Amsterdam’s grandest museum, the Rijksmusuem is a national institute offering a remarkable overview of Dutch art and history. Home to some of the best works by the Dutch masters, as well as contemporary gems by the likes of Van Gogh, you could happily fill an entire day wandering around its galleries. It’s easy to get lost in the minute detail of Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, or spend hours in front of Rembrandt’s iconic The Night Watch. The Dutch Golden Age produced an impressive body of work and the museum also explores its colonial legacy with rooms dedicated to Surinamese and Indonesian culture.

Having recently undergone refurbishment, the building itself is worth a visit alone with its architectural synergy of old and new. Abstract white chandelier structures contrast with exposed brickwork in the museum’s main entrance hall, The Atrium. Natural light floods the building, emphasising the ornate detailing along the gallery walls. A particular highlight is the bicycle passage cutting through the middle of the Atrium, perfect for cycling through after a day of culture.