Rembrandthuis

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) bought this house in what was then known as the Sint Anthonisbreestraat in 1639, when he was near the peak of his career. Nonetheless, the purchase price of thirteen thousand guilders was still such a large sum that the artist agreed to pay it off in instalments - instalments on which he ultimately defaulted, bringing about his bankruptcy in 1656. However, during the twenty years he lived here, Rembrandt painted many of his most famous works including the Night Watch (1642, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam), built up his extensive collection of artworks and curiosities, and embarked on some of his most innovative experiments in etching.

The dilapidated house was bought by the City of Amsterdam in 1906, reconstructed, and opened to the public in 1911, with new contemporary interiors. However, in the 1990s, following the construction of an extension in an adjacent house, the trustees were able to restore Rembrandt's former home to its seventeenth-century state, using archival inventories of the house, as well as Rembrandt's own drawings and etchings. As a result, visitors today can walk through a series of period rooms that reflect the house's appearance during Rembrandt's tenure. The Rembrandthuis collection includes an almost complete collection of the artist's etchings, and is complemented by a modern gallery space exhibiting work by contemporary artists who have been inspired by Rembrandt's work.