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Where to See Vermeer’s Paintings

Vermeer painted around 34 to 36 works in his entire life. Almost all of them are now in major museums, concentrated in a handful of cities: The Hague and Amsterdam together hold seven, more than any other pair of destinations in the world. The rest are scattered across New York, Washington, London, Paris, Dublin, Dresden, Vienna, and Berlin.

This page helps you locate the paintings geographically, plan which museums to visit, and understand which works are worth a trip on their own.

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The main museums for Vermeer

Listed by concentration of works. Amsterdam and The Hague are 50 minutes apart by train: combine them in a single day or over a weekend.

ⓘ Opening hours and admission prices listed on this page are indicative and subject to change. Always verify current information on the official website of each venue before your visit.

Mauritshuis, The Hague

3 Vermeers including Girl with a Pearl Earring – book 1–2 weeks ahead in summer

The Mauritshuis holds Girl with a Pearl Earring (c. 1665), Diana and Her Companions, and View of Delft. The last is the only surviving outdoor cityscape by Vermeer, a work that Proust considered the most beautiful painting in the world. The museum is small (roughly 15 rooms across two floors), the Vermeer works are easy to find on the first floor, and the quality of what is here makes it the single most important stop for anyone interested in the artist.

Opening hours: Monday 13:00–18:00, Tuesday through Sunday 10:00–18:00 (Thursday until 20:00). Advance timed-entry booking strongly recommended, especially April through September. Weekend slots sell out fast.

Book tickets for the Mauritshuis

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

4 Vermeers including The Milkmaid – timed entry required

The Rijksmuseum holds four paintings: The Milkmaid (c. 1657–1658), Woman Reading a Letter, The Little Street (the only other surviving cityscape), and Woman in Blue Reading a Letter. The Milkmaid is arguably the finest example of Vermeer's domestic realism, the kind of painting that rewards close looking over a long time. The Vermeer gallery is in the Gallery of Honour on the second floor (floor 2) of the main building, the same hall where Rembrandt's Night Watch hangs.

Open daily 9:00–17:00. Book at least a week in advance, particularly on weekends and during school holidays. Early morning slots (9:00–10:00) tend to be less crowded.

Book a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum

Frick Collection, New York

3 Vermeers – currently at Frick Madison (945 Madison Ave)

The Frick holds Girl Interrupted at Her Music, Mistress and Maid, and Officer and Laughing Girl. While the original Frick mansion on 70th Street is undergoing renovation, the collection is displayed at Frick Madison (the former Breuer building, 945 Madison Ave at 75th Street). Check current display status before visiting, as the return to the mansion will eventually change room arrangements. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a few blocks south on Fifth Avenue, also holds Vermeers: A Maid Asleep, Study of a Young Woman, Allegory of the Catholic Faith, and Young Woman with a Water Pitcher.

Book Frick Collection tickets – Book a guided tour of the Metropolitan Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

4 – 5 Vermeers in the European Paintings galleries (second floor)

The Met holds Young Woman with a Water Pitcher (c. 1662), A Maid Asleep (c. 1656–1657), Study of a Young Woman (c. 1665–1667), Allegory of the Catholic Faith (c. 1670–1672), and the recently acquired Portrait of a Young Woman with a Flute (attribution debated). These are displayed in the Dutch Golden Age rooms on the second floor. Combined with the Frick, a single day on the Upper East Side gives you up to eight Vermeers.

Open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday 10:00–17:00, Friday and Saturday 10:00–21:00. Closed Wednesdays. Suggested admission for non-New York residents: $30.

Book a guided tour of the Metropolitan Museum

National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

3 confirmed Vermeers + 1 attributed to his studio – free admission

The NGA holds three works firmly attributed to Vermeer: Girl with the Red Hat (c. 1666–1667), Woman Holding a Balance (c. 1664), and A Lady Writing (c. 1665). A fourth painting, Girl with a Flute, was long attributed to Vermeer but is now considered by the museum's own curators to be the work of an unknown person in his studio circle, probably an apprentice. All four remain on display and are worth seeing regardless of attribution.

The Vermeer and Dutch Golden Age paintings are in the West Building, ground floor, galleries 50A–51. Open daily 10:00–17:00. No admission charge, no advance booking required for regular visits.

Book a guided tour of the National Gallery of Art

National Gallery, London

2 Vermeers in Room 16 – free admission

A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal (c. 1670–1672) and A Young Woman Seated at a Virginal (c. 1670–1672) are both here, two paintings that may be pendant works and are rarely seen together outside London. Admission is free, no booking needed for general entry. Room 16 also holds major Dutch Golden Age paintings by de Hooch and Metsu, making it a strong room to spend time in. The gallery is on the north side of Trafalgar Square.

Book a guided tour of the National Gallery London

Louvre, Paris

2 Vermeers: The Lacemaker and The Astronomer – Richelieu wing

The Lacemaker (c. 1669–1671) is one of Vermeer's smallest paintings and one of his most concentrated: 24 by 21 cm, nothing wasted. The Astronomer (1668) is rare as one of his dated works, paired thematically with The Geographer in Frankfurt. Both are in the Richelieu wing, third floor, Dutch paintings section (rooms 837–838).

Open daily except Tuesday, 9:00–18:00 (Wednesday and Friday until 21:45). Book timed entry at least 3–5 days ahead; queues without a ticket can exceed 90 minutes.

Book a guided tour of the Louvre

Gemäldegalerie, Berlin

2 Vermeers – Young Woman with a Pearl Necklace and The Glass of Wine

Young Woman with a Pearl Necklace (c. 1664) and The Glass of Wine (c. 1661–1662) are displayed in the Dutch Golden Age rooms of the Gemäldegalerie at the Kulturforum. The museum holds one of Europe's strongest Dutch collections, with works by Rembrandt, Hals, and de Hooch nearby. Open Tuesday through Friday 10:00–18:00, Saturday and Sunday 11:00–18:00. Closed Mondays.

Book tickets for the Gemäldegalerie Berlin

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

1 Vermeer: The Art of Painting – one of his largest and most ambitious works

The Art of Painting (c. 1666–1668) is Vermeer's most self-consciously complex composition: a painter at work in his studio, a map on the back wall, an elaborate curtain pulled aside. At roughly 120 × 100 cm, it is also among his largest canvases. It hangs in the Picture Gallery on the first floor (Saal X), alongside works by Dutch and Flemish contemporaries. The KHM is on the Ringstrasse, directly opposite the Naturhistorisches Museum.

Open daily except Monday, 10:00–18:00 (Thursday until 21:00). Booking online saves queuing time.

Book tickets for the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden

1 Vermeer: Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window (recently restored)

Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window (c. 1657–1659) underwent a major restoration completed in 2021 that revealed a large painting of Cupid on the back wall, hidden under an overpaint added after Vermeer's death. The restored version significantly changes the reading of the painting. It is displayed in the Zwinger palace complex. Open daily except Monday, 10:00–18:00.

Visit the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister website

Planning a Vermeer itinerary

The Netherlands is the logical starting point. The Hague and Amsterdam together give you seven paintings in two museums, including the three most recognisable works in the oeuvre. The train between the two cities runs every 15 minutes and takes about 50 minutes.

  • Both the Mauritshuis and the Rijksmuseum require timed-entry tickets. Book at least a week in advance in summer, and further ahead for the Mauritshuis on weekends.
  • If you are in New York, the Frick and the Met together give you up to eight Vermeers within a few blocks on the Upper East Side.
  • Washington D.C. has three confirmed Vermeers at the National Gallery of Art (Girl with the Red Hat, Woman Holding a Balance, A Lady Writing), plus a fourth attributed to Vermeer's studio. Admission free, no booking required.
  • London and Paris each hold two; both are worth including if you are already visiting for other reasons.
  • Berlin (two), Vienna (one), and Dresden (one) are strong additions to a Central European art trip, each in major museums with excellent Dutch collections surrounding the Vermeer.

Vermeer's geography: what the map shows

Netherlands

The Hague and Amsterdam: the core of the oeuvre

Seven paintings between two cities, 50 minutes apart by intercity train. The Mauritshuis has Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft; the Rijksmuseum has The Milkmaid and three others. Practical tip: start at the Mauritshuis early (it opens at 10:00), then take the 12:30 or 13:00 train to Amsterdam Centraal, arriving at the Rijksmuseum by 14:00.

United States

New York and Washington: the American concentration

The Frick (three) and the Met (four to five) are a few blocks apart in Manhattan. The National Gallery in Washington holds three Vermeers with certainty, plus a fourth attributed to his studio, free admission. Together, the two cities hold more Vermeers than any country outside the Netherlands. Practical tip: Amtrak connects New York Penn Station to Washington Union Station in about 3.5 hours.

Europe beyond the Netherlands

London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Dresden, Dublin, Edinburgh

Each holds one or two works of real significance. Vienna's The Art of Painting is the largest and most self-consciously ambitious work in the oeuvre. Dresden's Girl Reading a Letter has been recently restored to show a previously hidden Cupid. Edinburgh's Christ in the House of Martha and Mary is one of only two surviving religious scenes. These destinations reward the traveler already in the city rather than a dedicated trip.

Practical note

Booking and access summary

The Mauritshuis, Rijksmuseum, and Louvre all require timed-entry booking. The National Gallery London, National Gallery of Art Washington, National Gallery of Ireland Dublin, and National Gallery of Scotland Edinburgh are free with no booking needed. The Frick and Met in New York charge admission. Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum benefits from online booking to skip the queue.

FAQ: planning your Vermeer visits

Where is the Girl with a Pearl Earring?

In the Mauritshuis in The Hague, displayed on the first floor in a dedicated room. The museum is a 15-minute walk from The Hague Centraal station. Booking in advance is strongly recommended: the museum is small and fills up quickly, especially in summer and on weekends.

Book Mauritshuis tickets

Which museum has the most Vermeers?

The Metropolitan Museum in New York holds four to five (depending on attribution). The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam holds four. The Mauritshuis in The Hague holds three. The Frick Collection in New York holds three. The National Gallery of Art in Washington holds three firmly attributed to Vermeer, plus a fourth now considered studio work.

Can I see Vermeer and Rembrandt in the same trip?

Easily, in Amsterdam. The Rijksmuseum holds major works by both: Rembrandt's Night Watch is in the same Gallery of Honour as the Vermeer paintings. The Rembrandt House Museum is a 15-minute walk east, on Jodenbreestraat. In The Hague, the Mauritshuis also holds Rembrandt's Self-Portrait and Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp.

How much time do I need at the Mauritshuis and Rijksmuseum?

The Mauritshuis is compact: two hours is enough to see everything carefully.

Primary destination

Amsterdam city page

The Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk: Amsterdam is the most important city for Dutch art and one of the most concentrated destinations for painting in Europe. The city page covers navigation, museum logistics, and what to prioritise.

Next artist

Rembrandt artist page

Rembrandt and Vermeer are the two central figures of Dutch Golden Age painting, but they represent entirely different approaches: Rembrandt works through drama, psychological complexity, and accumulation; Vermeer through stillness, light control, and economy. The contrast is instructive.

Map-first planning

Open the ArtAtlas map

The interactive map shows all Vermeer locations pinned geographically: useful for planning multi-city trips and understanding which works are accessible from where.

34 paintings. A dozen cities. One map.

Vermeer’s entire surviving output fits in a single afternoon’s reading. Seeing even half of it in person requires crossing several countries. The ArtAtlas map helps you plan those crossings: which cities to prioritise, which museums to book, and which detours are worth making.

Open Vermeer on the map Back to the global map