MEET THE DUTCH MASTERS OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

The Rijksmuseum is a treasure trove of Dutch Golden Age art. In this two-hour tour, we’ll explore both famous and lesser-known masterpieces, discussing the artistic challenges and innovations of 17th-century painters. You’ll gain insight into their techniques, colors, and working methods.

The museum’s collection also offers a fascinating perspective on the history of the Dutch Golden Age. Through the lens of art, we’ll explore key events and everyday life, bringing the past to life through hidden messages in the paintings.

To complete the picture, we’ll also view remarkable historical artifacts, including intricately detailed ship models, exquisite Delftware, and beautifully crafted dollhouses.

Since the Rijksmuseum is one of Amsterdam’s most visited attractions, this private tour ensures you can explore at your own pace with the full attention of your guide. Take your time, ask questions, and immerse yourself in the world of art in an engaging and intimate way.

Starting with the Flemish masters

We begin with a brief look at the 16th-century Flemish painters who paved the way for the Dutch Golden Age. Then, we move on to the Gallery of Honour, home to some of the most celebrated works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Frans Hals.

Rembrandt – the crown jewel of the Rijksmuseum

The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn is the Rijksmuseum’s most famous painting. The entire museum was designed around this symbolic painting. Because of its popularity, we recommend scheduling your tour in the morning to avoid the crowds.

As many masterpieces, the Night Watch bears its share of secrets. We will disentangle truth from myths and place this legendary painting in its historical context.

Afterward, we’ll explore other famous works by Rembrandt. The Gallery of Honour also features his Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul, Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild, and Isaac and Rebecca (The Jewish Bride). These works from Rembrandt’s last years raise timeless human questions about love, power, faith, age. His vigorous manner makes them even more compelling. We will examine Rembrandt’s palette and techniques that reveal his astonishing modernity.

The art of the everyday in the Dutch Golden Age

The Rijksmuseum’s Gallery of Honour brings together many iconic Dutch paintings. After Rembrandt, we move on to other masters. The painters of the Dutch Golden Age worked in many different genres. The art market in the Netherlands was exceptionally large and thriving, compared to the rest of Europe. Artists’ new clients belonged to a wealthy middle class. They valued art they could relate to.

So, Dutch Golden Age painters invented the art of the everyday. They specialized in still lifes, landscapes, scenes of ordinary life. We zoom in on these inventions with artists like Jan de Heem, Jacob van Ruysdael, or Pieter de Hooch. This beautiful art can reveal fascinating details about the 17^th century people’s ideas, values and everyday life. But its naturalism can be deceiving. These paintings only appear to be straightforward. We will learn to read their hidden meaning.

Johannes Vermeer and Jan Steen at the Rijksmuseum

Two of the most fascinating painters of the Dutch Golden Age—Johannes Vermeer and Jan Steen—are well represented at the Rijksmuseum.

Vermeer, known for his tranquil and luminous interiors, painted scenes that feel almost cinematic in their use of light and composition. His works, such as The Milkmaid and Woman Reading a Letter leave the viewer with many unanswered questions. We will attempt to find the answers together, as we examine Vermeer’s symbolic details.

We move from Vermeer’s mysteries to the comic moralism of Jan Steen. He was a true storyteller. His paintings are accessible and entertaining. Yet his subjects weren’t always original. Artists’ rivalries and mutual inspiration fuelled the art of the Dutch Golden Age.

Big and small history of the Dutch Golden Age

The Rijksmuseum’s collection is about much more than paintings. On this tour, we also explore the famous Delft Blue pottery—intricate vases that recall the tulip mania that once gripped the Netherlands.

Among the museum’s stunning dollhouses, the most famous is that of Petronella Oortman. These miniature Amsterdam canal houses may seem like every little girl’s dream, but in reality, they reveal much more about the world of adults in the Golden Age.

The collection also includes extraordinary maritime artifacts, bringing to life the Dutch naval power of the 17th century. This was an era of unprecedented wealth and political influence. The Dutch East India Company dominated global trade, the Netherlands expanded into an empire, and Amsterdam flourished as a leading world city.

Through art and historical objects, this tour offers a vivid and meaningful introduction to the Dutch Golden Age, bringing its stories back to life.

Feel the Golden Age inside the museum and on the streets

Rembrandt lived and worked just 1.5 km from the Rijksmuseum—making it the perfect opportunity to combine a museum visit with a walk through the very streets where history was made.

Who were the people portrayed in The Night Watch and Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild? Why were they painted, and why in those locations? As we stroll through the city, we’ll pass buildings where you can still recognize traces of Amsterdam’s 17th-century past.

A 2-hour walk pairs perfectly with a 2-hour museum tour, offering you a deeper connection to the Dutch Golden Age—both in art and in the city itself.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point?
We will email you the meeting point and other details of the tour upon booking.

I have particular interests at the Rijksmuseum. Can this tour be customized?
A lot is possible. We always adapt every tour to your wishes and interests. Please contact us, and we will be happy to come up with a customized solution for you.

Is this tour suitable for young children?
This tour is suitable from the age of 12. 

Is this tour suitable for people with reduced mobility?
The Rijksmuseum is well accessible for people with reduced mobility.