Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum, founded in The Hague in 1800, moved to Amsterdam eight years later.

The current main building was designed by Pierre Cuypers, who won the 1876 design contest with a combination of gothic and renaissance elements. Another contest was held for the inside and the outside decorations with references to Dutch Art History. Finally, the museum opened on July 13th, 1885. During the following centuries, the building has suffered major and minor architectural reforms and restorations. The last of them, a ten-year renovation, finished on April 2013, when the main building reopened.

Architect: Pierre Cuypers
Project date: 1876 

ACCESSIBILITY

Parking

The Rijksmuseum entrance cannot be reached by car. The access road is open to pedestrians and cyclists only.

There are several nearby streets where parking is permitted. They include Johannes Vermeerstraat, Honthorststraat, Pieter de Hoochstraat and Jan Luijkenstraat.

Disabled parking spaces

• Johannes Vermeerstraat: two disabled parking spaces next to Cobra Café.
• Jan Luijkenstraat: two disabled parking spaces outside no. 4.
• Q-Park Museumplein. Use the entrance at Van Baerlestraat 33b. There are two disabled parking spaces at Level -1. When leaving the car park, use the exit marked ‘Van Gogh Museum’. The Rijksmuseum is approximately 500 metres from this exit.

Free parking
If you have a standardized EU/EEA Parking Permit, you may use almost all street parking bays in Amsterdam free of charge, provided you first obtain a digital pass from the city authorities.

Dropping off
The best place to drop off passengers is outside Hobbemastraat 20. This is approximately 200 metres from the museum entrance.

Entrances

There are four entrances to the Rijksmuseum from the Passage (the arcade that runs under the building), two on either side. Two entrances have stairs and two have lifts. The Passage is a public thoroughfare for cyclists and pedestrians. If you have a wheelchair, rollator, walking stick or pram, security staff will direct you to the lifts.

Each staircase has twenty steps, with a landing after the thirteenth step. All stairs and lifts take you to the Atrium.

The Atrium is a public space that is open daily from 9 am until 6 pm. Here you will find the ticket offices, information desk, cloakroom, museum shop, public toilets and museum café.

Security staff may ask to inspect the contents of your bags at the entrance. Your cooperation is appreciated.

HOW TO REACH

By public transport


Within the Netherlands, to Amsterdam
Plan your route from home to the Rijksmuseum using Public Transport Travel Information or call the Public Transport Information Line: +31 900 9292.

Within Amsterdam
From Central Station: trams 2 and 12 (Rijksmuseum tram stop) or metro 52 (stop: Vijzelgracht)
From Zuid Station: tram 5 (Rijksmuseum tram stop)
From Sloterdijk Station: tram 19 (Spiegelgracht tram stop)
From Amstel Station: tram 12 (Rijksmuseum tram stop), or metro to Weesperplein, then tram 1, 7 or 19 (Spiegelgracht tram stop)
From the Marnixstraat regional bus station: 288 (Rijksmuseum bus stop)
From Schiphol Amsterdam Airport: bus 397 (Rijksmuseum bus stop)