The impact also depends on the direction from which one approaches the painting.

If you enter from the room to the right hand side of the Night Watch it's almost easy to miss, not least because the ship models in the rooms that precede it are quite impressive, too.

From the Great Hall and the Eregalerij (Gallery of Honour) the effect is positively awe-inspiring. I've once heard someone describe the Rijksmuseum as a cathedral of Enlightenment. The Night Watch is the centrepiece that cathedral was built around.

I do not remember how I got there but I remember that there was a superbe exhibition of the activities on ships of the ~17th century. I vividly remember the doctor's equipment (just a few) and realized that being injured on a boat at that time was really bad.

I think there was also an exhibition on the history of doll houses

I like how strong your memories can be of art in context. I can remember times I rounded a corner decades ago to first see a major piece, how many people were around, what the room was like, etc. I remember the second time I saw Guernica I had my brother with me, who hadn't seen it before. I picked an intentional path to it so his focus would be in one direction initially and then he'd turn and see it for the first time from a great position. My first viewing I'd approached from a pretty dull angle.