AMSTERDAM.- A total of 520,698 visitors came to see the Late Rembrandt exhibition between 12 February and 17 May 2015. Never before has a Rijksmuseum exhibition attracted so many visitors. Previous records were also associated with Rembrandt (1956, 1969, 1991).

“The Rijksmuseum is proud that so many people have come to see this unique exhibition, including such a large number of new visitors.”
General Director Wim Pijbes

At the same time as the Late Rembrandt exhibition, which was opened by King Willem-Alexander, the Rembrandt House Museum presented Rembrandt's Late Pupils. This exhibition was visited by 70,000 people, which was also a record for the Rembrandt House in Amsterdam.

The majority of Late Rembrandt visitors came from the Netherlands (81%). Over half of the visitors (54%) were visiting the Rijksmuseum for the first time. A remarkably large number of young people also visited the exhibition, which means that the Rijksmuseum has achieved the important goal of introducing a new generation of young people to one of the greatest artists our country has ever produced.

Visitor research revealed that no fewer than 73% of respondents gave the exhibition a score of 8 or higher.

Due to the high level of interest in Late Rembrandt, a total of 51 special evening openings were organised. The museum was open until 11 p.m. during the last weekend of the exhibition.

Rembrandt was also the reason for previous records set in the Rijksmuseum when in 1956 his work attracted 329,917 visitors, in 1969 (the previous record) 460,489 visitors and, in 1991, 445,000 visitors. After Rembrandt, Jan Steen is the artist with the highest number of visitors: in 1996, 355,000 people came to the Rijksmuseum to see his work.

For the Rijksmuseum, Late Rembrandt was also the most costly exhibition in its history. Thanks in part to our sponsors and the number of visitors achieved, the exhibition was also a financial success.