For now, at least many of its "Golden Age" masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Hals will still be available to be admired by visitors in the Philips Wing. Normally the museum would be an essential part of your visit in the city, but you may or may not want to go to see such a limited selection of artworks, albeit a very impressive selection of Dutch and Flemish "greatest hits" such as "The Night Watch" by Rembrandt. It is near the Van Gogh Museum, so you can easily overload on art if you want to.

The current Rijksmuseum opened in 1885 in a grandiose neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance building designed by architect P.J.H. Cuypers, who also designed the Centraal Station. The exteriors feature towers, tiled murals and red brick walls. Be sure to take a look at the exterior while seeing its glimmering image in the reflecting pool on the Museumplein (Museum Square). The grassy plaza is a pleasant place for a stroll, as all the locals walking their dogs will attest to. The museum is open daily from 9am to 6pm.

I remember my first visit here in 1991 and I was mesmerized by not only the great range of Dutch art from the 15th to the 19th Centuries, but by an acoustic buzz created by the onslaught of the visitors and their constant chatter. Will this audio sensation still be there in the museum in 2008? The office of Cruz and Ortiz from Spain is in charge of the revamped museum design, while Van Hoogevest Architects are the restoration architect. The new and improved Rijksmuseum will have restored and new underground galleries, an auditorium and other large facilities for visiting groups, expanded storage space, and attractive public courtyards.

If you have time to kill before your flight or are stuck on a layover at Schiphol Airport, seek out the small spinoff of the Rijksmuseum. It is a pleasant little oasis of art and beats hanging around the smoky casino inside Schiphol. The two-dozen or so works of art on display are usually minor works, but culled and prominently displayed in one of the world’s busiest airports they can be fully appreciated in a way that would be impossible when surrounded by the legendary masterpieces of the main museum. The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is open every day from 7am (astonishingly early!) to 8pm, and unlike the main museum, admittance is free. It is located between the E and F gate piers, and there is a small shop with Dutch Masters-themed souvenirs for your getaway purchase. There is no place to store your luggage, so you will have to drag them up the stairs to the small viewing level.

The 17th century represents Dutch Golden Age, the collection you can admire here is very impressive and so is the way it has been gathered. From the late 16th century, the Netherlands was a republic and therefore there was no royal house that amassed an international collection, such as in Spain (Philips II) or Russia (Catharine the Great) The Rijksmuseum collection is based on private collections of Art buyers; citizens who made purchases mostly in their home country, and not so much abroad.

Museum is kids friendly. Children can take part in museum searches and there is also a Sesame Street audio tour for pre-school children.

At the moment there is no place for refreshments but you can walk to a Café Cobra where you will receive a 15% discount on any item on the menu by showing your Rijksmuseum ticket.

If you are less then 18 years old, you can get in for free, otherwise you will pay €10. Some discounts are applicable and all tickets can be purchased in advance on the Internet. 

The Rijksmuseum is open every day from 9am to 6pm, on Fridays also from 6pm to 10pm. Closed 1 January. The museum ticket counter closes 30 minutes before the closing time.

Unfortunately for those that are planning their trip to Amsterdam in the very-near-future, the Rijksmuseum is undergoing a major restoration project. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. During this time of construction, the main buildings of the Museum are closed to the public. Luckily however, many of the museum's finest works have been moved to a temporary viewing area in the newly renovated Philips Wing.

The Rijksmuseum's collections are publicly owned by the city of Amsterdam. The many year's of art history that this city has been a part of have lead to an extensive portfolio of great artists. Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Jan Steen, and Vermeer all have paintings featured in this location. The concentration of the permanent exhibition is from the 17th century, but the Rijks has works spanning from the 15th to 19th century as well. Large collections of Delftware and Silver are housed in the museum as well.

The most famous of all the works at the Rijksmuseum is the "Night Watch" by Rembrandt. It is a beautifully detailed battle scene that was at the time a commissioned group portrait. I personally am not a big Rembrandt fan, but this painting is very impressive in size and intricacy.

Perhaps my favorite painting in the Rijksmuseum is "The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum at Night" by Van Gogh. I love the beautiful contrast of the bright yellow cafe on the dark blue background and the use of post-impressionism techniques.

The Rijksmuseum has many famous works by Vermeer such as "The Love Letter," but it does not have "The Girl with a Pearl Earring," which is often asked about by tourists.

The Rijksmuseum is lovely as-is and will be absolutely splendid when they finish the construction project. I can't wait to visit again after 2008.