How We Are Removing Varnish From The Night Watch

In the bottom right corner of The Night Watch, you’ll find a remarkable figure: Jacob Jorisz, the drummer. Though he didn’t pay for a place in the painting, Rembrandt gave him a key role. But why does he look… unwell today?

The answer lies in the varnish, the transparent top layer that saturates colours, adds gloss, and protects the paint beneath. Over time, varnish can become yellow and dull, altering the appearance of Rembrandt’s masterpiece. That’s why, during Operation Night Watch, experts are carefully removing the old varnish to reveal the original vibrancy of Rembrandt’s palette.

In this video, Ige Verslype, Alba Álvarez Martín, and Pieter Roelofs from the Rijksmuseum take you behind the scenes of this extraordinary conservation project. From using microfibre cloths and organic solvents to applying advanced scientific research and microscopic tools, you’ll discover the precise, delicate process of restoring one of the world’s most iconic paintings.