Keys to the Rijks - Rijks Stories - What’s on

The Dutch celebrities in Keys to the Rijks have all got some personal connection with the Rijksmuseum. Accompanied by an expert from the museum, they and the viewers discover the most fascinating stories from the museum. Viewers watching live on Instagram Live were able to join in and ask questions.

First episode: Janny van der Heijden and Joris Bijdendijk

Celebrated food expert Janny van der Heijden has judged countless desserts on TV and written several cookbooks. Her most recent book explores Dutch food culture through iconic paintings and prints. And it turns out that – contrary to what some may think – the Low Countries have a very rich culinary culture. Joris Bijdendijk, executive chef at RIJKS® restaurant in the Rijksmuseum, plays with long-lost food traditions to create a fusion of cultural and culinary heritage.

In this episode Janny and Joris team up to explore and discuss how food reflects the society it comes from. Anyone who thought Dutch food culture consisted of little more than mash dishes and bread is in for a quite a surprise.

Watch the episode with Janny

Second episode: Eric Corton and Eveline Sint Nicolaas

Eric Corton is a TV presenter, musician, actor, writer and ambassador – a man of many creative talents. For many years he’s been moving seamlessly between radio and theatre, switching from microphone to pen and back again.

The Rijksmuseum is more closely connected with Eric’s own personal life than you might realise. One of his ancestors fought at that defining conflict in Dutch and European history, the Battle of Waterloo. And it just so happens that this military family history is depicted on the very largest painting in the entire Rijksmuseum. In this episode Eveline Sint Nicolaas, the museum’s Curator of History, takes Eric on a journey back to his roots. They explore another shared interest, too: the connections between the Netherlands and Africa. It all goes to show that the present is forever connected with the past.

Watch the episode with Eric

Third episode: Dio and Robert van Langh

Rapper Dio loves art in all its forms. He performs at major festivals and venues all over the country, playing hits like 'Dom, lomp en famous'.

In this episode of Keys to the Rijksmuseum, Dio opens the doors to a unique gallery: the Gallery of Honour. It turns out there are closer connections between rap and painting that you might have thought – they both spring from a feeling of wonder for a start. Dio and the Rijksmuseum’s Head of Conservation and Restoration Robert van Langh share that sense of wonder when they enter the Gallery of Honour. As they walk around the gallery together they talk about that feeling, and about why art is so important. Their conversation leads them to the gallery’s magnificent centrepiece: The Night Watch. At the time the painting was about to undergo restoration, in full view of the public – how do you go about doing that with such a legendary artwork?

Watch the episode with Dio

Fourth episode: Paulien Cornelisse and Menno Fitski

Writer, live performer and broadcaster Paulien Cornelisse is as happy onstage as she is wielding her ballpoint pen – she’s written award-winning books, and her stage shows get rave reviews.

The Rijksmuseum is a bigger part of Paulien's personal life than you might imagine. Besides her interests in language and performing, she is totally fascinated by Japan. More than that, she’s besotted with the country – its language, culture, and art. The cultural heritage of the Netherlands is steeped in Asia influences, and the Rijksmuseum even has its own dedicated Asian Pavilion. Menno Fitski, the Rijksmuseum’s museums Head of Asian Art, has also been under Japan’s spell since his school days. In this episode of Keys to the Rijksmuseum, Pauline and Menno wander together around the Asian Pavilion. Paulien marvels at the works of art as Menno shares some of the mysterious stories behind them – if you thought just taking a quick glance at a work of art was enough, you’re in for a big surprise.

Watch the episode with Paulien

Fith episode: Anna Drijver and Jane Turner

Anna Drijver is an actor, model and writer. Her work is all about honing her craft – day in day out – and the outside world only gets to admire and enjoy the final product. But perhaps the greatest beauty is to be found in the raw imperfections that come before that. That’s why in this episode Anna joins Jane Turner, head of the Rijksmuseum’s Print Room.

Jane sees drawings and sketches as the chamber music of the visual arts. Preparatory drawings bear witness to all the explorative attempts and little errors made by the artist before putting brush to canvas. They offer a candid, moving glimpse into the inner sanctums of art. Jane takes Anna on a journey into her world, which embraces everything from Rembrandt’s doodles to 18th-century erotic drawings. It’s a subject that lives on to this day in Dutch cinema and theatre, and one that Anna has plenty to say about.

Watch the episode with Anna

Sixth episode: Cécile Narinx and Suzanne van Leeuwen

Fashion expert Cécile Narinx is well known for her impeccable sense of style – and her sharp pen. She was the chief editor of Dutch Elle and later Harper's Bazaar for many years, and she’s currently fashion editor at national daily De Volkskrant. Fashion is an unending source of fascination for Cécile. She believes that what you choose to wear is part of the way you communicate, whether you intend it to be or not. Clothes can be enticing, protective or revealing – whatever your phase of life, cultural background, religion, gender or mood. That’s why in this episode of Keys to the Rijksmuseum, Cécile Narinx teams up with Suzanne van Leeuwen, restorer and Curator of Jewellery.

Suzanne takes Cécile into her world filled with ‘the most personal art in the Rijksmuseum’ – objects that real people once wore around their wrists and necks. What do they signify? What stories lie behind the clandestine items of resistance jewellery or the glittering gold rings.

Watch the episode with Cécile

Seventh episode: Tim Hofman and Geert Jan Koot

Presenter Tim Hofman is well-known for his sharp wit, his humour and the socially committed programmes he makes for Dutch national television.

What a lot of people don’t know is that Tim is also pretty sharp when it comes to writing poetry. The art of rhyme has always been a passion of his – he wrote his first poems at the age of 12, and he’s currently working on his second collection of poetry. So it makes sense that in this episode Tim uses the keys to open the doors of the museum’s magnificent library. Geert Jan Koot, Head of the Research Library, shares with Tim some of the most remarkable, moving and strange books in his library. If you thought books couldn’t be works of art, you’ve got a surprise coming.

Watch the episode with Tim

Eighth episode: Valerio Zeno and Igor Santhagens

In this the last episode of season, it’s TV host Valerio Zeno who gets the keys to the Rijksmuseum. Valerio is super-curious about weird and wonderful facts. He can’t get enough of them. And the tinier the fact, the happier he is – his own TV shows are always about little details that tell bigger stories.

Valerio often passes the Rijksmuseum as he cycles through Amsterdam, and every time he sees the building a question comes into his mind, like: What can you see from the roof? What would be done with The Night Watch in an emergency? Are there secret passageways in the museum? Is it haunted? Valerio joins Igor Santhagens, the Building and Fittings project leader at the museum, to discover the secrets of perhaps one of the Rijksmuseum’s most beautiful artworks: the building itself.