Rijksmuseum FAQs (2026): Every Visitor Question Answered

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, every day of the year including weekends and public holidays. Last admission is 4:30 PM. Full detail: Opening Hours & Best Times to Visit.

Yes to all. The museum opens every single day of the year, including Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Easter, King’s Day (27 April), and Liberation Day.

There are no regular late openings. The museum closes at 5 PM daily. Occasional evening events happen for members or around major exhibitions — see Evening & Late Opening at the Rijksmuseum.

Yes — every visitor must book a timed start slot, including those with free entry (under-18s, Museumkaart, I Amsterdam City Card). Walk-ups are technically possible but the day’s inventory often sells out. See Does the Rijksmuseum Sell Out? How Far Ahead to Book.

Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours. A highlights-only visit takes about 90 minutes; a full visit including the Asian Pavilion and upstairs galleries needs 4 to 5 hours. See How Long Do You Need at the Rijksmuseum? for breakdowns by visitor type.

Right at 9 AM opening on a Tuesday or Wednesday is quietest. After 3 PM on weekdays is the second-best slot. Avoid Saturday and Sunday between 11 AM and 3 PM.

Adult entry is €25. Under 18 is free (booking still required). CJP and EYCA cardholders pay €11.25. Museumkaart and I Amsterdam City Card holders enter free but must book a time slot.

Yes — free entry for anyone under 18, including children and teenagers.

Yes. The card gives free entry, but you must still book a timed slot on rijksmuseum.nl before arriving. See our review of the I Amsterdam City Card for whether it’s worth buying just for the Rijksmuseum.

Yes. Museumkaart holders get free entry but need to book a timed slot in advance.

Yes — CJP (Dutch) and EYCA (European Youth Card) holders pay €11.25. Regular international student cards don’t automatically qualify, but under-18s of any nationality are free.

Paid tickets booked directly through the museum can be rebooked to a different date or time free of charge, with at least 48 hours’ notice. Refunds aren’t offered on paid tickets. Tickets bought through reseller platforms, and most resellers include free cancellation up to 24 hours before visit.

Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam. It’s on the south side of Museumplein, along with the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, and Concertgebouw.

Fastest: Metro line 52 to Vijzelgracht (4 minutes), then a 7-minute walk. Most scenic: Tram 2 or 12 direct to the \”Rijksmuseum\” stop (about 12 minutes). Full guide: How to Get to the Rijksmuseum.

The quickest route is bus 397 (Amsterdam Airport Express) directly to the Rijksmuseum stop — about 30 minutes, no transfers.

No on-site parking. The nearest paid car park is Q-Park Museumplein, about 300 metres away (€60 maximum daily rate, cheaper if pre-booked online).

Yes — a 25 to 30-minute walk from Dam Square, most of it along the canals. Pleasant in good weather.

Yes. Photography is allowed throughout the galleries without flash, without tripods, and without selfie sticks. Photos are for personal use only. Full rules: Rijksmuseum Photography Rules.

No formal dress code. The museum is comfortable in any normal clothing. The only bag restriction is size-based, not style-based.

Bags larger than A4 size must be checked into the free cloakroom. There are no large lockers — backpacks, large handbags, and luggage won’t fit inside the cloakroom. Leave large luggage at your hotel or a luggage storage point like Lockerpoint at Museum Square.

No outside food or drink in the galleries. The Rijksmuseum Café in the atrium and RIJKS restaurant in the Philips Wing both serve food on-site.

Yes, free throughout the museum.

The museum’s official multimedia audio guide is available through the free Rijksmuseum app on your phone. A physical device is available from the information desk for €5 if you don’t have a smartphone or headphones. See our full audio guide review for whether it’s worth using.

Yes — the Rijksmuseum Shop in the atrium, open 9 AM to 6 PM. Between 5 PM and 6 PM, you can enter the shop without a museum ticket. See Rijksmuseum Gift Shop: What's Worth Buying.

The Rijksmuseum Café is in the atrium (casual, good for coffee or a light meal). RIJKS restaurant in the Philips Wing is Michelin-starred and requires reservations. See Restaurants & Cafés at the Rijksmuseum.

Yes, fully cashless. Everywhere inside — ticket desk, shop, café, restaurant — accepts only card, iDEAL, Apple Pay, Google Pay. Bring a card.

Yes. All four floors are accessible by lift, and all exhibitions are wheelchair-accessible. Wheelchairs, folding stools, and walking sticks can be borrowed free from the Information Desk. Mobility scooter users are asked to visit 9–11 AM or 3–5 PM to avoid peak congestion. Full detail: Rijksmuseum Accessibility.

Yes — all rooms are accessible by pushchair. Baby-changing facilities are available.

Absolutely. Under-18s enter free, and the museum runs family trails, kid-friendly audio guides, and interactive activities. Young children often love Petronella Oortman’s dolls’ house. Full guide: Visiting the Rijksmuseum with Kids.

Kids aged 6 and up usually enjoy it, especially with a family trail to follow. Children under 4 may get restless; the visit works better if you plan a shorter stop than a full morning.

Yes, assistance dogs with harnesses are welcome in the galleries.

There’s a hearing loop in the auditorium. The Rijksmuseum app can also be used with hearing aids for audio content.

The Dutch Golden Age — especially Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and four Vermeers including The Milkmaid. It’s the world’s most important collection of 17th-century Dutch painting. See What Is the Rijksmuseum Famous For?.

Around 8,000 objects are on display at any time, drawn from a total collection of over a million. This includes paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, Asian art, and historical artifacts spanning 800 years.

At the far end of the Gallery of Honour, on the second floor. It’s visible from 30 metres away as you walk into the Gallery. See our full guide to The Night Watch by Rembrandt.

Four: The Milkmaid, The Little Street, Woman Reading a Letter, and Woman with a Water Pitcher. All hang in the Gallery of Honour. See Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum.

Yes — four, including a self-portrait. But for a full Van Gogh experience, the Van Gogh Museum is a 5-minute walk across Museumplein. See Rijksmuseum vs Van Gogh Museum.

Usually no — they’re included with your entry ticket, but they require a separate free time-slot booking in addition to the main museum slot.

The Metamorphoses exhibition runs 6 February – 25 May 2026, bringing together 80+ masterpieces exploring transformation, desire, and identity. Check the official website for current programming.

For almost anyone spending more than a day in Amsterdam, yes. See Is the Rijksmuseum Worth Visiting? for a detailed honest answer.

Most visitors do both — they’re 5 minutes apart on Museumplein. If you only have time for one, the choice depends on your taste. See Rijksmuseum vs Van Gogh Museum: Which Should You Visit?.

Yes — there’s a popular combo ticket that pairs Rijksmuseum entry with a 1-hour city canal cruise.

The Rijksmuseum is an ideal rainy-day destination — entirely indoors, accessible by direct tram, and easily fills several hours.

For first-time visitors unfamiliar with Dutch Golden Age art, a 2-hour guided tour is a strong use of the ticket. See our review of the Rijksmuseum Guided Tour.