Amsterdam's best art museum, the Rijksmuseum

travel videos & photos at: townsofeurope.com/ with text, maps & links.
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands is a huge world-famous collection presented in 80 galleries, exhibiting 8,000 objects that tell the story of 800 years of Dutch art and history. This collection focuses primarily on Dutch paintings of the 16th and 17th centuries, rather than trying to present a complete sample of the entire world of art. The museum has a lot to show, thanks especially to the extreme genius of great native painters, Frans Hals, Vermeer, van Ruisdael, Jan Steen, and most-famously, Rembrandt.
Don’t miss out on the absolute highlights, like Vermeer’s Milkmaid, Van Gogh’s Self-portrait and a gorgeous collection of Delft Blue pottery ranging from tea sets to vases,
The total archive includes 1 million objects from the years 1200-2000, with more than 2,000 paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. Some 30 galleries are dedicated to the glory of the Golden Age, when the young mercantile republic led the world in trade, science, shipping and the arts.
Many objects from Dutch history tell the story with Paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, silver, porcelain, delftware, furniture, jewelry, costumes and more. There are also dozens of rooms with medieval arts and later decorative pieces of the 19th century, 17th century miniature house models, along with a sampling of minor Italian Renaissance paintings
The building itself is a major work of art, designed in neo-Gothic and Reneissance styles by Pierre Cuypers, who also designed the similar-looking Central Train Station, both completed in the 1880s. The red terra-cotta façade is adorned with many statues, decorative stripes, reliefs and ceramic plaques, using a mix of medieval and 19th century styles.

[@erikt81a]

Some of those paintings capture human expression much better than an actual photograph. When you're in front of them you can feel mesmerized.

[@Snuggelbubs1]

This was exactly what I was looking for - thank you! I am flying to Amsterdam tomorrow, and spending two afternoons in the Rijksmuseum - my main reason for going at all. This was a great overview.

[@nathie]

Awesome overview!

[@bmphil3400]

I love this place and it's just across the way from the Van Gogh museum.....

[@robertsidi5269]

Another great Dennis Callan travel video.

[@tangng4842]

A true testimony to a time of Dutch hegemony. 😊

[@beeperlove]

I stood in front of the night watch and the milkmaid alone... for awhile. I’m starting to see how lucky I was to have that!

[@caseylwr]

Great video Dennis, thanks for posting.

[@paulgrant421]

This is an excellent (though brief) tour of what is available to experience at the Rijksmuseum. I visited 3 times during the same trip to Amsterdam and was awed at the breadth of available works. IMO, the Rijks is the single greatest European museum, with the Orsay a close second. As Dennis states, going in the morning during the off season is the best experience. Like me, you may have a few lone moments with your favorite masterpieces. If you or anyone in your group isn't a "museum person", the Rijks will change their mind.

[@denniscallan]

Thanks so much for the nicer comment. You can read my story about it and see many photos on my website townsofeurope.com/Netherlands/Amsterdam-Rijksmuseum.html

[@kleeartmoment]

Thank you for the informative video, Colin Robinson.

[@reyjusuf]

Amsterdam is the one European city I havent visited as an adult. definitely on my bucket list

[@waso778]

Most beautiful people in the world and city/country.

[@jakefoley-me9um]

I’m coming to See Bosch can’t wait

[@aymanfadel7770]

Great Nederland...👍❤😍

[@anonviewerciv]

Masterful works. (15:30) 11:40 Proto-movies.

[@inekekalberg1427]

Beautiful🙋🏼‍♀️🌻👌

[@workhard109]

Nice

[@joseenriqueperdomosegura8640]

Y, sí No se encuentra en dicho museo ¿ dónde puedo HABLARLO a fin de Tener a bien SOLICITÁRSELO al Exceléntísimo Sr. Por deducción Lo he intentado Por ahí ¡¡¡ GRACIAS!!!

[@kristianhadinata122]

can isic card get discount?

[@brodeyleembruggen9910]

🇳🇱

[@DenUitvreter]

Since I know your video's to be insightful and thorough, I take the liberty to make some minor additions and corrections. - 9.15 Actually the catholic churches weren't plundered, they were vandalized. In other cases of violents protests since, the Dutch didn't plunder either because it dilutes the message and wrecks the integrity of the cause percieved as just. There are cases documented of protestants being convicted and punished for stealing silver from the catholic church during the vandalization. In general both catholics and protestants were opposed to the Spanish Inquisition, wanted religious tolerance and therefore fought the Spanish. Around the year 1600, about 30 years into the 80 years war, despite the ongoing sieges of cities from both sides continued, the continuity of the Dutch Republic was secured. The government decided to take the war to the Spanish Empire and founded the Dutch East Compnay to disrupt their trade the Spanish king used to finance the war with. Trade and war were closely related and not necessarily at the expense of another. It was like a self financing continuous military operation. The prosperity was more down to the Dutch taking over more than half of all European trade because the invention of the sawmill so they could build ships much faster, and because they became the first modern capitalists, and could outcompete all the mercantilists. The VOC (East Indies) only started paying dividend in 1633 when the Golden Age was already more than half way through and they were already filthy rich, the WIC (West-Indies company) was mostly a financial failure though military successfull. The Dutch Republic was far too rich for the few ships from Asia taking over a year for the journey to make the age golden. Outside shipping everything else went up too. Besides the arts and the big social changes, it's not called the Age of Unicorns and Rainbows, but clearly refers to material wealth. There is really a hype to make it all about the bad things and even distort history for that reason. The Rijksmuseum is the most level headed but lacks a bit of spine too. At 10.30 it's the rear of the HMS Royal Charles, the flagship of the British Navy that was dragged to the Netherlands and made into a trophy, after the Dutch Navy had sailed inland and destroyed a huge part of the British Navy in the raid on the Medway. That was just one of the Anglo-Dutch wars, but after the Spanish Empire was basically beaten and finished as a supreme power, the Catholic Louis XIV of France became the existential threat, teaming up with the English and parst of Germany to annihilate this far too successfull and religious tolerant Dutch Republic. Belgium was not created as an independent country yet but remained part of the Spanish Empire. It was named the Spanish Netherlands, became the Austrian (also Habsburgs) through royal inheretance much later, then got reunited with the Netherlands after the Napoleontic occupation, to rebel in 1830 and become independent.

[@denniscallan]

That is quite a marvelous account of the so-called Golden Age, thank you so much. Interesting how their mastery of windmills gave them an edge in building ships. Would it be OK if I use some of your text in my Netherlands website? townsofeurope.com/Netherlands/Introduction-Netherlands.html

[@luisdomingospinetto5538]

Los ciudadanos y el estado de Países Bajos han hecho un "Mea culpa" sobre Rembrandt,que les ha dado tanta gloria y dinero con sus geniales obras?Lo hicieron morir en la pobreza.Ingratitud de Países Bajos.

[@denniscallan]

google translate: The citizens and the state of the Netherlands have made a "Mea culpa" about Rembrandt, who has given them so much glory and money with his great works? They made him die in poverty. Ingratitude of the Netherlands.

[@denniscallan]

The state did not make him do anything; he brought it upon himself with extravagant living, expensive homes, collecting art, living large, and ending life with nothing, not a bad way to go!

[@imgonnastealyourgirl]

Dude, its been hundreds of years. Most artist died poor then.

[@padinahmad149]

Artefak Indonesia kembalikan

[@LourdesSavage]

Funny to hear about people defending continuing to call the 17th century, a period of great loss for the global south a Golden Age as the Netherlands backs a colonialist state in the 21st century. Gorgeous museum, dark history.