We paid a visit to Rijksmuseum, Netherlands' state museum on our last day in Amsterdam.
It's one of three museums located in the museum square ("museumplein"), which was crowded with people, many of which were angling for a spot in front of the iconic "I amsterdam" sign.
It's always fun to spot details like the tulip ornamentation on the fence and the stone creature pipe-holder.
Bike lanes run through the museum, which is a brilliant idea. More cities should be as bike-friendly as Amsterdam. It would certainly be one way to improve physical fitness in the general population.
The museum just recently completed a ten-year renovation. The renovation must have been pretty costly, since admission to Rejiksmuseum is one of the priciest in Europe. The museum looks great, so I'm glad that money went to a good use.
Gallery of Honour
Where the Dutch masterpieces are kept and the busiest section of the museum.
Rembrandt's Night Watch or more officially, Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq
Our guide was clearly an arts major as she spent the better part ushering us in front of painting after painting.
Rembrandt must have thought well of this work since he painted himself into it. He can be seen in profile just over the right shoulder of the man in the top hat. The so-called militia was really more akin to an honour guard, the upper echelon in their fineries on parade.
What's special about the painting is the characters seem to be in mid-motion , unlike the more static style of that time.
This painting has gone through quite a tribulation. In the 18th century, the painting had to be trimmed down in order to fit its new location. Consequently, two characters were cut out (perhaps, they should have paid Rembrandt more for a better position in the painting). Then in 1911, the painting was slashed. Again, in 1975, it suffered significant damage by a mentally-unstable man wielding a breadknife. Lastly, in 1990, acid was sprayed onto the canvas but thankfully no major damage was done.
What is it with this painting that cause crazy people to attack?
Another masterpiece. The Milkmaid by Vermeer.
Personally, I prefer Vermeer over Rembrandt. I'm not a fan of the chiaroscuro technique (strong contrast between light and dark).
If you haven't seen the documentary Tim's Vermeer, I highly recommended. It's about one man's journey to paint a Vermeer and in the process, figuring out the optical techniques Vermeer could have used to create the luminous effects in his paintings.
We then had thirty minutes(!!!) of free time, which was not enough at all. Here are some of the highlights as I tried to take in as much as I could in the impossibly short amount of time allocated.
Famous Delftware
Cheeky-looking monkey in the appropriately-titled but long-winded, "Still Life with Dead Game and Fruit Besides a Vase, with a Monkey, a Dog, and Two Doves, in the distance Rijksdorp near Wassenaar, Seat of Jacob Emmery, Baron of Wassenaar" by Jan Weenix
Dollhouses. There was even one with its own painting. I guess somebody really loved their dollhouse.
The Rijksmuseum library was a bit of a letdown.
The amazingly detailed scaled model of the ship William Rex.
Stern carving from the Dutch-captured English vessel the Royal Charles.
Portraits of Javanese (part of modern Indonesia) Officials
If I had more time, it would have been great to check out the Roentgen writing desk (Roentgen furniture were famous for their secret compartments and complex internal mechanisms), as well as the Meissen porcelain and Art Nouveau collections
We then traveled down the canals, where we enjoyed the views and Dutch bar snacks like the bitterballen, which are deep fried balls with creamy meat filling. Very similar to the croquette.
Delicious. But then again, I'm partial to all things battered and deep-fried.
Rembrandtplein
Where the famous Night Watch painting has been recreated in bronze statues. Very cool.
The square was full of people just hanging out and relaxing on the grass, very common in the Netherlands.
On our after-dinner walk, the group decided to take a detour into the Red Light District. Yes, there were a lot of sex shops and yes, there were skimpily-clad women posing in windows. Photography is forbidden, a rule that everyone seemed to follow without fail. I don't really have much to say about the experience except that it was very crowded, which was surprising to us and our host.
Dinner: Indrapura
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