Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam

A visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is an unique experience. In no other museum in the world will you see as many paintings and drawings by Vincent Van Gogh. The museum is located on Museumplein in Amsterdam, between the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum. The museum collection comprises three sections: Works by Van Gogh, works by other artists and the history of the Van Gogh Museum. The museum store is located on the ground floor. It stocks books on the museum itself, on the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh and his contemporaries, as well as top-quality reproductions, stationary and other souvenirs.

 

Vincent van Gogh

The Amsterdam museum comprises the largest collection of Van Goghs in the world. These include well over 200 canvases by the master, as well as over 600 drawings and 700 documents. This combination provides a fascinating insight into his life and oeuvre. Van Gogh’s work is shown in chronological order, divided into five periods. These periods correspond with the phases in Van Gogh’s life and works, i.e. Holland, Paris, Arles, Saint-Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise. Vincent Van Gogh produced numerous self-portraits, including one in which he wears a felt hat. Another famous canvas by Van Gogh is ‘The Bedroom’, which illustrates the painter’s own simply furnished bedroom.

 

Other Artists on Display in Amsterdam

The museum also exhibits an extensive permanent collection of works by other 19th-century artists. These artists were contemporaries and friends of Van Gogh, including Paul Gauguin and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Van Gogh met them in Paris. Here he saw with his own eyes how French artists depicted impressionism. Vincent studied in Paris for some months, which greatly influenced his work. The light in his paintings changed, and the colours of his palette became brighter.

 

Renovated Van Gogh Museum

On 24 June 1999 the completely renovated Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam reopened. This renovation was necessary, as the old museum could no longer cope with the huge numbers of visitors. The Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa designed the museum’s new wing. At the same time, the Rietveld Building, which houses the Van Gogh Museum and which was designed by Gerrit Rietveld, was also renovated. The magnificent collections can now be shown to their best advantage.

Friday Night at the Van Gogh Museum

Every Friday the Van Gogh Museum is opened untill ten o'clock in the evening. The Central Hall of this Amsterdam Museum transforms into a relaxing meeting area, where you can enjoy videoprojections and lounge music.

Read on about the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam or learn more about other Amsterdam museums, like:
Rijkmuseum Amsterdam
Hermitage Amsterdam
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam