RIJKS

RIJKS is the restaurant of the Rijksmuseum, with its own entrance at Museumstraat 2, so you do not need a museum ticket to eat here. Its stated aim is to put the Rijksmuseum on your plate, and the kitchen, led by executive chef Joris Bijdendijk with chefs Friso van Amerongen and Victor Melendez Barranco, describes its cooking as the cuisine of the Low Countries: simple, high-quality Dutch produce and locally sourced ingredients, seasoned with the international flavours that have shaped Dutch food over centuries of trade.

The restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in 2016 and has collected other recognition since, including 17 points from Gault & Millau in 2019 and Gault & Millau's Chef of the Year title for Bijdendijk in 2025. In 2023 it reopened after an extensive renovation, with a completely renewed interior and a new menu.

RIJKS works in two ways. At lunch it is an elegant stop during a day of museum-going, and the setting beside the Rijksmuseum makes it popular with visitors who want more than a café sandwich. At dinner it becomes a destination in its own right, suited to couples, food lovers and special occasions. It is less suited to young children who need a quick meal; the museum's own café is better for that.

The restaurant serves lunch from 12pm and dinner from 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday, and it is closed on Mondays. Reservations can be made online or by email, and are strongly advised for dinner and at weekends. Smart casual clothing fits the room. Allow around two hours for lunch and longer for dinner if you choose a multi-course menu.

The restaurant sits on the edge of Museumplein, a short walk from the canal ring and directly beside the Rijksmuseum's main building. The Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk and the Concertgebouw are all within a few minutes' walk, so a concert after dinner is easy to arrange. Trams stop nearby on Stadhouderskade and Van Baerlestraat. If you are spending the day at the museum, book lunch for the middle of your visit and return to the galleries afterwards; the gardens around the building are free to stroll in between courses or after your meal.