Where to Go: The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

This painting is huge. I had no idea how big it was.

Jan Vermeer created fewer than forty paintings
in his lifetime. This is one of them.

I spent my final day in Europe fawning over Amsterdam’s museums. Tomorrow I’ll tell you about the Van Gogh museum, but first, you need to know about the Rijksmuseum (rhymes with “bikes museum”). The museum is under construction right now, so they consolidated their most famous pieces into a single wing. This wing alone is worth every last euro-cent of the admission price. The short story? If you’re ever within a hundred kilometers of this place, go.

Why you should go: It’s a history, culture, and art museum rolled into one. It features famous paintings such as Nightwatch and showcases some of the best artists in the history of the world. 

How to get there: The Rijksmuseum is close to the city center of Amsterdam; I just walked there from my hostel. The city also has a good public transportation system, easily accessible via Googlemaps.

What to bring: The museum costs 14,00 euros. If you want to take time to appreciate each painting, wear insoles— you’ll need them! Cameras are permitted, so if you want to take blurry photos, bring one and turn off the flash beforehand.

That's Nightwatch behind me!
Really it is!

What to do: The wing is set up in chronological order, with different rooms dedicated to different aspects. There is a whole room devoted to china, another to dollhouses, another to Rembrandt and his pupils. Plaques on the walls (written in English as well as Dutch) explain the time period of each room’s pieces, so there is a lot to absorb and learn even if you know nothing about art.

What else you need to know: If you visit while the museum is still under construction (until 2013), you’ll have time to look at every single painting. (If you visit after the whole museum reopens, then definitely do some research beforehand to figure out what you most want to see.) Almost every painting is accompanied by a plaque in English to help you understand the historical/cultural background, interpret the symbolism, and appreciate the technique. This is a must-see for anyone who enjoys art. Spend a few hours— you’ll be glad you did.

Outside the Rijksmuseum. I'm actually glad I didn't have to be overwhelmed with the whole museum.

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