Rijksmuseum

Step inside the Rijksmuseum and you meet the Dutch Golden Age face to face. The collection ranges from Vermeer's quiet domestic scenes to Rembrandt's enormous Night Watch, which hangs in its own grand gallery. There are also ship models, dolls' houses and objects that tell the story of the nation. The building itself is a red-brick cathedral of art, so give yourself time.

Talking points

• Rembrandt's Night Watch is the star, but look for Vermeer's The Milkmaid.
• A cycle path runs straight through the building's ground floor.
• The museum covers eight centuries of Dutch art and history.