Civic Guard Gallery

The Civic Guards Gallery, or Schuttersgalerij, located in the heart of Amsterdam, is a unique attraction that offers an extraordinary window into the city’s history. Part of the Amsterdam Museum, this gallery is a covered passage between Kalverstraat and Begijnhof, and it is free for all visitors. The gallery is famous for its monumental 17th-century canvases, which depict the companies of city militiamen, known as “Schutters,” and other important figures of the era. These collective portraits are a vivid testimony to the social and political life of the Dutch Golden Age. During this period, the militia companies were tasked with protecting the city and maintaining public order. Their meetings and training sessions were significant social events, often followed by banquets and celebrations. Commissioning these portraits was a sign of prestige, and each participant paid a considerable sum to be included, meaning that only the wealthiest citizens could afford to appear in these works.Among the masterpieces displayed in the Civic Guards Gallery, the works of great Dutch painters stand out. Artists like Bartholomeus van der Helst and Ferdinand Bol immortalized these groups in detailed and dynamic compositions, celebrating the power and cohesion of the militia companies. These portraits are comparable to Rembrandt’s famous “Night Watch,” which originally adorned the main hall of the Kloveniersdoelen, one of the principal gathering places of the militiamen.