Jaunted

And boy have they done well. We were there for the preview and absolutely loved the building. It’s a huge square building right on the Amstel river built round a courtyard – all v pretty. But it’s even nicer inside – flooded with light, and all high ceilings and places to ponder, like the chapel that’s been converted into a sitting area overlooking the river. Beautiful.

There are two gorgeous display wings (a main room, upstairs gallery and side corridors in each), linked by corridors which are thankfully naked of art, so there’s none of that must-see-everything-but-eyes-are-exploding angst you get in other places. What’s more, the museum reckons that for future exhibitions, they’ll only open one wing, making it even more manageable.

The opening exhibition, At the Russian Court didn’t really rock our boat (lots of portraits of Russian aristocrats and the costumes they wore to court) but the upcoming ones sound fantastic – Matisse and Picasso in March 2010, followed by Alexander the Great in the autumn.

But even now, the building and the atmosphere is stll worth the €15 entrance price alone. And if fancy pants gowns are your thing, you’ll love it even more.

Hermitage Amsterdam is open daily (except January 1 and December 25) from 10 am till 5pm.

Related Stories
· Russian Art Branches Out to Amsterdam [Jaunted]
· The Hermitage Amsterdam [Official Site]