Can You Solve This Rijksmuseum Scavenger Hunt?

Become an art-detective and scour the halls of Amsterdam's famous museum to discover its greatest treasures

By Google Arts & Culture

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Welcome to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Opened in 1885, this museum of art and history is located at the Museum Square, close to the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. 

Take a good look at the paintings below. Have you memorized them? Scroll on to use Street View to hunt for these masterpieces in the hallways of the Rijksmuseum...

Still Life with a Gilt Cup, Heda, Willem Claesz., 1635, From the collection of: Rijksmuseum
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The Milkmaid, Vermeer, Johannes, ca. 1660, From the collection of: Rijksmuseum
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The Night Watch, Rijn, Rembrandt van, 1642, From the collection of: Rijksmuseum
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The Threatened Swan, Asselijn, Jan, ca. 1650, From the collection of: Rijksmuseum
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Painting Number 1

Hungry? Let's look for Willem Claeszoon Heda's Still life with oysters, a rummer, a lemon and a silver bowl, a feast for the eyes and the stomach. Drag and click to explore the museum and find the painting. Maybe start looking left and right in these alcoves...

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Not spotted it yet? Further down the corridor, you're getting warmer. What's that up ahead to the right?

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You've found it! Scroll on to learn more about this scrumptious still-life.

Still Life with a Gilt Cup (1635) by Heda, Willem Claesz.Rijksmuseum

Still life with oysters, a rummer, a lemon and a silver bowl

Dutch artist Willem Claeszoon Heda is known for his innovation of the late breakfast genre of still life painting. This one, made in 1634, is a typical example of a table in artful disarray.

Many still lifes celebrate the skill of the artist by depicting a range of materials in almost photographic detail. Here, Heda captures the sheen of polished metal and glass with a few white dots.

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Painting 2

Now your mission is to find Vermeer's Milkmaid. It's quite a small painting, so keep you eyes peeled as you step back into the corridor...

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Struggling to spot it? Maybe look to the left...

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Here she is! Scroll on to learn more...

The Milkmaid (ca. 1660) by Vermeer, JohannesRijksmuseum

Milkmaid, c.1660

Painted by the Dutch master of interiors, Johannes Vermeer, this simple scene of a milkmaid absorbed in her labour is considered one of the museum's finest attractions.

Milkmaid, c.1660

The art historian Harry Rand has suggested that she may be mixing the milk with stale breadcrumbs to make a a traditional Dutch bread pudding.

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Painting 3

Thankfully, Rembrandt's Night Watch is a little bigger. It's huge, actually. Step out into the main corridor and see if you can spot it...

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Yep, you can hardly miss it! Scroll on to learn more...

The Night Watch (1642) by Rijn, Rembrandt vanRijksmuseum

The Night Watch, 1642

This motley militia barely look the part. In fact, by the year this was painted, the schutterij, or civil guard, had become little more than a drinking society. Rembrandt was actually commissioned to paint this group portrait for their banqueting hall.

Each of the 18 members of the guard paid 100 Guilders (a lot of money at the time) to be featured in the painting. And if you look closely, hidden at the back, peering over the shoulders of the guards is someone who looks a little like Rembrandt.

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Who just honked? The Threatened Swan must be nearby…

The Threatened Swan (ca. 1650) by Asselijn, JanRijksmuseum

It's a beautiful day in the Rijksmuseum, and you are a horrible swan. The Threatened Swan was painted in 1650 Jan Asselijn. It has been interpreted as a symbol of the state's role defending the country.

That might not seem obvious at first, but thankfully Asselijn decided to help us out by labelling the swan's eggs 'Holland'.

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Congratulations!

Thanks for joining us on this scavenger hunt, why not take a look at what else is on display at the Rijksmuseum?

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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