AMSTERDAM: After ten years of rebuilding, renovation and restoration, the new Rijksmuseum will open on 13 April 2013. Never before has a national museum undergone such a complete modernisation.

The transformation of the Rijksmuseum provides an opportunity for a major re-presentation of the museum's world-famous collection, much of which has not been accessible to the public for a decade. For the first time, visitors can follow a chronological sequence of 80 galleries displaying 8,000 works of art and objects that tell the story of 800 years of Dutch history seen in an international context, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Only Rembrandt's celebrating masterpiece, The Night Watch, will be returning to its original setting.

More than 30 galleries are dedicated to the glory of the Golden Age when the young mercantile republic led the world in trade, science, military exploits and the arts. At the heart of this will be the magnificently restored Gallery of Honour, presenting world-famous works of art by Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt van Rijn.

Spanish architecture firm Cruz y Ortiz arquitectos has turned the 19th-century building into a bright and spacious museum for the 21st century, with an impressive new entrance, state-of-the-art facilities, restored galleries, and a new Asian Pavilion. The architects have recreated the clear layout conceived by the museum's original architect, Pierre Cuypers, and have restored the high, spacious, late 19th century galleries to their former glory. An outdoor exhibition space and renovated garden have also been added.

The French interior architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte has selected an interior colour scheme inspired by Pierre Cuypers palette for the building, and has designed and chosen furnishings for the gallery including the display cases, plinths, lighting and furniture.

The museum is currently installing the 8,000 works of art and historical objects into the new building. The last work to be moved will be Rembrandt's The Night Watch.

The Rijksmuseum is the only major national museum in the world that will be open to the public 365 days a year.

http://www.rijksmuseum.nl