Inaugurated in 1885 in a stunning Gothic-Renaissance building by Pierre Cuypers, the Rijksmuseum is the Netherlands’ premier art and history museum, home to 8,000 objects spanning 800 years of Dutch culture. Its crown jewels include Rembrandt’s The Night Watch—displayed in a dedicated gallery—and Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, alongside Delftware, ship models, and golden-age treasures. The museum’s grand library, the largest public art history collection in the country, and its hidden bicycle tunnel (connecting to the Van Gogh Museum) add to its charm. A 2013 renovation restored Cuypers’ original vision, blending historic grandeur with modern flair, including a striking Asian pavilion.