The Rijksmuseum is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm, public holidays included. Admission costs €25 for an adult and is free up to age 18. A starting time slot is mandatory for everyone, including Museumkaart holders.
The national museum of the Netherlands displays Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and several Vermeers. This page covers the official booking rules, the quiet hours published by the museum, and a plan for combining the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House in a single day. For the rest of your stay, see our guide to visiting Amsterdam.
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Rijksmuseum: key facts
- Hours: every day from 9 am to 5 pm, including public holidays.
- Standard price recorded on 15 October 2026: €25; free up to age 18.
- Booking: mandatory (starting time slot), except for Friends of the museum and ICOM/ICOMOS cardholders.
- Time needed: no limit once inside; the museum offers a one-hour « highlights » route.
- Information checked on 15 October 2026 on rijksmuseum.nl.
Tickets: official website or resellers?
You book your ticket on rijksmuseum.nl with a starting time slot: this is the time you enter, and after that you stay as long as you like. To change the time or date, the museum says to contact it by email.
| Category | Official price (15 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Adult | €25 |
| Under 18 | free |
| CJP, EYCA | 50% discount |
| Museumkaart, I Amsterdam City Card, ICOM, Stadspas and partner cards | free (time slot still mandatory, except ICOM/ICOMOS) |
Resellers: third-party sites sell entry, often in bundles. Check that they provide a real time slot: without one, entry is not guaranteed. We give no price gap because we have no same-day price check.
Opening hours and closing days
| Area | Official hours |
|---|---|
| Museum | every day, 9 am – 5 pm (public holidays included) |
| Shop and café | 9 am – 6 pm; before 5 pm, access is reserved for time-slot holders |
| Gardens | 9 am – 6 pm |
| RIJKS restaurant | lunch Wednesday to Sunday, dinner Tuesday to Sunday |
Best time to visit
It is one of the few institutions to publish its quiet hours: « far fewer people before 11 am and after 3:30 pm », and Tuesdays and Wednesdays are « relatively quiet » (official website). So take a slot at 9 am, or at 3:30 pm if an hour and a half is enough for you.
As for weather, the visit is indoors: the Rijksmuseum is a good option for gray months. August is the wettest month in Amsterdam (99 mm (3.9 in)) and November the darkest, according to the KNMI 1991–2020 normals for Schiphol used on our page on the best time to visit Amsterdam.
Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and Anne Frank in one day
All three museums require a time slot booked online. The official rules recorded on 15 October 2026:
| Museum | Hours | Booking rule |
|---|---|---|
| Rijksmuseum | 9 am – 5 pm every day | starting time slot mandatory |
| Van Gogh Museum | 9 am – 6 pm every day, Friday until 9 pm (except published exceptions) | timed ticket mandatory, sold online |
| Anne Frank House | see the official website | tickets online only; released every Tuesday at 10 am (Amsterdam time) for visits six weeks later |
Our plan (Destination de Voyage calculation based on these rules):
- Six weeks ahead, on Tuesday at 10 am: book the Anne Frank House first, the most constrained. Its slot sets the rest of the day.
- 9 am: Rijksmuseum (official quiet hour), 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Noon: the Van Gogh Museum is on the other side of Museumplein; take an early-afternoon slot.
- Late afternoon or evening: Anne Frank House (Westermarkt tram stop, lines 13 and 17 according to the museum). On Fridays the Van Gogh Museum is open until 9 pm: you can swap the order.
What to see: suggested route
The museum itself offers a one-hour highlights route. For a longer visit:
- 1 hour: the Gallery of Honour (Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals) and The Night Watch.
- 2 to 3 hours: add the 17th-century rooms, the dollhouses, the library (Cuypers) and the ship model room.
- Half a day: the full chronological route, then the gardens (open until 6 pm).
Getting there
Address: Museumstraat 1, Amsterdam, on Museumplein. For the square, the Van Gogh Museum lists the Museumplein stops (tram 2, 5 or 24, bus 357 or 397) and Concertgebouw (tram 5, 12 or 24): the Rijksmuseum is at the other end of the same square.
Accessibility and rules
- Accessible by wheelchair and mobility scooter; elevators to all floors; accessible toilets and a « changing place » (official website).
- Backpacks and large handbags are not allowed in the museum; a bag that is essential for medical reasons can be tagged at the information desk.
- Private guided tours at a reduced rate for blind, deaf or special-needs visitors (€30 instead of €125).
Common mistakes
- Turning up with a Museumkaart or City Card without a booked slot: it is mandatory.
- Going in with a backpack: it has to be left behind.
- Booking the Rijks and Van Gogh before the Anne Frank House: the Anne Frank House sells out first.
- Forgetting the card that gives free entry: it is checked at the entrance.
The Rijksmuseum in brief: a little history
The Rijksmuseum was founded in the early 19th century and moved in 1885 into the building designed by the architect Pierre Cuypers. After a ten-year renovation, it reopened in 2013 with a chronological route from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
Its most sought-after pieces are Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (1642), Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, Rembrandt’s The Jewish Bride and the large 17th-century dollhouses. The Night Watch is the subject of a research and restoration programme; some rooms may be rearranged: check the museum’s « What’s on » section before you come.
For a short stay, combine this visit with the canals and the Jordaan; for a longer stay, Museumplein can fill a whole day with the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk.
Visiting with children
- Under-18s enter free, but they also need a booked slot, together with the adults.
- The museum publishes a « Families and children » section on its website: check it for current activities.
- With young children, aim for the one-hour route and finish with the gardens, open until 6 pm and accessible without a slot after the visit.
- The dollhouses and the ship models are generally the rooms that hold children’s attention best.
Checklist before your visit
- Time slot booked (even with a Museumkaart or City Card).
- Card giving free entry or a discount, checked at the entrance.
- Small bag only: backpacks and large bags refused.
- Anne Frank House slot booked six weeks ahead, on Tuesday at 10 am.
- Visit at 9 am or after 3:30 pm to avoid the crowds.
What to see nearby
On Museumplein: the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk and the Concertgebouw; the Vondelpark is close by. Our Amsterdam page details the neighborhoods, and the best time to visit Amsterdam the month-by-month climate.
Frequently asked questions
How much is admission to the Rijksmuseum?
€25 for an adult, free up to age 18 (official website, recorded on 15 October 2026).
Do you need to book the Rijksmuseum?
Yes: a starting time slot is required for everyone, including Museumkaart holders. Only Friends of the museum and ICOM/ICOMOS cardholders can come without booking.
When is the Rijksmuseum least crowded?
According to the museum, before 11 am and after 3:30 pm; Tuesdays and Wednesdays are relatively quiet.
How long does a Rijksmuseum visit take?
The museum offers a one-hour highlights route; allow 2.5 to 3 hours for a fuller visit. There is no maximum duration.
Is the Rijksmuseum open on Mondays?
Yes, it is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm, public holidays included.
Our sources
- Rijksmuseum: « Opening hours and prices », « Practical information », « Accessibility », consulted on 15 October 2026.
- Van Gogh Museum: « Address and Opening Hours »; Anne Frank House: « Tickets », consulted on 15 October 2026.
- KNMI, 1991–2020 normals for Amsterdam-Schiphol, taken from our page on the best time to visit Amsterdam.
- Our methodology
Practical information checked on 15 October 2026 on the official websites cited. Prices and hours may change: check before you go. Updated November 2026.