National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden
Location map and aerial view of National Museum of Antiquities. For a larger view, see our Leiden Map or Google Earth download.
No visit to Leiden is complete without a stop in the magnificent National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden), the most comprehensive museum of its kind in the Netherlands.
History
The Museum of Antiquities opened in 1818, and over the years it has acquired an impressive collection of Egyptian, Near East, Greek, and Roman artifacts. It's still a center for archaeological research, and museum staff travel regularly to Egypt to conduct further excavations.
What to See
The first exhibit one comes to is the magnificent Egyptian Temple of Taffeh from the 1st century AD, a gift from Egypt and the museum's pride and glory. The temple is in the lobby so that it can be seen for free by all visitors - this was a condition of the gift. You can enter the small temple, where there is a Greek inscription and a cross carved in the wall, showing later Christian use.
Greek and Roman sculpture are well represented and there are some beautiful examples of Greek decorated ceramics. The top floor provides an overview of the archaeological finds in the Netherlands from prehistoric times to the early Middle Ages.
Getting There
The Rijksmuseum is a 10-minute walk from Leiden Centraal Station (see map below). Parking is not available near the museum; the best option is to park at the Haagweg car park and catch a shuttle bus to the museum. There is one parking place in front of the museum for cars with an official handicapped parking license.
Quick Facts
| Names: | National Museum of Antiquities; Rijksmuseum van Oudheden; National Museum of Antiquities |
| City: | Leiden |
| State/Province: | South Holland |
| Country: | Netherlands |
| Category: | Museums |
| Coordinates: | 52.158358° N, 4.486027° E |
| Address: | Rapenburg 28, Leiden, South Holland, The Netherlands |
| Phone: | 071/516-3163 |
| Website: | www.rmo.nl |
| Hours: | Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mondays, 1 January, 30 April, 3 October, 25 December. |
| Cost: | € 8.50 adults; € 5.50 children |
Travel Resources for Leiden
- Leiden Map - our own interactive map, plus links to more maps
- Leiden Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest price
- Leiden Hotel Reviews - unbiased ratings from fellow travelers
- Leiden Car Rentals - save money by comparing rates at a glance
- Leiden Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Leiden tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Personal visits (November 2006; July 31, 2008).
- Rijksmuseum van Oudheden - official website
