Van Gogh Museum
The Travel Pages visits the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter, one of the city’s main attractions, with advice on what to see and when to visit.
Everybody who visits Amsterdam goes to the Van Gogh Museum and sometimes it seems all at the same time. It is the single most visited attraction in Amsterdam. This isn’t surprising as it’s a delightful museum, featuring the finest collection in the world of the most popular artist in the world. It’s light and airy, and spacious too, which does help it cope well with the many visitors.
When to Visit the Van Gogh Museum
But if you don’t like crowds, try to get there 15-20 minutes before the doors open in the morning, or for the last hour or so in the day – though you should still allow plenty of time to see everything before it closes. Visiting at less busy times of year, such as in the winter, is also recommended.
What to See in the Van Gogh Museum
So what’s the big draw? Well, about 200 paintings, almost 600 drawings and 700 original letters, mostly the famous ones which Vincent Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo. There’s also a collection of work by contemporaries of Van Gogh, or people who influenced him or were influenced by him. Names here include Toulouse-Lautrec, Monet, Pissarro and Gaugin (who lived with Van Gogh for 62 days in Arles).
Self-Portraits
It’s probably the self-portraits of the artist which are the most striking exhibits. He stares out of the canvas unflinchingly, with several portraits displayed side-by-side, and it’s an un-nerving experience to look back at them. One display shows the oriental work that influenced Van Gogh, the sensitive and delicate side of this tortured genius.
Don’t miss our page on Van Gogh in Arles.
Famous Works in the Van Gogh Museum
There are four floors altogether, and an annexe. The collection is so large that some of the minor work, such as the drawings, is rotated, and there are also temporary exhibitions but the main attractions which include the most popular paintings such as Wheatfield with Crows, The Potato Eaters, The Yellow House and one of the Sunflowers series of paintings, are usually on display unless a special exhibition sees them out on loan.
Van Gogh Museum Shop and Cafe
Allow time too to visit the excellent museum shop. Posters are especially popular, and come in distinctive triangular cartons that you see people carrying all over the city. There are some really tasteful souvenirs, from stationery to books, and novelty items too – a Van Gogh fridge magnet, anyone? There’s also an excellent cafe, Le Tambourin.
