The Rembrandt House Museum guide | All you need to know

Your trip to Amsterdam is incomplete without a stop at the Rembrandt House Museum. This historic art museum in Amsterdam was legendary painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn's home and studio from 1639 to 1656. Around 100 years ago, the building was converted into a museum dedicated to showcasing Rembrandt's art. The former residence of iconic Rembrandt van Rijn allows for an interesting peek at his paintings, etchings and sketches, along with the painter's personal possessions, including his collection of weaponry and seashells.

The history associated with the Rembrandt House Museum is as tragic as it's interesting. Built in 1607, the house occupied a hipster area of settlement of rich artists and merchants, presently known as Jodenbreestraat. Rembrandt purchased the house in 1639 after marrying Saskia van Uylenburgh and lived in it until 1656, when he went bankrupt.

Over the course of his almost 20-year long stay in the house, Rembrandt created some of his best work, including the legendary ‘The Nightwatch’. In 1911, as a result of the Dutch movement, the Rembrandt house was converted into a museum to honor the revered artist and also showcase 17th century Dutch architecture. If you're in Amsterdam for a day, make your way to Rembrandt House Museum to spend for an enlightened couple of hours discovering the legendary artist's home and art.

What to Expect at the Rembrandt House Museum

Originally his primary residence and art studio, Rembrandt House Museum became a public shrine to the artist in 1911. The house was converted into a museum to showcase Rembrandt's rare paintings, sketches and his personal memorabilia. The museum offers a complete overview of Rembrandt's work, including 260 of the 290 etchings he made. The museum also houses a small number of paintings by Rembrandt's teacher, pupils and even contemporaries. Apart from the art work, the museum has been tastefully decorated with furniture, objects and decor from the 17th century.

In 2017, two undiscovered paintings from Rembrandt's collection were added to the museum. These paintings, ‘Portrait of Petronella Buys’ and ‘Man with Sword’, were initially thought to have been painted by one of Rembrandt's assistants or students but now they are considered more of 'rush job' by Rembrandt. Apart from viewing the works of art by Rembrandt and Pre-Rembrandt artists, you can also participate in two very special activities at the museum.

First, you can learn how to sketch and paint just like Rembrandt at a live painting demonstration which is organised daily at the museum. Second, you can visit the Laboratory Rembrandt exhibit. Here, you can get a fascinating peek at how historians and scientists employ advanced technology to minutely examine Rembrandt's work and reveal hard to find details, things the naked eye would never catch. Visit Rembrandt House Museum for a fascinating look at the artist’s work and life.

Greatest Works of Art at the Rembrandt House Museum

While the Rembrandt House Museum houses numerous important pieces of art, there are few classified as must-see. Here are five such paintings by Pre-Rembrandtists:

The Rembrandt House Museum Entrance Tickets

If you're planning to visit the Rembrandt House Museum, you might want to consider purchasing skip-the-line entrance tickets online. A skip-the-line ticket to the Rembrandt House Museum saves you the hassle of waiting in long queues and lets you focus on the spectacular artwork you're there to see.

Getting to the Rembrandt House Museum

The Rembrandt House Museum is located in Jodenbreestraat 4, which is considered the center of Amsterdam. The museum is close to the famous Waterlooplein and a mere 15- minutes’ walk from Amsterdam’s Central Station. If you're considering taking public transport to the museum, you've two reliable options to choose from:

• Metro: You can take any line to and from CS Amsterdam, Nieuwmarkt Station,Hoogstraat exit.
• Train: Take any train which stops at Amsterdam Central Station. The museum is a 15 minutes’ walk away or 2 minutes if you take the metro.

Bringing your own vehicle or renting one in Amsterdam? The Waterlooplein, Muziektheater/Stadhuis or Valkenburgerstraat car parks are all situated approximately a 3- minutes’ walk from the museum.

Rembrandt House Museum Timings

Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

The museum remains closed on 27th April and 25th December. On the 24th and 31st December, the Rembrandt House museum closes an hour early at 5:00 PM. On 1st January, the museum opens at 11:00 AM.

Know Before You Go

• You can opt for an audio guide to make the experience even more insightful for yourself. You'll get to hear about the history of each room and painting on display with the audio guide available in multiple languages.
• Please note that pets are not permitted inside the museum, with the exception of service dogs.
• Large bags, backpacks, umbrellas and comparable items are not allowed inside and must be left in the cloakroom. Free lockers are available at the cloakroom for your use. Handbags and other small bags are permitted. These may be checked by security staff for safety and security reasons.
• There are certain restrictions you need to be mindful of when visiting the Rembrandt House Museum. First, the use of mobile phones is not permitted in the museum. Second, eating and drinking is also not allowed inside the museum.
• While exploring the museum, always maintain a distance of at least 50 centimetres from the artworks. Also do not touch any artwork or object placed inside the museum.
• Children below the age of 12 can enter the museum only if they are accompanied by an adult. Please note that parents or guides will be held responsible and accountable for the behaviour of the minors they are accompanying.
• You can get free access to Rembrandt House Museum with the I Amsterdam Card. The card offers unlimited access to the city's public transport and free access to certain attractions within the city.
• Remember to wear comfortable shoes when heading to the museum. There is a lot of walking involved and a lot of steps you have to climb.
• For children in the age group of 6-17, reduced price tickets are available for the museum. Children aged 5 and below can enter the museum for free.
• When exploring the museum, be mindful of your surroundings and avoid creating a scene since the staff is pretty strict about maintaining the required peace and quiet inside.

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