Rijksmuseum

History of the museum

The Dutch government founded a national art gallery in The Hague in 1800 and moved the collection to Amsterdam in 1808, where King Louis Napoleon, Napoleon's brother, made it a royal museum. The present red-brick building by Pierre Cuypers opened in 1885. A ten-year renovation closed most of the museum from 2003 to 2013, and it reopened to huge crowds. The Night Watch has its own room, and in 2019 a team began a public scientific restoration of it, which visitors can watch.

Top pieces

• 
  The Night Watch Rembrandt, 1642
• 
  The Milkmaid Johannes Vermeer, 1658
• 
  The Little Street Johannes Vermeer, 1658
• The Merry Drinker Frans Hals, 1628
• 
  The Jewish Bride Rembrandt, 1665

In our gallery from here (34)

The MilkmaidJohannes Vermeer · 1660 The Jewish BrideRembrandt · 1667 The Little StreetJohannes Vermeer · 1658 Woman in Blue Reading a LetterJohannes Vermeer · 1664 Syndics of the Drapers' GuildRembrandt · 1662 A Militiaman Holding a Berkemeyer, Known as the ‘Merry Drinker’Frans Hals · 1629 Winter landscape with skatersHendrick Avercamp · 1608 The Windmill at Wijk bij DuurstedeJacob van Ruisdael · 1670 The Threatened SwanJan Asselijn · 1650 Portrait of a Couple probably Isaac Massa and Beatrix van der LaenFrans Hals · 1622 The Gallant Conversation, known as Paternal AdmonitionGerard ter Borch · 1654 The Feast of Saint NicholasJan Steen · 1665 Militia Company of District XI under the Command of Captain Reynier ReaelFrans Hals · 1633 Allegory of the Dutch victory over the Spanish fleet at Gibraltar, 25 April 1607Adam Willaerts · 1615 Portrait of Abraham de PotterCarel Fabritius · 1649 A Mayor of Delft and his DaughterJan Steen · 1655 Woman with a Child in a PantryPieter de Hooch · 1656 The Happy FamilyJan Steen · 1668 The Arrest of Diepo Negoro by Lieutenant-General Baron De KockNicolaas Pieneman · 1830 Portrait of Helena van der SchalckeGerard ter Borch · 1648 The Cannon ShotWillem van de Velde the Younger · 1680 The Adoration of the MagiGeertgen tot Sint Jans · 1480 The Egg DancePieter Aertsen · 1552 Peace Urges the Churches to ToleranceUnknown artist · 1620 Portrait of an old woman readingGerrit Dou · 1631 Isaac Blessing JacobGovert Flinck · 1638 The Sick ChildGabriel Metsu · 1660 The Floating FeatherMelchior d'Hondecoeter · 1680 Two girls in the snowIsaac Israëls · 1890 Children of the SeaJozef Israëls · 1872 Portrait of a Wounded KNIL SoldierIsaac Israëls · 1882 A Jewish WeddingJozef Israëls · 1903 A Ship on the High Seas Caught by a Squall, Known as ‘The Gust’Willem van de Velde the Younger · 1680 'After Dark'Jozef Israëls · 1888