Your Own Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum Tour. The Stories Behind the Masterpieces
17th Century Dutch Art History Tour with Detective-Style Investigation
PRIVATE TOUR
A Private Guided Tour of the Rijksmuseum with an Art Historian
On our Rijksmuseum guided tours, we immerse ourselves in the 17th-century Netherlands, one of the most influential eras in art history. With the decline of Catholic dominance and Protestant skepticism toward religious imagery, secular art flourished like never before: portraits, still lifes, landscapes, seascapes, and genre painting. Cozy houses and courtyards, raucous feasts, peaceful countryside views, tables overflowing with food—it all feels so familiar, so real, and so easy to understand. But is it? Do we really see and interpret these paintings the way Rembrandt and Hals’s contemporaries did? What secrets lie behind the smiles and gestures of these painted characters? What stories do still lifes tell? What secrets are hidden in the most ordinary-looking scenes? Let’s find out!
We invite you to explore the Rijksmuseum with a local guide as part of a real detective-style investigation. Together, we’ll unravel artistic mysteries and uncover hidden clues. And step by step, we’ll figure out what 17th-century Dutch viewers really saw when they looked at these paintings. While we’re at it, we’ll see world-famous masterpieces from a whole new perspective.
We invite you to explore the Rijksmuseum with a local guide as part of a real detective-style investigation. Together, we’ll unravel artistic mysteries and uncover hidden clues. And step by step, we’ll figure out what 17th-century Dutch viewers really saw when they looked at these paintings. While we’re at it, we’ll see world-famous masterpieces from a whole new perspective.
€85 per each additional participant
€100 from the group for every additional hour
€100 from the group for every additional hour
Date:
Time:
Duration:
Type of tour:
Languages:
Cost:
Time:
Duration:
Type of tour:
Languages:
Cost:
On a day convenient for you
At a time convenient for you
2 hours
Private
English
€340 for a group of 1-4 people
At a time convenient for you
2 hours
Private
English
€340 for a group of 1-4 people
Museum tickets are not included in the price
What We’ll See:
Masterpieces of the Rijksmuseum, Hidden Gems, Secrets
Masterpieces of the Rijksmuseum, Hidden Gems, Secrets
During our Rijksmuseum private tour with a local art historian, we’ll see:
And we’ll end our journey at ‘The Night Watch.’ We won’t be able to reveal its secret because no one has figured it out yet—generations of art historians have been trying to crack the mysteries of this painting. Decades go by, theories change, and new interpretations emerge. And yet, ‘The Night Watch’ keeps drawing people in and sparking new debates. But we’ll definitely share what today’s experts think about it.
- Vermeer’s ‘The Milkmaid’ and ‘Woman Reading a Letter’
- Rembrandt’s amazing ‘Self-portrait as the Apostle Paul’
- Frans Hals’s equally delightful ‘The Merry Drinker’
- We’ll share a laugh with the great humorist Jan Steen and peek into the worlds of Pieter de Hooch and Gerard ter Borch.
And we’ll end our journey at ‘The Night Watch.’ We won’t be able to reveal its secret because no one has figured it out yet—generations of art historians have been trying to crack the mysteries of this painting. Decades go by, theories change, and new interpretations emerge. And yet, ‘The Night Watch’ keeps drawing people in and sparking new debates. But we’ll definitely share what today’s experts think about it.
What You’ll Discover:
How to “Read” Paintings and Uncover their Secrets
How to “Read” Paintings and Uncover their Secrets
Few artists have ever captured real life as realistically and vividly as the Dutch masters of the 17th century. But how do we learn to “read” Dutch paintings? Would you believe us if we say that after this Rijksmuseum guided tour, you might find yourself in front of a familiar painting, laughing as if it were the funniest sitcom? Or would you ever think how a rural landscape is connected to the concept of freedom? Or that an ordinary seascape or still life could actually be deeply depressing?
But let’s get into the details, just like real detectives:
But let’s get into the details, just like real detectives:
- Why does an ordinary city woman, caught mid-meal, have such a suggestive gaze?
- What can a simple bouquet reveal about one of the greatest failures in the country’s history?
- How do you spot the poorest or the greediest man in a group portrait?
- By the way, have you noticed how often people in paintings are reading or playing music—no matter their wealth or status? Were the Dutch really that well-educated, or was it just an artistic trend?
If You Want More:
Let’s Keep Exploring!
Let’s Keep Exploring!
If two hours in the museum aren’t enough for you, we’ll be happy to dive deeper into the great era of Dutch painting. We’ll take a look at the remarkable Delft Blue ceramics collection—from tea sets to stunning vases. Let's guess why their shapes are so unique and uncover a few more secrets.
We’ll talk about how this young commercial republic, a global leader in trade, science, warfare, and fine arts, thrived during its greatest era. We’ll also remember the price of this “prosperity.” We´ll step into one of the most beautiful libraries in the world – the Cuypers Library and discover traditional Dutch Doll Houses, the miniature versions of lavish 17th-century Amsterdam mansions where every tiny detail is a perfect replica, handcrafted by master artisans. We wouldn’t be surprised if these houses become your favorite part of the museum collection! :)
If you’d like to extend your Rijksmuseum tour, just let us know in advance so we can reserve extra time for you.
We’ll talk about how this young commercial republic, a global leader in trade, science, warfare, and fine arts, thrived during its greatest era. We’ll also remember the price of this “prosperity.” We´ll step into one of the most beautiful libraries in the world – the Cuypers Library and discover traditional Dutch Doll Houses, the miniature versions of lavish 17th-century Amsterdam mansions where every tiny detail is a perfect replica, handcrafted by master artisans. We wouldn’t be surprised if these houses become your favorite part of the museum collection! :)
If you’d like to extend your Rijksmuseum tour, just let us know in advance so we can reserve extra time for you.
Good to Know Before Your Tour
- Your guide is an art historian and a graduate of Christie’s and Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London.
- We recommend buying your museum tickets in advance. You can easily do so on the museum’s website.
- This Rijksmuseum private tour with a local art historian is fully tailored to you. Your guide will adapt naturally, but please let us know in advance if you have any specific wishes.
- If you're traveling with family or kids, we're delighted to offer a family-friendly Rijksmuseum private tour—we absolutely love sharing art and history with visitors of all ages!
- Try to arrive 5–10 minutes early so you can start your tour at a relaxed pace.
- There’s a lot of walking involved, but no worries—we can arrange a folding stool for you if you let us know in advance.
FAQ about Amsterdam Museum Tours
It depends on the museum. On each tour page, you'll find a blue banner at the top of the description that details what’s included in the price. Van Gogh Museum guided tours, already include tickets. For other museums, you'll need to purchase the tickets separately. It’s easy online—we’ve provided a booking link in each tour’s description.
You can find all the details about cancellations and refunds in our Terms of Use under “Change of Reservation or Refund of Services.” If you need to reschedule, we'll always do our best to help. However, it’s not always possible and depends on our guides' schedules and availability.
Not at all! We run guided tours in the Netherlands all across the country—from the classic must-sees to those hidden gems off the beaten path. Whether you're into city adventures or a countryside escape (imagine tulip fields, charming villages, and farms), visits to castles, nature reserves, or monasteries, or even tours focused on food, architecture, street art, or history—we’ve got something for everyone. And you can explore on foot, by bike, boat, or even by helicopter and hot air balloon—whatever floats your boat. Check out our most popular tours in the Netherlands here.
Just let your guide know if you're late. Don’t worry, they’ll wait for you. If you are more than 15 minutes late, please note this time can be deducted from the tour's duration but you can also prolong the tour for an additional cost of €100 / hour.
Absolutely! We welcome everyone, regardless of age. Just give us a heads-up in advance, and we’ll adjust the tour to ensure it’s engaging and comfortable for all.
Of course! At the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum, groups can have up to 15 people, while at the Van Gogh Museum, tours are limited to 4 people. If you’re more, just drop us a message and we’ll find a solution.
The duration is mentioned in each tour’s description (on the blue banner at the top of the page). In principle, our museum tours last about 2 hours. If you’d prefer a longer tour, just let us know.
Yes, absolutely. Just tell us your specific needs in advance, and we’ll arrange everything.
We always recommend booking your tour as early as possible. In peak season, our guides’ schedules fill up quickly, and there might not be any available slots on your desired date.
All our museum tours are conducted in English.
We meet you at the museum. Within 24 hours after you book your tour, you'll receive our email from hi@snurk.travel with the exact meeting point, your guide’s contact details, and all the necessary information.
Perhaps, you still have some questions. This is what we get asked about most of the time.
Meet Our Local Guides
Anastasia
As a child, after having read books about the Moomins, I made big and serious plans to settle in a cave. The dream came true - luckily just temporarily! - but the love of finding strange and weird places remained.
Guest Reviews on Our Tours in the Museums of Amsterdam and the Netherlands
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We have many tours
in the Netherlands, Morocco,
Serbia, Hungary, and Belgium.
You can also book a Tailored Travel Itinerary.
+31645728768
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in the Netherlands, Morocco,
Serbia, Hungary, and Belgium.
You can also book a Tailored Travel Itinerary.
+31645728768
hi@snurk.travel
For Agencies
See you soon!
Photos by Anastasia Afonina, Diana Tamarova, Sergey Rozanov, Olga Tolstova, Oleksander Vladimirov, Maria Kuzmicheva, Irina Miftakhova, Yulia Bogdanova, Mihael Zholubovskiy, Irina Novichkova, Anna Dyerjabina, Elias Ouaghrib Fosset.
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