How to Skip the Line at the Rijksmuseum
Book a timed ticket online on rijksmuseum.nl, a few days ahead for weekends and up to a week ahead in summer. Take the 9 am slot and go straight to the Gallery of Honour for Rembrandt's Night Watch and the Vermeers before the late-morning crowds. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the quietest days.
- Ticket
- About €25 adults. Under-18s free but need a slot
- Booking
- Timed slots, sold online. Card only, no cash
- Book ahead
- 2-3 days for weekends, up to a week in summer
- Best time
- 9 am slot, Tuesday or Wednesday
- Busiest
- Late morning to mid-afternoon, weekends and holidays
- Go first to
- The Gallery of Honour (Night Watch, Vermeer)
- Time to allow
- At least 3 hours
How long are the lines at the Rijksmuseum?
Entry is by timed slot, so with a booking you'll mostly just wait for security and the cloakroom. The crowds are inside: the Gallery of Honour gets packed from late morning, especially around the Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid. Without a booking on a busy day, you may find no slots left.
Before you choose your slot, check how busy the Rijksmuseum is likely to be. BeatTheCrowd shows the live crowd level and an hourly forecast for any date, adjusted for Dutch holidays, school breaks and weather.
Check today’s crowds at Rijksmuseum →