I have just spent 24 hours in Amsterdam with the sole purpose of visiting the newly re-opened Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. The city is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance since both museums reopened this spring and I can quite see why. If you’ve been to Amsterdam before, go again if only to just visit the museums, and if you have yet to visit, there has never been a better time!'I took the swift one hour flight and was there in no time at all, but for those who prefer to avoid the airport it is also very easy to reach Amsterdam by relaxed rail from London, with a change at Brussels. My base was the very comfortable Jan Luyken hotel, only a short stroll from both major museums, but I also visited the other Kirker hotels – both the Pulitzer and the Ambassade are very attractive traditional Dutch canal houses, whilst the Grand is perfect for a special occasion.'Not only is the Rijksmuseum a fabulous building architecturally, that has been exquisitely restored after a 10 year closure, but the museum space itself is out of this world – light, airy and spacious. The works of art are wonderful too, make a bee line to the 3rd floor for the 17th Century masterpieces - Rembrandt, Vermeer and Pieter de Hooch. Your Kirker tickets enable you to bypass the ticket office but our advice is to get there as it opens and you’ll have the place to yourself, or even better ask the Kirker Concierge to arrange a guide, excellent value and the ideal way to get the most out of your visit.'As you leave the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh museum beckons you from across the park, so to miss this would be churlish as it is so close! It is a more modern building, but a wonderful gallery nonetheless housing some of the painter’s greatest works. It will take less of your time than its neighbour, but make a day of it and enjoy lunch in the atmospheric Museumquarter or the lively Leidseplein – our Concierge will be delighted to recommend and book somewhere for you.