Friends Tours

Every month we organize tours exclusively for Friends. All these tours are Dutch spoken. Below you can find more information on the monthly topics.

January - THE BEST OF THE RIJKSMUSEUM – WINTEREDITION

The Rijksmuseum is filled with masterpieces, and no matter how many times you may have visited the museum, you never get tired of a masterpiece. In this tour, let yourself be surprised by the winter-themed works in the collection. From winter porcelain and frozen canals to portraits on ice and the woolly hats of Smeerenburg. And what about the women's ice-skating competition of 1809? Of course, Avercamp and Nova Zembla cannot be missed.

February - BUT WHERE WERE THE WOMEN?

Who are the women in Dutch art and history? This tour travels along important female artists from all times in the Rijksmuseum collection. Think of Judith Leyster, Thérèse Schwartze, and Catharina van Hemessen, among others. They have been overlooked for a long time. But their influence should not be underestimated. That's why we highlight their stories of creativity, ambition, and perseverance in this tour.

March and April - FRANS HALS

In this exhibition tour, you will learn all about Frans Hals, the 17th-century portrait painter who breathed life into paint. Hals was famous and infamous for his distinctive loose painting style and is seen as a precursor to Impressionism. With his loose brush, he set paintings in motion. In this tour, you will not only get to know the painter and his technique but also the world of his patrons and the norms and values of his time.

May - WHO WAS REMBRANDT?

He is the undisputed star of Dutch 17th-century painting and one of the most famous artists ever. But who was Rembrandt van Rijn as a person, and what makes him discussed so often? The Rijksmuseum has the largest Rembrandt collection in the world, allowing you to beautifully follow his story. From his rebellious self-portrait at the age of 20 to his highly experimental Night Watch and the Jewish Bride. This tour tells the story of Rembrandt through his most beautiful works.

June - LEE UFAN IN THE RIJKSMUSEUM GARDENS

In the gardens of the Rijksmuseum, a sculpture exhibition is held every summer. This year, the artworks on display are by Lee Ufan, one of the founders of the Japanese avant-garde art movement Mono-ha. In his sculptures, he combines natural materials such as stone, iron, and water with industrial materials like steel or glass. Enjoy a guided tour with an expert exploring his art amidst the outdoor beauty of the Rijksmuseum gardens.

July - A PINK HISTORY

From hidden love to open celebration of diversity. From Sodom and Gomorrah to the pink triangle. In this tour, we explore queer history over the centuries. From the Middle Ages through the 18th and 19th centuries to the present; the perspective keeps changing. TWe examine, among others, Saint Sebastian, Diana and Callisto, and William II. A new, polyphonic look at the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

August - THE BEST OF THE RIJKSMUSEUM - SUMMER EDITION

The Rijksmuseum is filled with masterpieces from top to bottom. And no matter how many times you may have visited the museum, you never get tired of a masterpiece. This month, we dive into summer, which is also fully present within the museum walls. Be surprised by the summery works in the collection during this tour. From 17th-century country estates and summer landscapes to the 19th-century sea scenes by Jozef Israëls and Jan Toorop. Time for a refreshing dive into our collection.

September - THE LOVE TOUR

Love is an eternal source of inspiration. It always has been. This tour takes you along love in all its beautiful and less elegant forms. Get to know courtly love and chaste love in wedding portraits. Discover the seduction art of Cupid from the 18th century and the ultimate love of Rembrandt's Jewish Bride. A tour that will make you love the Rijksmuseum even more.

October - THROUGH THE EYES OF THE RESTORER

How does a restorer look at objects? This tour is about wood, paint, ceramics, plastic: the artwork as a physical object. But you won't just look at these materials. You will also ponder questions like 'how has this artwork aged over time, is it damaged, and what do the restorers at the Rijksmuseum do about it?' Learn to look at objects that are made long ago that still shine bright. Get a glimpse into an essential task of the museum: managing and preserving objects.

November and December - ART FROM THE KITCHEN

Take a culinary journey through time with this tour! Our food and drinks have been a beloved subject to capture for centuries. From the grand still lifes in the Gallery of Honour to our Instagram photos of today's meals. What we eat says something about who we are, but also about where we live. The 17th and 18th centuries meant a true culinary revolution for the Netherlands. With new ingredients like lemon, cloves, and tea, boundaries were pushed. This tour provides a peek into the kitchen of that time.