[Amsterdam] Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Museum

Add: Paulus Potterstraat 7, 1070 AJ Amsterdam
Tel: +31 (0)20 570 5200
Hours: 10am-6pm, Friday-10pm (closed January 1st)
Website: www.vangoghmuseum.nl
Price: Adults €14, 0-17 years free / Audio Guide €7

My 2.5 hours at the Van Gogh Museum was time very well spent. With an audio guide in hand, I waltzed through the world’s largest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings, including The Potato Eaters, Bedroom in Arles, The Yellow House, Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers, nine of the artist’s Self-Portraits, and some of his earliest paintings dating back to 1882. An enchanting experience to say the least.

We thought we could beat the crowd by arriving a bit before the museum opens, but nope, there was already a long line forming at the entrance. To avoid the wait, I recommend ordering tickets online before you visit.

But the line moved rather quickly as soon as the door opened. We got the audio guides (available in English, Dutch, French, Japanese, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, and Mandarin Chinese) and began the chronicle of Van Gogh’s life.

The museum not only houses the largest Van Gogh collection in the world, but also artworks by his friends, role-models, and even artists who have little or nothing to do with Van Gogh himself, so as to provide an overview of the styles and movements that were characteristic of Van Gogh’s century.

I snapped a few pictures of the paintings before realizing that I actually wasn’t supposed to do that…

Here’s one of my favorites! Absolutely gorgeous.

It took us about 2.5 hours to get through the exhibition with an audio guide, which I highly recommend renting.

I’m usually not a fan of gift shops but it’s difficult to not be drawn to Van Gogh-related merchandise…

Just a few purchases :)

If you are in Amsterdam, the Van Gogh Museum is not to be missed. Again, order tickets online to avoid the line.