Rijksmuseum set to reopen on June 1

Amsterdam’s famous Rijksmuseum said it plans to reopen to the public on June 1, following the Cabinet’s announcement that certain restrictions related to the global health crisis will be relaxed. The 135-year-old national gallery will limit admission to just two thousand people per day at the start, roughly one-fifth of its normal daily attendance.

All attendees will be required to reserve a time slot in advance to spread guests out and prevent crowds within the museum. The policy will apply to all visitors, including subscribers.

“We will do everything we can to make a visit to the museum as safe and pleasant as possible for everyone,” said museum director Taco Dibbits.

Online reservations will begin on May 21. Visitors and staff will also be subject to additional hygiene procedures, which the museum did not immediately specify.

“It is very important that we can open the museum up to the public again. It is precisely at this time that art provides guidance,” Dibbits said. The “Caravaggio-Bernini, Baroque in Rome” temporary exhibit was not extended, and was set to conclude on June 7.

The museum has been closed since March 12. Dibbits previously said that about half of the museum’s annual revenue comes from ticket sales and subscriptions. The closure meant the museum lost out on up to a million euros in revenue weekly.