Pierre Cuypers, the Rijksmuseum's architect, had drawn up a historic design for the Rijksmuseum, which combined the Gothic and the Renaissance styles. The official opening of the Rijksmuseum took place in 1885.
The Building from the Exterior
Rijksmuseum as seen from Weteringschans
Rijksmuseum as seen from Museumplein
Rijksmuseum as seen from Stadhouderskade
History of the Rijksmuseum
Our online collection contains many photographs of the Rijksmuseum throughout the years. This link shows, for instance, what the Rijksmuseum building used to look like.
Curious about the rich history of Rijksmuseum building and galleries? Take a look in the historical archive.
The building
