The Rijksmuseum dependence at Schiphol airport

Leaving Starbucks Cafe walking to my gate F9 I passed the Rijks Museum Amsterdam’s small dependence at Schiphol.

I’m a dedicated exhibition visitor and I always visit Rijks Museum at Schiphol. I like the idea that Rijks Museum has adapted at Schiphol, so genius.

A bit short of time, but I had to see the exhibition “Holland & Japan 400 years of trade”

I just had to run through the exhibition. Having my camera with me I was able to take some photos making me the opportunity to see the exhibition during my flight to Kuala Lumpur.

Four hundred years ago, in 1609, the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC) received a letter from the shogun, officially establishing commercial relations between Japan and the Netherlands. For two centuries, after the Portuguese were expelled in 1639, Holland remained the only European power with access to Japan. It was through Dutch traders that the Japanese learned about European technology and culture, just as it was through Dutch contacts that the West was able to learn about Japanese society. This exchange of information created a special bond between the two countries.

The VOC sent large shipments of commercial products to the Netherlands, to be auctioned and sold on to countries throughout Europe. Many of the Japanese products were specially manufactured for export, such as porcelain and lacquer items made to the specifications of Dutch merchants. VOC ships also brought textile products.

Asian artistic conventions influenced product designs in the Netherlands, while Dutch designs affected art in Japan. This exhibition explores the impact of this influence in applied art.

Rijks Museum Amsterdam, Schiphol is well worth a visit if you have some time between two flights.

I have visited the dependence earlier expiring the exhibition “Battle at Schiphol”, and an exhibition by Dutch masters of the Golden Age.

I had the opportunity to visit Rijksmuseum dependence at Schiphol for the second time this year.

To mark the fifth anniversary of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol, the Rijksmuseum – in collaboration with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol – is presenting a special exhibition entitled Battle at Schiphol. Almost 450 years ago, a key naval battle was played out on the present-day site of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. This encounter was part of the Dutch struggle for independence from Spanish rule during the Eighty Years’ War. The exhibition will commemorate this important historical event by presenting eight paintings, prints and other items from the collections of the Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk Museum de Lakenhal Leiden. The exhibition can be viewed from 2 October to 14 January at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (in the area beyond passport control).
In 1573, a battle was fought for control of the city of Haarlem. The following two years marked a turning point in the struggle against Spanish oppression. On 8 October 1573, the Spanish siege of Alkmaar failed and, on 3 October 1574, Leiden was liberated from the Spanish besiegers. These historical events are widely commemorated and celebrated to this day.
In cities such as Haarlem, Alkmaar and Leiden, it wasn’t long before people began looking back with great pride on their part in the struggle and the sacrifices made. Artists were commissioned to produce important commemorative pieces. The centrepiece of the exhibition is the painting Battle of Haarlemmermeer, which the burgomasters of Haarlem commissioned Hendrick Vroom to make 50 years after the event. This imposing canvas has been completely restored, specially for the exhibition, thanks to a generous contribution from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Now that the details have been revealed once more, the painting clearly depicts how a Haarlem city gate was blown up, sending the Spanish aggressors flying into the air like little pale creatures from a nightmare, and how the Haarlemmerhout forest, where a Spanish army camp was based, was obliterated.
Together with other items, including a canon used in the battle that was discovered when the Haarlemmermeer lake was drained in the 19th century, the painting tells the story of the war in the area around Haarlem. In addition to the painting by Vroom, there are two other items of major importance on show which hark back to the Eighty Years' War: a painting of the battle of the Zuiderzee (from 1573) and a tapestry telling the story of the relief of Leiden (from 1574).

I have a passion for art. Schiphol is combining art and airport in a great way. If you have some time to spend at Schiphol, it is wourth a visit.

The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol is located on Holland the Rijksmuseum collection Boulevard, in the area behind the passport control between the E and F Pier.
The museum is open every day from 7:00 until 20:00 and admission is free.
It houses a permanent exhibition of ten works by Dutch masters of the Golden Age from The temporary exhibition changes a number of times a year.
The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol is a unique joint initiative of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
The Rijksmuseum is the first museum in the world to have an annex at an airport, while Schiphol is the first airport with a museum in its terminal.
The museum was officially opened on 9 December 2002 by His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange.