Rijksmuseum welcomes Rembrandt wedding couple on Saturday 2 July

Early this year the two Rembrandt portraits were bought together by the Netherlands and France, a unique event. From 2 July to 2 October 2016 Marten & Oopjen will have a place of honour alongside The Night Watch. The paintings will then be restored at the Rijksmuseum. Rembrandt painted the marriage portraits of the newly-weds Marten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit in Amsterdam in

1634, when he was twenty-eight. The portraits, more than two metres high, remained in private hands for almost four centuries.

Wim Pijbes, General Director Rijksmuseum: What no one thought possible is now reality: the most wanted and least exhibited Rembrandts in the world, in the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum in turn, in the public domain and within everyone’s reach.

Jet Bussemaker, Minister of Education, Culture and Science: I’m delighted because the paintings are now finally in public hands. They belong to us all, and everyone, young and old, can enjoy them. I would say – go and see them!

Free from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Rijksmuseum is opening its doors from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to welcome Marten & Oopjen to the Netherlands and give everyone a chance to admire these masterpieces. This free day has been made possible by the support of main sponsor ING.