What you are looking at
A company of Amsterdam civic guardsmen bursts into action: the captain in black with a red sash gives an order to his lieutenant in pale gold, men load and fire muskets, a drummer beats, and a glowing girl with a chicken hanging from her belt stands among them.
Why it is famous
Its real title names the militia company of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq; the nickname came much later, when darkened varnish made it look like a night scene. Group portraits usually lined people up in rows, and Rembrandt instead turned his into a scene full of movement. In 1715 it was cut down on all sides to fit a wall in Amsterdam's town hall.
How big is The Night Watch?
The Night Watch measures 363 × 437 cm (142.9 × 172.0 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 37 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is the centerpiece of the Rijksmuseum's Gallery of Honor. Since 2019 a large research and restoration project, Operation Night Watch, has worked on it in view of visitors.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work. See all famous paintings in Amsterdam.
More by Rembrandt
Also at the Rijksmuseum
Frequently asked questions
Who painted The Night Watch?
Rembrandt painted The Night Watch in 1642.
Where is The Night Watch?
The Night Watch is in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
How big is The Night Watch?
363 × 437 cm (142.9 × 172.0 in). Its surface is about 37 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Night Watch made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: Wikidata Q219831; Wikipedia, "The Night Watch". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.