Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Nieuwmarkt
- Waag
- Rembrandt House
Photos & Highlights
- Explore Amsterdam through Rembrandt’s story
- Led by local art historian or scholar
Select a date
Tour Description
Rembrandt van Rijn was arguably the greatest Dutch painter, and his life (1606-1669) provides a unique lens through which to understand the Dutch Golden Age (a subject we explore further on our Dutch Golden Age Tour). On this 3-hour Rembrandt in Amsterdam Tour, an art historian or scholar will lead us through the historic neighborhoods where Rembrandt and his clients lived, taking us back to a heady era of prosperity, expansion, and growth for the Netherlands.
From the Rembrandt House Museum...
We’ll begin our tour in the Rembrandt House Museum, a small space dedicated to the artist and his time. In those days, there was a great diversity of religious groups living side-by-side in Amsterdam. Rembrandt himself hailed from a Catholic and Protestant household, and his clients included Jews, Mennonites, and Calvinists, among others. This makes his artwork ideal as a kind of textbook, prompting a conversation about Dutch tolerance and how it laid the groundwork for the country’s social and economic success during the 17th century.
...to the Streets of the City
As we leave the museum and re-enter the streets of Amsterdam, we’ll make our way to the Nieuwmarkt, Waag, and East India House. These colonial sites connect Rembrandt to the 17th-century economic boom when the Dutch dominated world trade, particularly in Asia—many of his best-known paintings, such as The Night Watch, portray significant figures of the time. (To see that painting in person, by the way, we highly recommend a Rijksmuseum Tour.)
Rembrandt in Amsterdam
Along our route, we’ll also visit a number of squares, side streets, and historical buildings, each of which relates to the Golden Age or to Rembrandt himself. As we build a conversational portrait of Amsterdam during this period, we’ll place Rembrandt’s story in a greater context, helping us to understand his remarkable ability to reflect his time and surroundings.
FAQ
Is this tour suitable for kids?
This tour isn’t part of our family portfolio, but we do have some family-friendly guides who might be able to lead your tour and could adapt the presentation to suit children.
Is this tour suitable for people with mobility issues?
Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the old building that houses the Rembrandt House, it is only partially accessible to people with mobility issues. There is now an elevator in the museum, but there are no lifts or other facilities in Rembrandt’s 17th-century house. As this area within the museum isn’t accessible, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend this tour for people with mobility issues. Please get in touch, and we’d be happy to discuss alternatives.
This tour isn’t part of our family portfolio, but we do have some family-friendly guides who might be able to lead your tour and could adapt the presentation to suit children.
Is this tour suitable for people with mobility issues?
Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the old building that houses the Rembrandt House, it is only partially accessible to people with mobility issues. There is now an elevator in the museum, but there are no lifts or other facilities in Rembrandt’s 17th-century house. As this area within the museum isn’t accessible, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend this tour for people with mobility issues. Please get in touch, and we’d be happy to discuss alternatives.
Where You'll Start
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97 Reviews
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There was just one student: I was the trainee docent, so an addition to the tour, and the docent permitted me to add information here and there. The student found it a huge bonus to have two trained art historians all to herself - 'the tour of a lifetime', as she expressed it. Consequently we spent a lot of time in the Rembrandthuis itself and less so on the walk outside, but in this we were guided by the interest expressed by the student. I found it a very inspiring experience, even though the 'group' was exceptionally small.
What did not really work was the instruction to wait in the foyer. The tour was scheduled to start at 10am but the Rembrandthuis only opens at that time. The docent and I went ahead to buy our tickets, but the student actually left her place in the queue outside to find us inside. I think clearer instructions should be given about either all waiting outside and then queue together for tickets, or to obtain tickets first and then find the group in the foyer. It was not a big problem, but the queues at 10am will be a lot longer at the height of the tourist season.
Sophie
Reviewed on:
Apr 25, 2014
Absorbing, thoughtful, and knowledgeable describe this wonderfully informative Walk of Rembrandt’s Amsterdam—including his house/studio, his work, life, and influence. Rob Fucci, Context’s docent and a young, leading expert of Dutch art and artists, brings to life the culture and history of 16th and 17th century Amsterdam, the place that shaped the modern city of today. This 3-hour walk was the best; it gave us a personal and tactile understanding of Amsterdam’s heritage.
Jan
Reviewed on:
Apr 22, 2014
Rob was a wonderful guide. The excitement he feels for his subject is obvious and he has a way of imparting it to others. We learned a lot on our tour with him and can't wait to go back to take in more!
Shella
Reviewed on:
Feb 25, 2014
