About the Museum
The Amsterdam National Museum (Rijksmuseum) was established in 1800, in order to display modern art (modern at the time). It is also known by the name "The National Museum of Art" and is one of the most important museums in the world. The museum is located in the museum square, and nearby are other museums that are worth the visit. It is easy to spot this museum thanks to its impressive building, that looks just like a palace. This is the reason it is nicknamed the royal museum.
The truth is that the beautiful building only hosted the museum from 1885. The building was designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers who designed the building in a mix between the Gothic and Renaissance style.
Among 4,500 pieces of art that you can see here are paintings, sketches, statues, prints, photos, and more. There are many works of art from the 17th century, and pieces from Amsterdam's golden age.
In the five wings at the museum you will find the Philips division (also named after the electronics giant who donated the money for its construction), this wing includes, among others, Rembrandt's "Night Watch." In addition, among the rooms in the museum you will be exposed to a huge selection of exhibits that will provide a nostalgic and fascinating experience in time, from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and beyond. Through the presentation of the items, arranged according to the periods, we can learn about the common characteristics of the art and the subjects that occupied the artists.
Especially interesting exhibits are art objects from Asia, dolls' houses, porcelain objects and more. The museum is very popular and has many visitors throughout the day.
Renovation of the Museum
In 2013 the museum was renovated in a large and significant way. Although the original structure of Pierre Cuypers was added wings and courtyards, the result has not yet been sufficient, as the museum's vast collection have only grown throughout the years. In 2003 it was closed for extensive renovations.
It was opened 10 years later, in 2013. The renovations lasted five years longer than planned (originally designed for 5 years of renovation) and their total cost amounted to about $500 million. Despite the enormous deviation from the budget and the timelime, something particularly nostalgic about it in the 19th century returned to the museum, combined with elements that characterized the 21st century.
The architects, Cruz and Ortiz, won the competition and undertook the renovation of the museum. They began a precise reconstruction of the galleries and decorations that characterized the building in the past. They believed in simplicity and made sure to stick to tradition and nostalgia. Among other things, he added a display space, shops, restaurants, educational facilities and a renovated library.
The museum's public interior, with a size of more than 2,200 square meters, contains glass roofs and Portuguese stone floors, which can be accessed free of charge and featuring performances and artistic installations.
Rembrandt's "Night Watch" Painting (Courtesy of Eureka Encyclopedia)
One of the most prominent paintings at the Amsterdam National Museum is Rembrandt's painting, "Night Watch," or "night shift," as its name is sometimes written, a masterpiece of the Dutch painter Rembrandt. This painting is considered the artist's most famous painting and probably the most important work of art of the Netherlands.
The painting was completed in 1642 and depicts the civil force of Captain Koch (dressed in black and red) and his deputy Willem van Roitenbork, together with the soldiers of their platoon.
The name "Night Watch" is given to it even though it is not a nightly picture, because it is coated with dark varnish that gives the viewer the feeling that it is nighttime.
History of art knows that the fact that not all members of the Guard's faces were painted, some faces are clear while others are hidden, caused the painting to be rejected by the ones who comissioned it, and it was hung in the city hall of Amsterdam. It was also cut at the edge, in order to hang it on a wall too small. The full painting today remains only in a smaller copy of the original painting.
