Localada’s free Rijksmuseum audio guide is part of the Amsterdam audio guide: the story of Rijksmuseum, practical visiting tips and a route map, narrated in 15 languages. It opens in your browser, with no app download and no tour group.
Listen to the Rijksmuseum audio guide, free →
Opens the Amsterdam guide in Localada, where Rijksmuseum is one of the stops. A free account takes a few seconds.
Rijksmuseum: key facts
- Time to allow: 2–3 hours
- Hours: 09:00–17:00 (open daily)
- Address: Museumstraat 1, Museumkwartier, 1071 XX Amsterdam
- Nearest transport: Rijksmuseum tram stop · 2 min walk (2,12)
- Localada perk: 5% OFF – Skip-the-line entry with timed slot — book below
- Timed entry; slots for the Gallery of Honour fill first
- The cycle passage under the building is public and always open
- Bags larger than A4 go in the cloakroom
The story of Rijksmuseum
There is a cycle path running straight through the middle of this building, and the architects who restored it spent years trying to close it.
They lost.
When the Rijksmuseum was built in 1885, the city insisted on a public passage through the ground floor so that Amsterdammers could keep crossing between the old city and the new suburbs. Cyclists have used it ever since.
During the ten-year renovation that ended in 2013, the plan was to seal the tunnel and use it as the entrance hall. The cycling lobby went to court and won. The museum had to redesign its entrance around a road it does not control.
Inside, the building was rebuilt to do one thing: bring you to the Night Watch.
Rembrandt's painting hangs at the end of the Gallery of Honour, on the axis of the whole museum, in the position an altarpiece would occupy in a church. The building is arranged as a procession towards it.
What most people do not know is that the painting was cut. In 1715 it was moved to the town hall and trimmed on all four sides to fit a wall — two figures were sliced off the left edge and never recovered.
A city that builds a cathedral for a painting, and still refuses to close a bike path through it.
Listen to the Rijksmuseum audio guide, free →
Tips for visiting Rijksmuseum
- Go straight to the Gallery of Honour first, then work backwards — the crowd moves the other way
- The garden behind the museum is free and almost always empty
- The library on the upper floor is the most beautiful room and the least visited
- Look for the cut edges of the Night Watch marked on the frame
- Late afternoon is quieter than any morning slot
5% off Rijksmuseum tickets and tours
Book through Localada and GetYourGuide takes 5% off at checkout, on experiences worldwide. No code needed.
More audio guides in Amsterdam
- Van Gogh Museum · 1.5–2 hours
- Anne Frank House & the Jordaan · 1.5–2 hours
- Dam Square & the Royal Palace · 1–1.5 hours
All stops in the Amsterdam audio guide →
Rijksmuseum audio guide: frequently asked questions
Is the Rijksmuseum audio guide free?
Yes. The Rijksmuseum audio guide is part of Localada’s free Amsterdam guide: create a free account and open it in your browser, no app download needed. Tickets for Rijksmuseum are bought separately; booking through Localada’s GetYourGuide links gives 5% off.
How long should I spend at Rijksmuseum?
Allow 2–3 hours for Rijksmuseum.
What are the opening hours of Rijksmuseum?
09:00–17:00 (open daily). Hours can change on public and religious holidays, so check on the day.
Can I get a discount on Rijksmuseum tickets?
Yes. Book Rijksmuseum tickets and tours through Localada’s GetYourGuide links and GetYourGuide applies 5% off at checkout.
Which languages is the Rijksmuseum audio guide available in?
Narration and text are available in 15 languages: English, Turkish, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Arabic, Persian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
Listen to the Rijksmuseum audio guide, free →
Official website: rijksmuseum.nl