Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, home to one of the world's greatest art collections, reopens to the public on Saturday April 13, after a mammoth 10-year US$489m renovation project. The exhibits have been reorganized into chronological order, with paintings, furniture and other objects displayed side-by-side to tell the history of the Netherlands.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, home to one of the world's greatest art collections, reopens to the public on Saturday April 13, after a mammoth 10-year US$489m renovation project. The exhibits have been reorganized into chronological order, with paintings, furniture and other objects displayed side-by-side to tell the history of the Netherlands.
Bryony Jones/CNN
The museum's original entrance hall, designed by architect Pierre Cuypers in 1885, and decorated with opulent wall paintings by Georg Sturm, has been returned to its former glory.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
The museum's original entrance hall, designed by architect Pierre Cuypers in 1885, and decorated with opulent wall paintings by Georg Sturm, has been returned to its former glory.
Bryony Jones/CNN
The jewel-like stained glass windows in the entrance hall celebrate great architects, sculptors and painters, including Rembrandt van Rijn, and add to the cathedral-like atmosphere.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
The jewel-like stained glass windows in the entrance hall celebrate great architects, sculptors and painters, including Rembrandt van Rijn, and add to the cathedral-like atmosphere.
Bryony Jones/CNN
Contrasting ancient and modern, Spanish architects Cruz y Ortiz reinstated the building's original courtyards, which had been crammed with makeshift galleries for decades, linking them into one huge, bright and airy atrium.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
Contrasting ancient and modern, Spanish architects Cruz y Ortiz reinstated the building's original courtyards, which had been crammed with makeshift galleries for decades, linking them into one huge, bright and airy atrium.
Pedro Pegenaute/Image courtesy of Rijksmuseum
The museum's collection of one million objects, some 8,000 of which are on display at any one time, span 800 years, from the Middle Ages to modern artist Piet Mondrian, and including this 1887 self portrait by Vincent Van Gogh.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
The museum's collection of one million objects, some 8,000 of which are on display at any one time, span 800 years, from the Middle Ages to modern artist Piet Mondrian, and including this 1887 self portrait by Vincent Van Gogh.
Courtesy Rijksmuseum
This painted terracotta statue of the "Mater Dolorosa," or "Our Lady of Sorrows" (c.1500-1510) is among the new acquisitions collected while the museum was closed to visitors.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
This painted terracotta statue of the "Mater Dolorosa," or "Our Lady of Sorrows" (c.1500-1510) is among the new acquisitions collected while the museum was closed to visitors.
Bryony Jones/CNN
At the heart of the gallery is its most-prized possession, "The Night Watch," by Rembrandt van Rijn (1642). The museum was designed around the painting, and it is the only artwork to be returned to its original place.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
At the heart of the gallery is its most-prized possession, "The Night Watch," by Rembrandt van Rijn (1642). The museum was designed around the painting, and it is the only artwork to be returned to its original place.
Courtesy Rijksmuseum
Turner Prize-winning British artist Richard Wright was commissioned to create a new installation, featuring more than 47,000 black stars, in dizzying patterns on the ceilings of the rooms to the sides of "The Night Watch".
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
Turner Prize-winning British artist Richard Wright was commissioned to create a new installation, featuring more than 47,000 black stars, in dizzying patterns on the ceilings of the rooms to the sides of "The Night Watch".
Bryony Jones/CNN
The Rijksmuseum is also home to several works by Johannes Vermeer -- "The Milkmaid" (1658-1660) is among those taking pride of place in the church-like Gallery of Honor.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
The Rijksmuseum is also home to several works by Johannes Vermeer -- "The Milkmaid" (1658-1660) is among those taking pride of place in the church-like Gallery of Honor.
Image courtesy of Rijksmuseum
Pictures are hung on walls painted in shades of gray, the colors chosen so that they does not distract from the artworks themselves.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
Pictures are hung on walls painted in shades of gray, the colors chosen so that they does not distract from the artworks themselves.
Bryony Jones/CNN
In the 20th Century galleries, Fritz Koolhoven's FK 23 Bantam plane sits alongside a painting by Piet Mondrian, both items considered the height of modernity in their era.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
In the 20th Century galleries, Fritz Koolhoven's FK 23 Bantam plane sits alongside a painting by Piet Mondrian, both items considered the height of modernity in their era.
Bryony Jones/CNN
Disturbing periods of Dutch history are also acknowledged. These facial casts of Nias Islanders, made by anthropologist J.P. Kleiweg de Zwaan as part of his studies of racial "types" are displayed alongside a concentration camp uniform and a chess set given as a gift by Nazi Heinrich Himmler.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
Disturbing periods of Dutch history are also acknowledged. These facial casts of Nias Islanders, made by anthropologist J.P. Kleiweg de Zwaan as part of his studies of racial "types" are displayed alongside a concentration camp uniform and a chess set given as a gift by Nazi Heinrich Himmler.
Bryony Jones/CNN
The museum's special collections, of weapons, fashion and jewellery, Dutch porcelain and musical instruments are displayed in the crypt-like basement. Here, a fleet of model ships sail across the room.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
The museum's special collections, of weapons, fashion and jewellery, Dutch porcelain and musical instruments are displayed in the crypt-like basement. Here, a fleet of model ships sail across the room.
Bryony Jones/CNN
An entirely new annexe, the Asian Pavillion, has been built to house the museum's collection of art from China, Japan, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Thailand.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
An entirely new annexe, the Asian Pavillion, has been built to house the museum's collection of art from China, Japan, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Thailand.
Bryony Jones/CNN
Another highlight of the "new" museum is its ornate four-story library, complete with vertiginous spiral staircase, which has never been open to the public before.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
Another highlight of the "new" museum is its ornate four-story library, complete with vertiginous spiral staircase, which has never been open to the public before.
Bryony Jones/CNN
Visitors will be able to witness the renovation from April 13, 2013.
Rijksmuseum reopens after 10 years —
Visitors will be able to witness the renovation from April 13, 2013.
Bryony Jones/CNN