Fully restored: The Rijksmuseum reopens on April 13

The dust has finally settled after a decade of tedious remodelling, reconstruction and renovations, and Amsterdam’s beloved Rijksmuseum will open its doors to visitors once again on April 13, 2013. 

For the last few years only a selected wing of "The State Museum" was open to the public, featuring highlights from the extensive art collection.

Queen Beatrix will lead the official reopening ceremony, 127 years after the first bricks were laid.

Along with a royal presence, a kick-off festival themed, "Welcome!" will take place with live music on Museumplein.

As part of the special events, the remastered museum will offer free entry and tours of the collection's highlights from noon until midnight!

The museum's new atrium
Photo by Pedro Pegenaute, 2012

Photo by Jannes Linders, 2012

Architect Pierre Cuypers designed the origional structure in 1876 to hold the artistic treasures of the Dutch Golden Age.

Today the Spanish architecture firm Cruz y Ortiz has revamped "The State Museum" into a bright, spacous structure.

New interactive exhibitions accompany the redesigned galleries and modern facilities, and the gem of this museum’s world famous collection, Rembrandt’s "Night Watch," will now be housed in its very own freshly restored hall.

The timing of the opening of the newly restored Rijksmuseum is apt, as it happens during ongoing celebrations which mark 400 years of Amsterdam’s legendary canals.

Want more? Check out an impressive flashmob re-creating Rembrandt's most famous work "The Night Watch" in the video below!