Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam & 1-Hour Canal Cruise
Amsterdam
€34 | Rating 4.00 / 5 [295 ratings]
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Photo by Jan Kees Steenman
Follow the story of Van Gogh’s life through two hundred works of art, displayed chronologically to show the troubled artist’s development. The exhibition begins with gloomy Dutch scenes, before proceeding to classic, optimistic works painted in Arles (such as Sunflowers and The Bedroom).
The exhibition ends with the foreboding landscapes around Auvers-sur-Oise, painted just before his suicide. The top floor holds an extensive collection of art by other leading 19th-century painters, and a wing at the rear showcases major exhibitions.
Many of Van Gogh’s most famous works are displayed here, including his greatest self-portraits, the Potato Eaters, and of course the famous Sunflowers. Look out for great works too by Toulouse-Lautrec and Paul Gauguin.
The collection originally belonged to Theo Van Gogh, Vincent’s younger brother, who also collected works by Vincent’s contemporaries. Van Gogh wrote many letters to his brother, and these – along with those written to friends Paul Gauguin and Emile Bernard – can be viewed in full (with annotations and illustrations) on the Van Gogh Letters website.
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Destination Guide >The museum is located next to the Rijksmuseum on Museumplein (visitors often tackle both museums on the same day). Audio tours can be picked up at the entrance. Tickets are available online, which will save you queuing at the door on busy days.
The museum is open all year round, seven days a week. The late opening on Friday evening is the best time to visit if you want to avoid the crowds. There’s often a fun atmosphere, with musical entertainment and artistic installations.
Mornings, particularly at weekends and when it’s wet, are usually busiest and best avoided.
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Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands[0.1 miles]
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Amsterdam’s top boutique hotel — beautiful rooms and accomplished cuisine in a historic canal-side building.
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North Holland, Netherlands
Picturesque Golden Age canals, premier league art, cosy cafés, and liberal urban living combine to make Amsterdam one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals.
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Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
From New York to London, Paris to Berlin, here’s our round-up of the must-see art galleries and museums around the world that should be on everyone’s travel bucket list.