Vermeer, Rembrandt on display at reopened Amsterdam's Rijkmuseum

PanARMENIAN.Net - The newly-renovated Rijkmuseum reopened its doors to major fanfare after a decade-long closure and a $489 million overhaul, Zagat reported.

To celebrate the Dutch national museum, a gala ceremony was led by the Netherlands' Queen Beatrix and as far as museums go, the opening was a bash -- thousands showed up to take in fireworks and performances by more than 750 musicians.

The reopening underscores a rebranding effort, according to the Guardian -- the city wants you to know it's not all cannabis cafes and shows in the red light district -- which points to other recent cultural projects like the renovation of the Van Gogh museum which reopens in May, the work to the National Maritime Museum and the new EYE Film Institute Netherlands.

The Rijkmuseum features more than 8,000 works according to its website that tell "the story of 800 years of Dutch art and history, from the Middle Ages to the present day." Artists on display include Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt van Rijn.