The largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world is located in Amsterdam, Holland in the Van Gogh Museum. The building is nestled between the famous Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum in an area known as Museumkwartier. Close to stunning parkland and picturesque canals and with many of the city’s main attractions on its doorstep, a trip to the Van Gogh Museum should be on every traveller’s itinerary.
The Van Gogh Museum hosts many of the most recognisable great works from this artist. The Potato Eaters dates back to 1885 and showcases the harsh reality and drudgery of peasant life in Holland during that period. Sunflowers, painted in 1889, is one of his most famous works. With bright yellows and ochres jumping out from the canvas with an almost 3D perspective, it’s classic Van Gogh not to be missed. Other stunning works to enjoy are Van Gogh’s Irises, The Bedroom and Self Portrait of the artist himself. In addition to the spectacular artwork, visitors can discover more about the man himself, including places which inspired his work, and a variety of letters and sketches. A few minutes’ walk from the Van Gogh Museum lies the Rijksmuseum, a museum of the Netherlands which showcases world-class Dutch Art from the Middle Ages to the present day. If contemporary art is more appealing, the Stedelijk Museum is also nearby to explore. Here, visitors can enjoy furniture design, sculptures, graphics and textile works. When Museumkwartier has been explored, take a walk to Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest urban green area. Loved by both locals and tourists, free concerts are hosted in this open-air theatre where visitors can walk, jog, rollerskate or picnic by the lake. Stroll or cycle across the canal bridges to the Bloemenmarkt, a vibrant flower market laden with colourful, seasonal blooms and the famous Tulips from Amsterdam.
Reaching the Van Gogh Museum is easy, as many of the attractions in Amsterdam are within walking and cycling distance. The Bloemenmarkt, Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark are 10 -15 minutes, and the Anne Frank House and Heineken Experience can be reached in under 30 minutes. A frequent tram service stops at Van Baerlestraat, a few minutes from the museum and the public bus services to Rijksmuseum or Museumplein.
The Van Gogh Museum was completed in 1973, and after many renovations now comprises two buildings, the Rietveld and the Kurokawa wing. The first floor shows Van Gogh’s works in chronological order, making it easier for the visitor to understand his transitions and inspirations throughout the years. Today, the museum also features works by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters such as Monet, Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec and sculptures by Rodin.