Amsterdam is known for its outstanding and world leading museums which showcase many important artworks created by famous Dutch and International artists. Some of the top museums include the Rijksmuseum, the Van Goghmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum. While there are many iconic art works to be seen we made a top three of paintings that you should not miss while visiting the city.
De Nachtwacht (The Night Watch)
The Night Watch is probably the most famous work ever painted by a Dutch artist and has been part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection since 1885. Originally called Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq and painted by Rembrandt van Rijn. The painting is famous for three things: its colossal size, the dramatic use of light and shadow and the perception of motion in what would have traditionally been a static military group portrait.
The painting was vandalised twice, once in 1975 by a disgruntled unemployed school teacher with a bread knife and once in 1990 when it was sprayed with acid by an escaped psychiatric patient. In 2019 the painting was undergoing restoration in public, in a specially-made glass enclosure built and placed in the Rijksmuseum.
Rembrandt was paid 1,600 guilders for his painting back in 1642. At today’s exchange rate that would be only 726 euros, but at that time a large sum. It’s hard to put a price on the painting nowadays, but it definitely is one of the world’s most valued paintings.
You can see this painting in the Rijksmuseum.
Het Melkmeisje (The Milkmaid)
Het Melkmeisje (The Milkmaid) is a painting done by Johannes Vermeer, one of the Dutch Masters of the 17th century. Born in Delft, one of the most influential cities cities of The Dutch Republic, Vermeer was a Dutch Baroque painter who specialized in domestic interior scenes of middle-class life. He worked slowly and paid high attention to detail. He is particularly known as one of the Golden Age painters who excelled in the use of light in his work.
The painting shows a milkmaid, a woman who milks cows and makes dairy products like butter and cheese. Milkmaids were often hired by wealthy people to do housework and other chores. This work of Vermeer is according to some art critics one of his best, together with another famous piece called Meisje met de parel (Girl with a Pearl Earring). It is especially noted for the photograph-like realism and the extraordinary treatment of light.
You can see this painting in the Rijksmuseum.
De Aardappeleters (The Potato Eaters)
Although not a Dutch Master, Vincent van Gogh might even be a more famous painter than Rembrandt, who is considered the greatest Dutch painter ever. Eventhough his later fame is in a stark contrast with his fame during his lifetime. Nowadays named as one of the most influential painters in Western art history, but hardly appreciated when he was still alive. He struggled with severe depression and poverty, eventually leading to suicide at the age of 37.
Some of Van Gogh’s most notable works are The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Bedroom in Arles. The latter is on display in The Van Gogh Museum, just like The Potato Eaters. He based the painting on another work, The Blessing before Supper by the Belgian painter Charles de Groux. The painting depitcs a family of poor peasants sharing a meal of potatoes. Van Gogh said he wanted to depict peasants as they really were and he deliberately chose coarse and ugly models. Van Gogh named this painting as his favourite work and is widely considered as one of his masterpieces.
You can see this painting in the Van Gogh Museum.