The creation of the most visited museum in Amsterdam is connected with the name of Napoleon, not of the emperor himself, but of his brother - Louis Bonaparte. He was king of the Kingdom of Holland, a vassal from France, from 1806 to 1810. Originally based in Hague, the museum moved to Amsterdam in 1808 and was housed in the royal palace. Then it changed addresses several times until it was accommodated in 1885 in the magnificent complex that stands before us, the work of Pierre Cuypers. The museum is one of the 20 most visited museums in the world and showcases in full the paintings of the Dutch masters. The most famous painting in the museum is Rembrandt’s “Night Watch”, which was created in 1642 for one of the three headquarters of the Amsterdam Civil Guard. Its special coating creates the presence of night. In 2017, after its renovation, the museum was preparing to receive a ten-millionth visitor. For this purpose, the lucky man was surprised with a night in the museum, and an opportunity to dream opposite of the most famous painting of the great artist. The painting "Thrush" by Johannes Vermeer, no less famous, is also displayed in the museum. Calm and restrained, today it tops the list of the most popular paintings of Rijksmuseum. The museum is also famous for its interactivity, unusual solutions, and invariable ability to capture the attention of the visitor, to overwhelm him with the power of art and to remain invisible, to accompany him on a personal journey into the world of the spirit and mystery of the human soul. We leave the museum at its main entrance, facing the canal. Turn to the left and go through a small and pleasant garden. Leaving the garden by the stone gate look at the villa of Eduard Cuypers. We mentioned him at the very beginning of our trip, leaving the hotel. So, our circle is closed, dedicated to Amsterdam of the late nineteenth - early twentieth centuries. But before we say goodbye, let's turn onto Paulus Potter straat — an unusual surprise awaits us here. Photo Rijksmuseum: inner courtyard with plaster casts of building fragments and interior parts By Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23973435
A personal guide to the museum quarter has been carefully planned and prepared for you by the Conservatorium Hotel. Our hotel is directly related to this exquisite cultural quarter of the city because the conservatory once occupied the building in which the hotel is located. The museum quarter adorns Amsterdam like the Kohinoor diamond adorns the crown of the British Empire. Between them, by the way, there is a direct relationship, which you will learn about from a trip. The walk will introduce you to the history and unexpected twists and turns of the fate of the inhabitants of the quarter, its buildings and houses, and of course, will lead you and learn about the most famous and visited museum square in the world. The walk is planned for the whole day and combines relaxing in the park and visiting museums. However, you can divide the trip into two parts. Architecture, history, shops, and the park from stop 1 to stop 9. Museums from stop 10 to the end of the trip. For your convenience, download the route to your phone, and thus you will not be dependent on a network connection. Have a nice walk.
Don't be afraid to get lost in new places!
