About the Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum holds the largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh in the world: over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 750 personal letters. Opened in 1973 in a building designed by Gerrit Rietveld (and later expanded by Kisho Kurokawa), it sits on Museumplein alongside the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk.

Unlike many great museums that spread their collection across centuries of art, the Van Gogh Museum offers something more intimate: a chronological journey through one artist's entire life and creative output, from his dark early works in the Netherlands to the explosive colour of his time in Paris, Arles, and finally Auvers-sur-Oise.

💡 Top Tip: Buy tickets online at least a week in advance. The museum does not sell walk-up tickets at the door — all visitors need a timed entry slot booked via vangoghmuseum.nl or GetYourGuide.

Must-See Works

The Bedroom (1888)

Van Gogh painted three versions of his bedroom in the Yellow House in Arles. Amsterdam holds what he considered the best of the three. The intense flat colours and tilted perspective give it a dreamlike, slightly unsettling quality — though Van Gogh intended it to convey rest and peace.

Sunflowers (1889)

One of four versions Van Gogh made of this now-iconic subject, the Amsterdam Sunflowers has the warmest yellows of the series. It was one of several paintings he made to decorate Paul Gauguin's room before Gauguin's arrival in Arles.

Almond Blossom (1890)

Painted to celebrate the birth of his nephew (also named Vincent), this luminous work shows white blossoms against a deep blue sky and shows Van Gogh's engagement with Japanese woodblock prints. It remains one of the most loved works in the collection.

Wheatfield with Crows (1890)

Painted just weeks before Van Gogh's death, this turbulent work is often (somewhat incorrectly) described as his final painting. The dark crows, stormy sky, and diverging paths make it one of the most emotionally charged landscapes in Western art.

Floor-by-Floor Guide

  • Floor 0 (Ground): Entry, temporary exhibitions, and museum shop
  • Floor 1: Van Gogh's life and work chronologically — start here
  • Floor 2: Works from artists who influenced Van Gogh (Millet, Monet, Gauguin)
  • Floor 3: The letters — an extraordinary insight into Van Gogh's mind and relationships

Practical Information

  • Address: Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam
  • Opening hours: Daily 9:00–17:00 (Fridays until 21:00)
  • Tickets: Adults €22 | Under-18 free | Museumkaart accepted
  • Duration: 1.5–3 hours

Tips and Tricks

  • Friday evenings (until 21:00) are significantly quieter than daytime and have a more atmospheric feel.
  • The audio guide (available in the app) is genuinely excellent — written by curators, not just general guides. Download it before your visit.
  • The museum café on Floor 0 serves Dutch-inspired food and has views onto Museumplein — worth a stop after your visit.
  • Combine with the Rijksmuseum next door: buy a combination ticket online to save money and see both in one day (allow a full day).
  • The museum shop has high-quality art books, prints, and Van Gogh-inspired products that far outclass standard tourist shops.

Getting There

Tram lines 2 and 12 stop directly outside on Paulus Potterstraat. From Amsterdam Centraal station, the tram journey takes around 20 minutes. The Rijksmuseum is a 5-minute walk away and Vondelpark is immediately behind the museum.

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