Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam Tickets and Tours

Find out everything you need to know to get your tickets, how to take a guided tour and when you can visit the site.
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam Tickets and Tours

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More about: Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam Tickets and Tours

A trip to Amsterdam is not complete without a visit to the Rijksmuseum. It is one of the largest and most important museums in the capital of the Netherlands. Such is its magnitude that not even 5 hours are enough to appreciate all its works.

Of course, the museum is very well organized so that you can visit those works and collections that interest you most before visual fatigue from seeing so much beauty takes over. It also has a souvenir store, cafeteria and bookstore if you want to change the focus or take something home.

The best option

Amsterdam Rijksmuseum Guided Tour

Your guided entrance to the Rijksmuseum without queues

A highly recommended option if you are looking to enjoy an excellent visit and see the best works of Dutch art. All without wasting time in the queues.

Duration: 02:00

With this guided tour of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, you can enjoy a 2-hour tour through the corridors full of art and history of this important museum in Amsterdam. In addition, you will have an expert guide at your side who will accompany you and inform you about all those artistic aspects that catch your attention.

Recommended if: in addition to seeing the highlights of the Rijksmuseum, you are interested in understanding art and delving into Dutch history and culture.


How to get tickets to the Rijksmuseum?

Inside the Rijksmuseum| ©Michael Beckwith
Inside the Rijksmuseum| ©Michael Beckwith

If on your visit to Amsterdam you are thinking of visiting the museum, a plan that I consider a must, you can book tickets or guided tour to the Rijksmuseum through Hellotickets where you have several options available:

Rijksmuseum ticket reservation

Are there guided tours of the Rijksmuseum and are they worth it?

Library of the Rijksmuseum| ©erich2448
Library of the Rijksmuseum| ©erich2448

If you opt for a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum, whether private or not, you will avoid having to buy your ticket on the spot. Also with a private guided tour of the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, you will reduce the management time. So do not hesitate, opt for one of these four proposals:

  • The guided tour usually lasts two hours, during which an art expert will guide you and make sure you don't miss the masterpieces, narrating interesting stories and anecdotes to give life and meaning to your visit. In addition, once your visit is over, you can continue walking around the museum for as long as you wish. The price of the adult ticket starts at $73
  • Another option is to take a private tour of the museum. This is the most expensive and professional option in which an art expert guide will explain the technical aspects of the paintings and will reveal the hidden meanings of some works. The entrance fee starts at $178
  • One way to save money if you are planning to visit the two most important museums in Amsterdam is to book the private guided tour to the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, it will be cheaper than if you buy them separately. This ticket is priced from $249
  • And one of the most popular proposals is the offer of the cruise and tickets to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, for a price from $41, with which you will have the possibility to take a 75-minute cruise with audio guide and you will have your ticket to the museum without queues.

Book a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum

How much do tickets to the Rijksmuseum cost?

Inside the Rijksmuseum| ©Eric de Redelijkheid
Inside the Rijksmuseum| ©Eric de Redelijkheid

Audio-guided tickets to the Rijksmuseum are the cheapest and most popular, costing 21 € for all adults over the age of 19. Admission to the Rijksmuseum is free for children 18 and under, but you must make this clear, either before entering the museum, or by indicating your age on your online booking.

The Dutch art museum does not offer discounts to seniors or students. However, if you have the I Amsterdam card, you will get a 100% discount on your visit to the Rijksmuseum; you only need to show it.

In the past, tickets for the Rijksmuseum used to be valid for 12 months from the date of purchase; however, nowadays you must select the date and time of the visit and be at the museum at least 10 minutes before the selected time slot. The ticket allows you to enter the museum up to 15 minutes after the time mentioned on the ticket, so be careful not to be late.

Book the I Amsterdam card

Rijksmuseum opening hours

Inside the Rijksmuseum| ©Eric de Redelijkheid
Inside the Rijksmuseum| ©Eric de Redelijkheid

The Rijksmuseum opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., all year round. Last admission is at 4:30 pm, and that is when the Rijksmuseum ticket office also closes. The Rijksmuseum gardens, the Rijks Shop and the Rijks Café are open to visitors from 9 am to 6 pm and do not require tickets.

When you visit the Rijksmuseum, you should expect two queues. The first queue is at the ticket counter, and depending on the day and season, you may have to wait anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. If you have already booked your tickets in advance, you can queue directly in the second queue. While it's true that you can't skip it, the good news is that it moves very fast.

Book a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum

How much time do you need to visit the Rijksmuseum?

Artwork *The Milkmaid* at the Rijksmuseum| ©Pikis
Artwork *The Milkmaid* at the Rijksmuseum| ©Pikis

Rijksmuseum recommends spending at least five hours to see all the exhibits in the art museum, but if you want to focus only on the masterpieces, you can finish your tour in just two hours.

Also, after the second hour, fatigue starts to kick in, so it's wise to take a quick break before continuing the tour. You also have the option of dividing your visit in two as if it were a series. On the first day you see one part of the museum and on the second day you see the part you are missing. The bill may be a little more expensive, but you will enjoy the tour better.

Book a private guided tour of the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum

How to get to the Rijksmuseum?

Amsterdam streetcar| ©Gary Todd
Amsterdam streetcar| ©Gary Todd

The Rijksmuseum is located on Museumstraat and is easily accessible by public transport, car and bicycles. Amsterdam is car friendly, but I recommend using Amsterdam's public transport to get there. In the case of the I Amsterdam card it gives you free access to 44 museums and attractions and free rides on public transport for a flat rate.

Streetcar lines 2, 5, 19 and 12 can take you to the Rijksmuseum Tram stop. If you are far away, I recommend the Amsterdam metro, Weesperplein is the closest metro station. From there, you can hop on line 1, 7 or 19 and get off at the Spiegelgracht streetcar stop, which is only a two-minute walk from the museum.

Rijksmuseum is also accessible by regional buses. Bus number 288 can take you from the Marnixstraat regional bus station to the Rijksmuseum bus stop. Also, bus number 397 will take you from Schiphol Amsterdam Airport to the Rijksmuseum.

Book a cruise and tickets to the Rijksmuseum

When is the best time to visit the Rijksmuseum?

Through the corridors of the Rijksmuseum| ©erich2448
Through the corridors of the Rijksmuseum| ©erich2448

The best time to visit the Rijksmuseum is as soon as it opens, at 9 am. The next best time to visit the Rijksmuseum is after 3pm, as the large group tours will be gone by then. If you enter the museum at 3pm, you have a maximum of two hours to explore the museum, because they close at 5pm. So keep that in mind.

If you visit Amsterdam in summer or in May, you should know that at that time the Rijksmuseum gets crowded and visitors can wait up to 1 hour before entering (hence the importance of booking online).

Fridays, weekends and school vacations are also not the best time to visit the Rijksmuseum. If you don't like waiting in long lines, you should avoid rainy days to avoid entering in an unpresentable way.

Book a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum

Why visit the Rijksmuseum?

Visiting the Rijksmuseum| ©Becky Houtman
Visiting the Rijksmuseum| ©Becky Houtman

Located in Amsterdam's Museum Square, a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum is a must. It is a famous art museum well known and respected all over the world. In this museum you can enjoy a wide variety of works of art by artists of great renown and history such as: Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer, Frans Hals, Jan Steen and much more.

Remember that it is one of the most important museums in Amsterdam, so pay close attention to the quality of works you will find. Among these are the Self-Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh and The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer.

In addition, it has the most important room of works of Holland, Gallery of night watch, this covers some of the most popular collections that you will find while strolling through the halls of this wonderful museum. To name a few, you will be able to see Rembrandt's very own, "The Night Watch".

Book a guided tour at the Rijksmuseum

What are the main works you can't miss at the Rijksmuseum?

Impressive works of the Rijksmuseum| ©erich2448
Impressive works of the Rijksmuseum| ©erich2448

If you are short on time, when it comes to your visit to the Rijksmuseum the best way to explore the Rijksmuseum is to focus on the masterpieces.

  • Among the highlights of the museum are: The Night Watch, painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1642. It is the artist's most famous oil painting.
  • The second option to see is The Milkmaid which was painted by Johannes Vermeer between 1658 and 1660 and shows a typical kitchen maid pouring some milk into a jar.
  • The third option to view is the Marriage Portrait of Isaac Massa and Beatrix van der Laen, a 1622 painting by Franz Hals, which represents an unusual portrait by 17th century standards. First, for that time it was rare to show sitters smiling; and second, it was unusual for a couple to be seated so close together in public.
  • The fourth work I recommend you see is Jan Asselijn's The Threatened Swan'' painted in 1650.
  • The fifth work that I also recommend you to contemplate is the Battle of Waterloo, painted by Jan Willem Pieneman in 1824.

Book a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum

Tips for visiting the Rijksmuseum

Exhibition at the Rijksmuseum| ©Eric de Redelijkheid
Exhibition at the Rijksmuseum| ©Eric de Redelijkheid
  • The Rijksmuseum is divided into several sections, zones and floors, all depending on the year the painting was created. If you are visiting the museum for the first time, you may have trouble finding your way around. For this, a map of the Rijksmuseum can help you save time, make sure you don't miss the masterpieces, and help you find tourist facilities such as restrooms, cafes, smoking areas, souvenir stores, etc.
  • Photography and video are allowed, but you may not use flash or lighting of any kind. Also, to use tripods / selfie sticks you must ask for written permission.
  • The Rijksmuseum offers a free checkroom where you can leave your purse, umbrellas, backpacks and other items. However, they don't have space for larger items, so keep this in mind before visiting the museum.
  • The Rijksmuseum is included in almost all Amsterdam tourist passes, so keep that in mind.
  • You can expect to wait in a 20-30 minute queue in the busiest months. These months are May, July and August. Here are some more tips for your visit to Amsterdam.

Book a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum

This is the store of the Rijksmuseum

Inside the Rijksmuseum Shop| ©Ilias C
Inside the Rijksmuseum Shop| ©Ilias C

Once you've enjoyed your visit to the Rijksmuseum, you can't miss the museum store which features an exclusive collection of Rijksmuseum gifts and souvenirs.

You can buy a wide range of decorative items for the home, toys, books and even jewelry. Most of the things on sale feature modern Dutch design and are inspired by works by Rembrandt and Vermeer. The book section covers subjects such as fine art, history and photography.

The Rijksmuseum's webshop also delivers. Wherever you are, you can bring a piece from the Rijksmuseum to your home.

Book a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum

Reviews from other travellers

4.6
· 129 Reviews
  • A
    A.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    An unforgettable experience, immersing myself in art history with a private tour that allowed me to explore two of Amsterdam's most iconic museums. Highly recommended!
  • L
    L.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    Amazing private tour, guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, simply stunning, highly recommended!
  • L
    L.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    I loved the private tour of the museums in Amsterdam. I learned a lot about the history of Dutch art.
  • A
    A.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The personalised guide through the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum was incredibly informative and enriching, although I would have liked a little more free time to explore on my own.
  • A
    A.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    I explored the treasures of Dutch art at the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum with my best friend - an unforgettable experience full of culture and colour!