The Van Gogh Museum: discover the works of the most famous Dutch painter

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch painter who was born in the Netherlands in 1853 and died in France in 1890. He began his career as a clerk in an art gallery in The Hague, where he developed a passion for drawing and painting. For a time he became an evangelist, but finally turned to art for good in the 1880s. He settled in the south of France and taught himself: his works are colourful and full of artistic knowledge. .

Unfortunately, his works were not very successful during his lifetime, and Van Gogh struggled to make a living from his art. He fell into alcoholism and suffered from severe mental instability, even cutting off an ear during a crisis. His anxieties were reflected in his paintings, which became increasingly distorted and dark. At the age of 37, Vincent Van Gogh ended his life by shooting himself in the chest.

Built in 1973, the Van Gogh Museum houses a quarter of the works by the famous artist from the post-impressionist period: 200 paintings and over 500 drawings and sketches. While the original building, designed by architect Gerrit Rietvel, houses the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions are held in an oval pavilion designed by Kisho Kurokawa in 1999.

Displayed in chronological order, the works follow the artist's life. As you stroll through the museum, you will learn more about him through his most famous paintings, such as Sunflowers, The Potato Eaters and The Sower. Anecdotes help us to understand the turbulent life of this great painter... In the library, visitors can browse through 24,000 books dedicated to Van Gogh! With 1.5 million visitors a year, the museum is one of Holland's leading tourist attractions.

Completely renovated in 2013, the Van Gogh Museum is a must-see when visiting Amsterdam. Its impressive collection, which traces the life of the most famous Dutch painter, deserves at least half a day.

How do I get to the Van Gogh Museum?

Located on Museumplein, the Van Gogh Museum is easily accessible by bike or public transport:

• Van Baerlestraat stop: tram 2, 5 or 12
• Museumplein stop: tram 3, 5 or 12 and bus 347 or 357

Hop-on hop-off buses and boats also stop nearby.

P.S.: Take advantage of your visit to discover other museums on Museumplein, including the Rijksmuseum right next door!

Opening hours

The Van Gogh Museum is open every day from 9 am to 6 pm. The shop is open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm and the café Le Tambourin is open between 11.00 am and 5.00 pm.

Prices

• Full price: £19 (+£3 for the multimedia tour)
• Under 18 years old: free
• Students: £10 (Monday to Friday only)

Tickets give access to the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Online booking is compulsory. To find out all the prices and book your ticket online, visit the Van Gogh Museum's official website.