He was one of the most influential artists of the 19th century — Vincent Van Gogh was a famous Dutch painter who lived between 1853-1890. He is a celebrated painter who gifted the world many artworks that were the result of his extraordinary genius. His collection of drawings and paintings are inimitable, life-like, and expansive. Coming from a man who failed consistently at anything he tried for the first 30 years of his life is truly commendable!
Everything You Need to Know
Vincent was born in a small town in the Netherlands. His maiden picture of a peasant woman was at the age of 30, which was quite late by any standards to start an artistic career during his time. His masterpieces came in quick succession in a small span of 6 or 7 years as he died young at 37 years, so his career was incredibly short. He is often compared to a meteor in the sky who had very little time in hand to compile his work and shine before he was gone.
Much of what we know of Van Gogh today is through his letters that he wrote to his brother, Theo, where he expressed his confidence in his artistic skills and never doubted his genius in the arts. Despite the fact that his early works were met with a lot of derision, he remained unruffled. He soon moved to live with Theo in Paris who was working for an art dealership. This marked the turning point in his life as he met the Impressionists like Pissaro, Emile Bernard, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Paul Gauguin, all of whom had a great influence on Vincent.
Vincent kept improving with every painting and started experimenting a lot with color-range. He was even inspired by Japanese art and incorporated many of its elements into his own artwork. He was inspired so much that he even decided to set up a colony of artists (just as it is in Japan) in the south of France.
Vincent Van Gogh was a very visual artist who needed to be out in the fields, surrounding landscapes in the open air, to be inspired to paint something, unlike some of his peers.
Van Gogh’s museum in the Netherlands was opened in 1973 and houses a priceless collection of some 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters by the great artist, along with many of his personal belongings like his famous straw hat and paint box. The exhibition allows the visitors and art lovers an opportunity to peek into the various art themes that this genius produced at various points during his short career. The museum also displays an artistic collection of other contemporary artists of his time.
The museum also offers guided tours, workshops, and educational programs for both children and adults. It uses technology and digital media (like interactive displays and virtual tours) to enhance visitor experience and reach Vincent Van Gogh to a larger audience.
Highlights of the Dutch Art Museum
Some of the outstanding features of the Vincent van Gogh Museum are —
Collection: No where in the world will you find a museum completely dedicated to an artist, his works, and his lifetime as the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of the artist’s most precious paintings, drawings, and letters, including his famous works such as the ‘Sunflowers’, ‘The Potato Eaters’, and ‘The Bedroom.’
Permanent Exhibition: The exhibition is divided into five periods from Vincent’s life — his early years in the Netherlands, his stay in Paris with Theo, his relocation to the south of France, his mental breakdown and rehabilitation, and his final years before death.
Temporary Exhibitions: The museum also showcases works of other contemporary artists from Van Gogh’s times.
Educational Programs: The museum offers many informative and educational programs to all age groups. These include guided art history tours, family workshops, and museum tours.
Innovative Technology: The museum effectively utilizes many multimedia tools like virtual tours and interactive displays to enhance visitor experience and to augment a deep curiosity about the genius artist in the audience.
Research Center: The museum also has a research center that focuses exclusively on the life and work of Van Gogh, including his artistic techniques.
Gift Shop and Cafe: You can buy books and souvenirs related to Van Gogh from the gift shop, and take a sip and a bite at the cafe that have been set up within the premises.
Info on Timings and Tickets
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is open to the public every day of the week, however, with varying hours. Take a look — Monday — 11 am to 6 pm; Tuesday — 9 am to 6 pm; Wednesday — 9 am to 6 pm; Thursday — 9 am to 9 pm; Friday — 9 am to 9 pm; Saturday — 9 am to 7 pm; and Sunday — 9 am to 7 pm.
Ticket prices are subject to revision so you should check with the website for the latest updates on admission price before booking your tickets. You can avail of attractive discount offers if you book your tickets well in advance.
Adults (18 and older) — online price is 19 euros, and at the ticket counter it is 21 euros per head. Children below 18 years enjoy free admission. Amsterdam City Card Holders also enjoy free admission. Students (18-25 years with valid student ID) will have to pay between 10 euros – 12 euros, depending on whether you booked online or in-person.
Audio guides are available at an extra cost of 5.50 euros per person. It is best to book tickets online to avoid long waiting queues on the day of visit.
Address, Phone and How to Reach
The Van Gogh Museum has its address at Museumplein 6 1071 DJ Amsterdam. For queries or feedback, you can call (020) 570 52 00 or write to info@vangoghmuseum.nl.
Here are some ways to reach the Van Gogh Museum. The most economic and sustainable way to reach the museum is by bus or tram. The nearest tram stop is Van Baerlestraat (trams 2,3,5,12 and 24). The nearest bus stop is Museumplein (buses 347, 357, and 397) that stop right in front of the museum.
You can take a bike on hire from the city center. Amsterdam is a very bike-friendly city, and the choice is a very healthy one too. The museum premises has bike parking facilities.
The Van Gogh Museum is located in the Museum Quarter of Amsterdam. If you are staying in the city center, you can easily walk up to the museum. It is about 20-25 minutes walk from the city center.
You can also take a rental car, taxi, or drive to the museum, but the museum does not have its motor parking facility.
