What is the Rijksmuseum doing right?

The European Museum Forum recently named Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum the European Museum of the Year.

“This is a great museum, at the height of its powers, providing a rich experience to the public, and a socially aware outreach program for visitors of all ages." states the European Museum Forum's website.

After a costly, delayed, and decade-long overhaul, the Rijksmuseum reopened in 2013. Spanish architectural firm Cruz y Ortiz oversaw the €375 million transformation, and the new Philips Wing, added for temporary exhibitions, proved a big draw.

About 2.5 million visitors walked through the galleries in 2014, making it a record year for the institution. The blockbuster "Late Rembrandt" was seen by half a million people before it closed last week.

The museum has also been hailed for its massive effort to digitize all one million objects in its collections by 2020. More than 20 percent of the collections is already done. The images are free and openly accessible for public use.