuseum using public transport within Amsterdam.

Tram

Amsterdam runs on rails and most people get around the city using trams. The Rijksmuseum is accessible from two tram stops, "Rijksmuseum" and "Spiegelgracht"

For Rijksmuseum

• take the 2 or 12 from Central Station
• the 5 from Zuid Station
• or the 12 from Amstel station

For Spiegelgracht

• take the 19 from Sloterdijk
• or the 1,7 or 19 from Weesperplein.

Bus

Amsterdam has a decent bus network.

For the Rijksmuseum bus stop

• Take the 288 from Marnixstraat regional bus station
• Or the 397 from Schipol Amsterdam Airport.

Car

Driving in Amsterdam is not usually recommended because the city is set up for cyclists and public transport users.

However, if you do drive there are a few parking spaces close to the Rijksmuseum. There is also a car park beneath Museumplein known as Q-Park.

The Rijksmuseum is made up of two large squares, each with its own atrium. The two buildings are connected by a central tunnel which is where you will find the museum entrances, one on the ground floor and one on the first.

The main building was at least partially closed for almost ten years between 1993 and 2013 when it underwent a huge $375 million renovation. As with any large museum, it's a good idea to download and familiarize yourself with the Rijksmuseum floor plan before your trip. Download the Rijksmuseum floor plan here.

The Rijksmuseum has four floors:

Floor 0
This is the basement floor of the museum and the location of the main entrance atrium. Almost everyone enters the building this way so the very large atrium can still feel crowded. The basement collections include the Middle Ages and Special Collections (rooms 0.1-0.6). You can also access the recently opened Asian Pavilion from this floor.

Floor 1
The ground floor of the Rijksmuseum connects all four corners of the museum. The ground floor is home to the 18th and 19th century galleries (1.1 - 1.18).

Floor 2
The first floor galleries are made up of the 17th century collection and house the majority of the museum's masterpieces. The Gallery of Honor is located on the first floor with The Night Watch at its center.

Floor 3
The second floor houses a small but interesting collection of 20th century work.

 

The Best Way to Book Your Ticket to the Rijksmuseum

Always buy your ticket to the Rijksmuseum in advance.

Buy either a single ticket from the museum website or consider one of the many combination ticket/museums passes and city passes available. Print your ticket in case your phone battery dies or you cannot connect to data in Amsterdam.

All tickets to temporary exhibitions are timed-entry. Arrive at least fifteen minutes in advance of your slot to avoid missing it. The Rijksmuseum only allows a certain number of people into the museum at a time. Even with a time-slot ticket it is possible you will have to wait for others to leave before you can enter.

The only way to completely skip all line-ups and gain immediate admission to the Rijksmuseum is by purchasing a tour.

Tours cost $5 and can be added to your ticket when purchasing online and in person. The tour gives your priority access to the building and a knowledgeable guide who knows exactly how and when to get you in front of the masterpieces you want to see.

As the most visited art museum in the Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum is always busy.

Avoid visiting during school holidays, public holidays and weekends, if you can. As the museum is open 365 days per year, days when children are off school and adults are off work experience very high visitor numbers.

Do visit outside of peak periods. Visit Amsterdam during the winter months when there are fewer tourists overall. Do not go to the museum during peak midday hours between 11am and 3pm.

Either arrive as close to the 9am opening time as you can, or visit later in the day around 3pm. The last admission to the gallery is 4.30pm