Rijksmuseum (State Museum). Amsterdam and its museums

The largest city in the Kingdom of the Netherlands Amsterdam does not lack museums. Their collections are extremely interesting and even unique. Well, where else in the world do you see a museum of sex? And in Amsterdam it is. And besides it for the eyes of visitors is available a less shocking museum of eroticism. The Dutch in this respect have very free views. In this country, prostitutes even have their own trade union. However, the point in this article will be about quite decent things. We will make a virtual excursion to the State Museum. Amsterdam got them in the very beginning of the nineteenth century. This is truly an ancient museum with a rich collection. Below you will find some practical recommendations for visitors and a short list of masterpieces.

The State Museum (Amsterdam, Holland): history

Rijksmuseum was founded by the King of the Netherlands, Louis Bonaparte (brother of Napoleon) in 1800. He did not stay for a private collection for long. Fifteen years later, his exposition became open to the public. Originally, the Rijksmuseum was in the capital of the kingdom, The Hague. The core of the exhibition was two hundred paintings, and the National Art Gallery housed a small house. But with the help of patrons of the collection has grown steadily. The museum changed its location several times, until it finally settled in Amsterdam. In 1885 a new building was specially built for him. Outwardly it looks more like a fairytale castle of a princess than a museum. The project of the Neo-Gothic building was created by the famous Dutch architect Peter Kuipers.

State Museum, Amsterdam: address, opening hours, prices

Located Rijksmuseum in the heart of the city. His exact address is the corner of the Museumstraat and the Museumplein. From the main railway station it is easy to get to it by tram 2 or 5. You need to get off at the stop "Hobbemastraat". If you arrive in Amsterdam at Sloterdijk station, then from there you can reach tram number 12 ("Concerthebau"). The nearest metro station to the museum is Veysperplein. Next, you need to get on trams number 7 or 10 ("Sphekhelkhrt"). You can get to Museum Square and buses on routes 26, 66, 65, 172 and 170. Passes by and shuttle No. 197 from Schiphol Airport (stop "Hobbemastraat"). If you are traveling to Amsterdam by your own or rented by car, you must turn off the A10 ring road to turn S109. Under the square there is a paid underground parking for those who visit the State Museum (Amsterdam). The opening hours of this cultural institution are from nine to seventeen, daily. Persons up to the age of eighteen, inclusive, can visit the museum absolutely free of charge. Adults also have to shell out for seventeen and a half euros.

Modern conveniences in the State Museum

All exhibition halls are accessible to people in wheelchairs. Tickets can be purchased online at the official website. Money will not save, but will save time standing in long lines, which are an obligatory attribute of the Rijksmuseum, especially in the summer months. In the ticket office it is possible to order excursions on various topics. If you do not own foreign dialects, you can download a media tour for your mobile device. On the box office you can rent and audio guides. They are available in Russian. These are thematic tours "Masterpieces", "Drinks and Food of the Golden Century" and "Selected Works by Jeroen Krabbe". You can join a group excursion to the State Museum (Amsterdam). Photo and video shooting is allowed. The main condition is without a flash.

Exposition scheme Rijksmuseum

For ten years, from 2003 to 2013, the State Museum (Amsterdam) was closed for reconstruction. Now the updated exposition consists of several collections. Its core is the exhibition "Masterpieces". It contains the best paintings by the Dutch masters of the golden age - Van Dyck, Jan Veermeer, Jan Stein. The art collection presents an interesting selection of decorative art, including Delft porcelain. A separate place is occupied by the pavilion dedicated to Asia. In it you can see bronze statuettes of Buddha, wooden boxes from Korea and similar artifacts. The historical collection exhibits items found during archaeological excavations. In addition, there are permanent exhibitions of photographs, prints and drawings.

Masterpieces of Rijksmuseum

The State Museum (Amsterdam) is the largest art gallery in the country. In two hundred sixty halls, five thousand paintings, 30,000 sculptural compositions, many historical artifacts are displayed. Therefore, if you are constrained in time, take the audio masterpiece "Masterpieces" and go to the hall called Nacht wacht zaal. This room was created in 1906 specifically for this picture. The epic canvas "Night Watch" by Rembrandt is a pearl, which is rightly proud of the State Museum (Amsterdam). Pictures of other Dutch masters from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century occupy the halls next door. It is necessary to see four paintings by Vermeer, the "Gothic temple with figures" van Eyck and "Sermon in the Church" by Luka Leidensky.

Wing of arts and crafts

Porcelain from the small Dutch town of Delft is another pride of the State Museum. The exposition is not only objects of utensils and oven tiles. Of particular interest are two doll houses with a full set of furniture and interior items. Boys will delight in the exhibition of weapons.