Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum With Kids: Worth It?

When my daughter was in kindergarten, the students were asked to paint their own version of Van Gogh’s “The Bedroom”. After that she delved into Van Gogh’s work and was so inspired we continued to use his works as inspiration. After we moved to the Netherlands, the Van Gogh Museum was top on our things to do in Amsterdam list suffice to say.

We’re not the only ones that seek to find this museum though of course. With over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters, alongside a collection of Japanese prints and a comprehensive library with more than 23,000 titles, the Van Gogh Museum offers an unparalleled look into Van Gogh’s world. It houses the largest collection of Van Gogh works in one place.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands is a must see. Is it worth it?

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Basic Info

Address: Museumplein 6, Amsterdam, Netherlands
How to get there: The nearest stops are Van Baerlestraat (tram 2, 5 or 12) or Museumplein (tram: 3, 5 or 12, bus: 347 or 357).
Hours: Every day: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm*
- *There are extended hours until 9:00pm during high season and many times throughout the year. Check their website to know exact hours on the day you want to visit.
Admission: Adults: €22; Students and children under 18: FREE
- All tickets are available online and include admission to the permanent collection and current exhibitions. All visitors are required to pre-book a timed entry ticket.
- Free with Museumkaart, ICOM Card, Rembrandt Card, Stadspass.
Buy Tickets: You can get tickets on Klook and on Get Your Guide or on the Van Gogh Museum Website.
- GET YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE! The museum sells out almost every day so you CANNOT just walk up and expect to get in. During high-season, the tickets sell out very early as well so plan ahead as much as you can.
Audio Guide Languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian
Website: www.vangoghmuseum.nl/

Is the Van Gogh Museum Worth It?

The Van Gogh Museum is one of the most popular things to do in Amsterdam, Netherlands which is no surprise as Van Gogh is Dutch so of course visitors want to see his iconic work in his home country. That means it is uber popular. That said, the museum does a fantastic job of keeping people spread out by requiring that everyone gets a specific timed-entrance ticket.

Does it still feel crowded? It can near some of Van Gogh’s more popular works, but put some headphones on, or listen to the audio guide to tune out the hustle and bustle and you’ll immediately be transported into the artworks in front of you.

Do I think the Van Gogh Museum is worth a visit? Absolutely.

Diving Deeper into Van Gogh’s World

The museum features both well-known iconic Van Gogh artistic works as well as lesser known works and works of his friends and those that he collected.

Did you know: Van Gogh only sold two paintings during his lifetime. He left the rest of his works to his brother Theo upon his death in 1890.

Must see Van Gogh works include:

Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits: There are some very well-known self portraits, but we were surprised to see so many more that we’d never seen before. The self portraits are in the first room you enter and since it is the first room, it’s pretty busy. But, take your time and go around the room seeing how the styles change.

“Sunflowers”: Van Gogh’s paintings of Sunflowers are among his most famous. He did them in Arles, in the south of France, in 1888 and 1889. The sunflower paintings had a special significance for Van Gogh: they communicated ‘gratitude’, he wrote.

“Almond Blossom”: Large blossom branches like this against a blue sky were one of Van Gogh’s favourite subjects. Almond trees flower early in the spring making them a symbol of new life. Van Gogh borrowed the subject, the bold outlines and the positioning of the tree in the picture plane from Japanese printmaking.

“Wheatfield with a Reaper”: Van Gogh painted this walled field from his hospital room. For the first few months that he was there, he was not allowed to leave the grounds. The reaper labours in the heat of the sun. The wheat, painted with thick gobs of yellow, undulates around him.

“The Bedroom”: While he was in Arles, Van Gogh made this painting of his bedroom in the Yellow House. He prepared the room himself with simple furniture and with his own work on the wall. The bright colours were meant to express absolute ‘repose’ or ‘sleep’.

Something you’ll also notice as you delve into the museum and the works is that they aren’t all Van Gogh works. The museum seeks to celebrate Van Gogh not just through his artwork but also through other artists that were inspired by him. Look out for pieces by artists like Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who either collaborated with or were inspired by him.

How did the Van Gogh Museum get Van Gogh’s works?

As mentioned, Van Gogh left almost his entire array of works to his brother, Theo, when he died in 1890. Only two of his works he sold prior to that. In 1962, the State of the Netherlands and the Vincent Van Gogh Foundation came to an agreement to house the entire collection in a dedicated museum.

This agreement included 200 paintings by Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, 400 drawings, and all of Vincent’s letters. The museum officially opened in 1973, evolving from a national museum to an independent foundation, with its artifacts forming part of the national collection.

Under the directorship of Emilie Gordenker since 2020, the museum continues to celebrate Van Gogh’s legacy, showcasing the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world.

Why isn’t “Starry Night” in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam?

The Starry Night’s home is at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. While the majority of his works are here, this iconic piece isn’t as Van Gogh’s brother’s wife, Jo, strategically sold artwork to influential art collectors and well-known museums in order to establish Vincent Van Gogh works.

“Starry Night” was acquired by MoMA in 1941 and was the first Van Gogh to enter a New York museum collection. So, sadly you can’t see it here in Amsterdam.

Tips For Families

If you’re visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam with kids, don’t worry, it can be a great experience!

Stroller Accessibility: Large bags must be stored and there are plenty of lockers available after you enter, but strollers are welcome inside. They even offer strollers for loan if you don’t want to bring yours but know your youngest travelers will need a seat. It’s a thoughtful touch for families.
Family-Friendly Guides: The museum provides audio guides tailored for children, making the art more relatable and the experience richer for them. If you think your children can keep the audio guide’s on, they’re a great way to learn and stay focused even amidst the crowds that are often in the museum.
Treasure Hunt: An interactive treasure hunt, complete with a prize, turned our visit into an exciting adventure. We’ve found that most, if not all, of the museums we’ve visited in the Netherlands have a great children-related activity so make sure you ask for it. At the Van Gogh Museum, you can find this after you drop your things in the locker and head up the escalator. There’s a small desk in the middle of space in front of the museum shop. They have different options for children of different ages ranging from 4 to 12 to keep them focused and learning along the way.

The Van Gogh Museum is a must-see if you’ve planned a trip to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. If you have kids, take advantage of the museum’s family-friendly amenities. Engaging with the art together can make your visit a memorable adventure and can be a lot of inspiration for us and the little tagalongs we have.

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