Rijksmuseum relocated from The Hague to Amsterdam (1808–1809)

The national museum, founded in The Hague in 1798, moved to Amsterdam in 1808 under King Louis Bonaparte's orders. It was housed in the Royal Palace, which had been converted from the city hall. The museum opened to the public in 1809, featuring prominent works like Rembrandt's Night Watch.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The Rijksmuseum's predecessor, the National Art Gallery, opened in The Hague in 1800. Its collection was formed by Alexander Gogel after the Prince Willem V Gallery contents were sent to the Louvre in 1795. The Batavian Republic was replaced by the Kingdom of Holland in 1806, with Louis Bonaparte as monarch.

Relocation to Amsterdam. King Louis Bonaparte moved his court to Amsterdam in 1808, converting the city hall into his royal palace. He ordered the national museum collection to move to this building. The museum was housed in the Royal Palace, which became a royal residence in 1808 during the First French Empire.

Public Opening. The museum opened to the public in 1809 in the Royal Palace. Prominent paintings owned by Amsterdam, such as Rembrandt's Night Watch, were included in the collection. The museum was directed by Cornelis Apostool, who managed the conversion of public rooms into a national museum.

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Sources

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