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The Netherlands' 'State Museum' is an unmissable attraction. It has grown remarkably since its inception in 1800 as the National Art Gallery, after which it moved to its neo-Renaissance building in 1885; the collection gradually outgrew this housing, and 2003 saw the beginning of an extensive €375 million renovation and expansion by Spanish architects Cruz y Ortiz, which took ten years to complete before opening to great acclaim in 2013.
In this improved setting the Rijksmuseum displays the most acclaimed artworks of the Golden Age: Vermeer, Rembrandt, Hals and van Dyck are all here in abundance, as well as a superlative collection of still life paintings. You'll also find some later artworks by van Gogh and Mondrian (the Van Gogh Museum is nearby).
These masterworks are set among a fascinating wider survey of Dutch material culture, from musical instruments to prints, ceramics, miniature ships and classical photography. The Dutch Golden Age saw the Netherlands at the forefront of science and trade as well as in art - having grown from a possession of the Holy Roman Empire in 1590, throughout most of the 17th century it was the world's foremost maritime and economic powerhouse.
There's never a dull moment in any of the museum's rooms: its six levels display around 8,000 fascinating objects of art and history from its collection of around a million pieces, as well as a smaller Asian collection in the newly constructed Asian Pavilion. Other highlights include the Hartog Plate, the oldest known artifact of Western exploration in Australia, and the stern of the HMS Royal Charles, captured from the English fleet in 1667.
Enjoy a private walking tour of the two best art museums in Amsterdam: the Rijksmuseum also known as the National Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum, to learn the history of the city through the iconic art of the Dutch Golden age, and the passionate life and post-impressionist work of Vincent Van Gogh.
On your private tour, you will:
Explore two of Amsterdam's most iconic and fascinating museums on this in-depth private tour with an expert guide: the Rijksmuseum - the National Museum of the Netherlands showcasing 800 years of history and art with over 8000 pieces, and the Van Gogh Museum - which is entirely dedicated to the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh.
Begin your tour with a walk through the Museumplein (museum square), a pretty park around which many of Amsterdam's impressive museums stand. Your expert private guide will take you inside the awe-inspiring Rijksmuseum - the vast National Museum of the Netherlands.
The Rijksmuseum displays everything from Neolithic artefacts to an extensive collection of Dutch masters, including Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Jan Steen. You'll learn the history of the Netherlands through art, and see in exquisite detail Rembrandt's masterpiece the Night Watch, beautifully lit, as well as other paintings from the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, including Vermeer's Milkmaid.
After a well-earned break, you'll visit the equally impressive Van Gogh Museum, entirely dedicated to the life and work of Vincent Van Gogh. As well as featuring the work of some of his influential contemporaries, this extensive collection boasts more than 200 paintings and 500 drawings by Vincent, the tragic hero of the post-impressionist era who didn't sell a single painting in his own lifetime. Today his works are sold for millions at auction.
The collection will take you on an in-depth journey through the life of the artist, detailing the different creative periods that characterised Van Gogh’s genius and periods of instability. You'll hear about his friendships, and arguments with Gauguin - and the fateful incident with the knife and his ear. Your tour ends inside the Museum where you are free to explore more at your own pace.
Please note: Vermeer's Milkmaid is currently travelling and cannot be seen at her usual location. However, you can see our other works by Vermeer, such as The Little Street and The Love Letter.
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