The tour follows a single route through the historic house, supplemented by a separate modern wing next door used for temporary exhibitions.

The kitchen and ground floor: The tour begins in the kitchen, the heart of the household, before moving into the so-called front house: a grand entrance hall decorated with marble, paintings, and fine furniture, where Rembrandt received clients and conducted business. A box-bed of the kind common in 17th-century Dutch homes, where people slept in a seated position, is on display here, along with the side room where Rembrandt dealt in art by Dutch, Flemish, and Italian painters.

The Hall: Widely considered the finest room in the house, decorated to reflect the wealth and status Rembrandt projected at the height of his career, in stark contrast to the financial trouble that would later force him out.

The studio: Upstairs, lit by large north-facing windows for consistent daylight, this is where Rembrandt painted, taught his pupils, and developed the dramatic use of light and shadow, chiaroscuro, that defines his work. The room is laid out with period easels, palettes, and brushes, recreating the working space as closely as the historical record allows.

The Cabinet of Curiosities: Known as the Kunstkaemer in Dutch, this room held Rembrandt's personal collection of objects: classical busts, shells, weapons, exotic specimens, and even a taxidermy crocodile, all of which he used as study material and props for his paintings and etchings. It is a vivid window into the obsessive, eclectic collecting habit that was as much a part of Rembrandt's identity as his painting, and one of the contributing factors in the debt that eventually forced him to sell the house.

The etching attic: Added during the museum's 2023 expansion, this space is dedicated to Rembrandt's printmaking, displaying original copper plates, acids, and the tools of the etching process: drypoint needles, burins, and scrapers. Rembrandt is widely credited with elevating etching from a minor craft to a serious independent art form, and the works on display, including self-portraits, biblical scenes, and everyday moments, show a different side of his output than the paintings most visitors associate with his name.

Live demonstrations: The etching and paint-pigment demonstrations are one of the museum's signature features. A costumed museum guide shows how Rembrandt would have ground pigments and mixed paint, or operates a reconstructed printing press to produce an etching using the same techniques Rembrandt used. Demonstrations run between 10:30am and 3:30pm, with exact times posted at the museum on arrival, and no booking is needed. That window is worth knowing before you pick a time slot: the cheaper 4pm to 6pm entry falls after the demonstrations have finished, so come in the morning or early afternoon if you want to catch one.

The modern wing: A separate building next door houses temporary exhibitions, drawn primarily from the museum's collection of Rembrandt's drawings and etchings, since the museum holds very few of his paintings. Exhibitions rotate regularly and often focus on specific themes, such as Rembrandt's pupils or particular periods of his working life. Two or three usually run at once, and the museum's exhibitions page lists what is on during your dates.