Holland America Line is celebrating its Dutch heritage in a new partnership with Rijksmuseum, bringing the “Rijksmuseum at Sea” to ms Oosterdam during its scheduled dry dock in April 2016.  Over the next few years, the exhibit will move fleetwide as Holland America Line becomes a new sponsor of the Rijksmuseum.

“Great works of art have always been the centerpiece of our onboard décor, and we’re excited that this partnership with Rijksmuseum will add some spectacular reproductions to our collection of more than 1,300 pieces fleetwide,” said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president.

Reproductions of some of the museum’s most famous masterpieces will be showcased throughout the ship in a dedicated space onboard that will invite guests to explore their own creativity through guided art workshops. On tap, videos about the museum and its collections on the in-stateroom television, while enrichment programs and presentations by Rijksmuseum staff will be available on select cruises as well as special branded Rijksmuseum merchandise in the onboard shops.

“Through art, like travel, we see things differently; we open our eyes to the world around us and see things we may never have experienced before.” – Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president

Rijksmuseum was actually founded in The Hague, the Netherlands, in 1800 and offers a representation of Dutch art and history, as well as European and Asian art from the Middle Ages to today. Moving to Amsterdam in 1808, Rijksmuseum was first located in the Royal Palace then moved to its current location in 1885.  In 2003, the main museum closed for a 10 year renovation and reopened in April 2013. Today the museum hosts nearly 2.5 million visitors.

Rijksmuseum has a collection of a million objects dating back to 1200, with 8,000 works currently on display. Guests visiting the museum can see masterpieces by Dutch painters including Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Johannes Vermeer and Jan Steen.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
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