Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, National antiquities museum in Leiden, Netherlands
The Rijksmuseum van Oudheden is a national museum of ancient artifacts in Leiden housing more than 1,400 Egyptian objects. The collection features colorful sarcophagi, mummies, and statues displayed across multiple ground-floor exhibition halls.
King William I of the Netherlands established this museum in 1818 with Professor C.J.C. Reuvens as its first director. The institution grew into one of Europe's major collections of Egyptian antiquities over the following centuries.
The central hall displays an ancient Egyptian temple from Taffeh, presented to the Netherlands by the Egyptian government. Visitors encounter this structure as a symbol of international friendship and shared appreciation for cultural heritage.
The museum sits along the Rapenburg canal and opens daily from 10:00 to 17:00. It offers full wheelchair accessibility throughout all exhibition areas and is easily reached on foot.
The museum houses a double statue of Maya and Merit from the 14th century BCE, representing one of the finest examples of Egyptian sculptural art. This work demonstrates the high artistic quality and craftsmanship of sculptors from that era.
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