Explore the Rijksmuseum Collection | What to See, Highlights, and More

The Rijksmuseum is a treasure trove of landscapes, portraits, still and daily life, Biblical scenes, history scenes, and even paintings of myths and symbols, dating back to the 14th century. Fast forward to the 17th century, artworks by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, and other Dutch masters have also made their way to the Rijksmuseum. In fact, the Rijksmuseum is the biggest museum in the Netherlands, boasting over 6000 paintings on canvas and panels, and a dream come true for art lovers.

The Rijksmuseum is home to a whopping 1000 sculptures, including wood, bronze, and alabaster to ivory, marble, terracotta, and even sandstone sculptures. From Middle Age Dutch sculptures and Renaissance sculptures from Europe to Asian sculptures, adding a diverse touch to the mix.

The furniture collection at the Rijksmuseum is a time-travel machine to the home decor of the past. From tapestries, carpets, and wall hangings to chairs, sofas, beds, and writing tables, the Rijksmuseum is home to Dutch, German, French, South Netherlandish, Italian, and English interiors from the 17th to the 19th century. The real showstoppers are the fully furnished dollhouses so keep your eyes out for these.

The fashion collection at the Rijksmuseum is a closet lover's dream, with over 10,000 costumes and accessories, 500 pocket watches, and over 1000 pieces of jewelry, going back to the 17th century. This Fashion History 101 collection consists of not just opulent upper-class outfits but also the everyday wear of the lower classes.

The everyday items at the Rijksmuseum are anything but ordinary. From over 15,000 tableware and household goodies made from metal, glass, ceramic, and textiles, the collection has both objects from ordinary homes and decorations from palaces, homes of nobles, and even churches.

The Rijksmuseum also houses 1800 ship models and a whole arsenal of over 1600 weapons, from firearms and cannons to daggers, sabers, and armor. While most of these are straight out of 17th and 18th century Netherlands, there's a mix of modern weapons in the collection, including weapons used by Napoleon and Michiel de Ruyter.

A bookworm's paradise, the Rijksmuseum is home to half a million prints, 50,000 drawings, 140,000 photographs, and a library with 350,000 books, periodicals, and catalogs. Since some of these are as delicate as grandma's china, they're on display on very few days, being stored in acid-free cardboard boxes in regulated humidity and temperature conditions on most days.

Did you know that the Rijksmuseum is the only museum in the Netherlands with a collection of Asian art? We're talking over 8000 objects from all periods, with most objects from China, Japan, India, and Indonesia. Some of these were traded with Europe and boast a touch of Western flair; the majority, however, were meant for local trade and are a slice of Asia right in the heart of the Netherlands.