Amsterdam Museumplein/Rijksmuseum

What makes the Museumplein photogenic

The Rijksmuseum is one of the most recognisable buildings in the Netherlands, which makes it both easy and difficult to photograph. Easy because the shapes are strong, the light falls well on it, and there is always something to shoot. Difficult because everyone has been here before. The challenge is to make something that feels like your own.

The archway through the centre of the building is the starting point for most compositions. You can shoot from a distance, with the pond and its reflective surface in the foreground, or move closer and photograph the archway itself, taking in the details of the ironwork and tiles. A telephoto lens around 85 to 135mm compresses the space nicely. A wide lens, say 24mm, captures the entire façade and surroundings, but watch that your horizon stays straight.

Light and season

The blue hour works very well here. The façade is lit, the sky still holds colour, and the pond reflects everything back. In winter the blue hour arrives early, around 17:00, which is also convenient. If there is an ice rink, just before Christmas, you have an extra layer: movement, colour, small figures skating past the illuminated façade. That calls for a slightly higher ISO and a deliberate choice: do you keep the skaters sharp, or let them blur into streaks of light.

In winter there are fewer tourists on the lawn, though more people on the square itself. Early morning at the weekend is still quiet, especially before sunrise.

Practical information

Parking nearby is expensive and scarce. Come by bike or public transport. The Museumplein is public space, so you do not need a permit to photograph without a tripod for commercial purposes. If you want to use a tripod for a longer shoot, check the rules with the gemeente Amsterdam. Drones are not permitted above the centre of Amsterdam without an exemption.

The pond is the compositional anchor of the square. In calm weather the reflection is sharp enough to work almost symmetrically. With a little wind the water becomes softer and more atmospheric, but you lose the clean mirror.

Sources and further reading

• Rijksmuseum — officiële website
• Gemeente Amsterdam — regels voor fotograferen en filmen
• Wikipedia — Museumplein Amsterdam