Author Terry Lee Marzell on her recent “field trip” to the Rijksmuseum, the Dutch National Museum, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Almost every educator would agree that physical experiences create opportunities for the most indelible learning. I would assert that a field trip is an excellent way to create a learning experience for students. This was the thought that popped into my head when I encountered several groups of Dutch school children while I was on my own personal “field trip” recently to the famous Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The Rijksmuseum, also known as the Dutch National Museum, was first established in the Hague in 1800, and was later relocated to Amsterdam. The institution is dedicated to the art and history of the Netherlands, and houses a collection that spans the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
Author Terry Lee Marzell examines the ship model William Rex while on her “field trip” to the Rijksmusem in Amsterdam.
I loved seeing the eager faces of the school children (I think they were about ten years old) as they sat on the polished floor in the massive museum surrounding their teacher, who was detailing the history and significance of the objects they were looking at. The Rijksmuseum owns over one million objects, 8,000 of which are on display to the public. Included are works of art by such Dutch masters as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, and Van Ruisdael. The museum’s collection also features sculptures, weapons, armor, ship models, antique furniture pieces, tapestries, fashion items, and a notable collection of Asian art.
I found the ship models absolutely amazing. I was particularly impressed by this large-scale model of the 17th-century Dutch warship Willliam Rex. This specimen was built in 1698 at the Vlissingen shipyard, which also produced real warships. The model is one-twelfth the size of an actual warship and features 74 guns. It was originally set up in the meeting room of the Zeeland Admiralty in Middelburg. I’ll bet many of the Dutch kids in the school groups were just as mesmerized by this model as I was.
The 17th-century doll house belonging to Petronella Oortman found in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
I also particularly enjoyed the 17th-century doll houses, especially the one that belonged to Petronella Oortman, a wealthy citizen of Amsterdam. For her doll house, Petronella ordered miniature porcelain dishes from China, and she commissioned cabinet makers, glassblowers, silversmiths, basket weavers, and other artisans to contribute to the furnishings of her doll house. She was so proud of her creation that she had it portrayed in a painting! I’m sure many of the Dutch kids in the school groups loved the doll houses, too.
As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed my “field trip” to the Rijksmuseum, and I feel confident many of the school children did, too. The teachers in Amsterdam are fortunate, as the museum is easily accessible by foot, by bicycle (which nearly every student owns), or by public transportation. Furthermore, the Netherlands supports visitations by students by making admission to the Rijksmuseum free for children under 18. For teachers in the United States who would like to explore this marvelous museum with students here at home, you can tap into the museum’s web page to view their collection at this link: Rijksmuseum Collection. Enjoy!
