Travellers to Amsterdam will be able to get a taste of the country's artistic heritage at a museum that has opened inside the city's airport.

The gallery houses a collection of 10 works by 17th Century artists worth millions, including a Rembrandt.

The opening of the gallery at Schiphol went ahead despite concerns about security in the wake of the theft of two Van Goghs from a city centre museum on Saturday.

The collection is a partnership between the airport and the world-famous Rijksmuseum, where the works are usually hung, and is designed to attract tourism.

A portrait of Rembrandt's wife is on show in the gallery

Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander performed the opening ceremony.

Among the paintings is a 1633 picture of Rembrandt's wife, entitled Portrait of Saskia van Uylenburgh, and Jan Steen's Interior of an Inn.

The works have gone on display in a purpose-built exhibition centre and can be viewed behind a glass wall which is designed to prevent vibrations from aircraft affecting the paintings.

There is also a high-tech security system including sensors and 24-hour guards.

On Saturday two valuable paintings by Vincent Van Gogh were stolen from Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum.

Safe environment

No-one has been caught and police are baffled as to how thieves managed to escape from such a well-protected building.

But Jan Rudolph de Lorm, director of exhibitions at the Rijksmuseum, which operates the Schiphol Airport gallery, said he was certain a similar event could not happen again.

"This is a secure museum within a totally safe airport, behind security checks and passport controls, he said.

"In addition to the broader safe environment, everything is behind glass."

The gallery will only be accessible to air travellers arriving, departing or on stop-off at the airport.

The Rijksmuseum is currently undergoing a multi-million pound restoration and is lending out pieces from its historic collection to museums and galleries around the world.