Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam holds the world's largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's art, including 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and 700 letters. Officially opened on June 2, 1973, it was recorded as the 23rd most visited museum in the world with 2.3 million visitors in 2017. Explore the museum complex designed by Gerrit Rietveld and Kisho Kurokawa, featuring a historical legacy preserved by Johanna van Gogh-Bonger and masterpieces like The Potato Eaters and Sunflowers.

Visitor Informations

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Must-see Artworks

The Van Gogh Museum houses iconic masterpieces in its permanent exhibition, featuring The Potato Eaters (1885), Sunflowers (1889), and Almond Blossom (1890). Visitors can view The Bedroom (1888), The Harvest (1888), and The Sower (1888), alongside Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat (1887), Self-Portrait with Straw Hat (1887), and Irises (1890). These works, including his drawings and letters, portray themes of life such as hope, love, anxiety, and suffering. Van Gogh’s ambition to paint farmers and his search for color are given a prominent place in the museum. The collection also shows his impact on the first generation of artists after his death through expressive works by Maurice de Vlaminck and Kees van Dongen.

Select an artwork to explore more.

The Potato Eaters

The Potato Eaters

April-May 1885

Vincent van Gogh

Location📍 Van Gogh Museum

Created in Nuenen, this painting depicts rural life through five figures in earth colours, emphasizing the honest labour of peasants who tilled the earth themselves.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers

1889

Vincent van Gogh

Location📍 Currently on display in the exhibition Yellow. Beyond Van Gogh’s Colour (until 17 May 2026).

Painted in Arles, this masterpiece is one of five large canvases by Vincent van Gogh featuring sunflowers in a vase, showcasing three shades of yellow.

Almond Blossom

Almond Blossom

February 1890

Vincent van Gogh

Location📍  Van Gogh Museum

A gift for his newborn nephew, this painting by Vincent van Gogh features almond blossoms against a blue sky, inspired by Japanese printmaking.

Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat

Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat

September-October 1887

Vincent van Gogh

Location📍  Van Gogh Museum

Painted in Paris, this self-portrait from the winter of 1887–88 demonstrates Vincent van Gogh’s study and original application of the Pointillists’ technique. He utilized short stripes of paint directed in various ways, forming a halo-like effect where they follow the outline of his head. This work stands as one of his boldest colour experiments, featuring complementary colours applied with long brushstrokes: blue and orange in the background, and red and green in the beard and eyes. Although the red pigment has faded, resulting in purple strokes appearing blue and reducing the contrast with the yellow, the work remains a testament to his experimentation with intensifying colours.

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Historical Overview

The Van Gogh Museum’s collection originated from the unsold works of Vincent van Gogh, inherited by his brother Theo and subsequently by Theo's widow, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, after both brothers passed away in 1890–1891. Johanna contributed to Vincent's posthumous fame by organizing exhibitions, and the collection was inherited in 1925 by her son, Vincent Willem van Gogh, before being transferred to the Vincent van Gogh Foundation in 1962. The museum officially opened on June 2, 1973. Throughout its history, the museum has faced significant art thefts: in 1991, 20 paintings including The Potato Eaters were stolen but recovered 35 minutes later, and in 2002, two works valued at 30 million dollars were stolen and remained missing until their discovery in Italy in 2016. A major milestone occurred in September 2013 with the unveiling of the rediscovered work Sunset at Montmajour. Recently, the museum planned a 104 million euro renovation project for its buildings.

Architecture

Located at Paulus Potterstraat 7 in Amsterdam's Museumplein, the museum complex consists of the Rietveld Building and the Kurokawa Wing. The Rietveld Building, commissioned in 1963 and designed by Gerrit Rietveld, is a four-story rectangular structure housing the permanent collection. Although Rietveld died in 1964, the building was completed in 1973. The Kurokawa Wing, an elliptical three-story building for temporary exhibitions, was designed by Kisho Kurokawa and added in 1999. The Kurokawa Wing is accessible from the Rietveld Building via a connecting tunnel.

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When to Visit

For more details, visit the official website ↗

Special Notes for Visitors

• Friday Late Nights: Open until 9 pm (except for 27 Mar, 29 May, 31 July, 25 Sept, and 27 Nov.)
• Dates Variations
• October: 12~18 Oct 9 am ~ 5 pm (Sat, Sun until 6 pm / Fri until 9 pm).
• November: 2~ 30 Nov 9 am ~ 5 pm (Fri until 9 pm / except for 27 Nov).
• December: 1~18, 31 Dec 9 am ~ 5 pm
• Christmas Holidays: 24, 25, and 26 Dec open from 9 am ~ 5 pm.

Admission

Admission Fee

• Paid Admission (Adults, Students)
• Tickets are available online only.
• Check the official website for detailed rates ↗

⚠️ Admission varies by visitor category. ⚠️ Rates and conditions are subject to change. Please visit the official website for current information.

⚠️ Students must present an (international) student card or proof of enrolment. ⚠️ I amsterdam City Card: No longer affiliated (Not accepted)

Complimentary Admission

Additional Support (Sunflower Lanyard)

• Wearing the Sunflower Lanyard is an indication to museum staff that a visitor may need additional support during their visit.

→ Read about Visitors with Sensory Sensitivity

⚠️ Mandatory Reservation Notice

Most visitors, including those eligible for free entry, must have a ticket with a start time to access the museum. Tickets are available online only. (Exception: Vincent's Friends and patrons with direct access as noted above.)

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You May Also Like

#Vincent Van Gogh #The Potato Eaters #Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat #Sunflowers #Almond Blossom #Post Impressionism #Van Gogh Museum #Amsterdam Museum #Museumplein #Arles #The Starry Night #Van Gogh's Bedroom in Arles #Museums in Amsterdam

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📍 Van Gogh Museum | Amsterdam | Netherlands

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