Jaunted

Walk through the gift shop and up a flight of stairs (there's a little handicapped elevator too), and you're in a dark, calm world of Dutch art. It's a marked contrast to the hustle-bustle of Holland Boulevard below, and a welcome escape if only for a few minutes. Bonus: if you're freaked out about flying or stressed in general, this is the perfect place to switch your mind off and look at pretty things.

From September 6 through December 12, the newest exhibit will go on view at the Rijksmuseum Schiphol: Dutch Girls. "Dutch Girls" is a portrait gallery of nine 17th century girls painted by Frans Hals, Caesar van Everdingen, Isaack Luttichuys, Bartholomeus van der Helst and other Dutch Masters. We're loving the explanation for the portraits:

Vanity is never out of fashion. As in the Dutch Golden Age, when women of all ages also tried to look their best, especially when sitting for a portrait. They would select their finest dress. Yet a flattering portrait required more than pretty clothes. An artist would try to depict his subject as attractively as possible and at the same time accurately convey her personality.

Just FYI that you do not need to don your best attire for a visit to the Schiphol museum branch; this is a decidedly informal affair.

Disclosure: Special thanks to Schiphol Airport for the access and to Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions (@VisitHolland), our host. All photos and opinions presented are completely our own.

[Photos: Cynthia Drescher for Jaunted]