Museumplein and the Rijksmuseum: The Palace of Dutch Art
Why is it significant?
Stand in the sweeping green park of Museumplein and look up at the majestic Neo-Renaissance facade of the Rijksmuseum.
Key Facts
| Place | Museumplein and the Rijksmuseum: The Palace of Dutch Art |
|---|---|
| Address | Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Geo Coordinates | 52.36000, 4.88520 |
| Audio Duration | ~1 min |
| Part of Walk | Amsterdam Golden Age & Masterpieces: Museumplein, Rijksmuseum, and Canal Ring |
| Generated | Generated |
Stand in the sweeping green park of Museumplein and look up at the majestic Neo-Renaissance facade of the Rijksmuseum. Designed by master architect Pierre Cuypers and opened in eighteen eighty-five, its soaring towers, red brickwork, and stained-glass windows resemble a medieval cathedral celebrating the secular gods of Dutch art. When King William the Third first inspected the newly completed building in eighteen eighty-five, the staunchly Calvinist monarch was scandalized by Cuypers's Catholic neo-Gothic styling, grumbling: I will never set foot in this bishop's palace! Yet today, it stands as the undisputed crown jewel of Dutch national heritage. Look directly beneath the central building: a public vaulted bicycle passage cuts straight through the museum, allowing thousands of Dutch cyclists to ride daily between the city center and the southern quarters through the very heart of the building. Walk through the grand entrance into the legendary Gallery of Honour.