Visit the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam if you love Van Gogh’s work as much as we do! This post will walk you through booking your ticket in advance, while also recommending some of the paintings you don’t want to miss during your visit! It’s one of the best museums in Amsterdam and we hope you love it as much as we do. Make sure to book your tickets to the Van Gogh Museum in advance here.
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How to visit the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
Visiting the Van Gogh Museum is simple.
Just show up at the main entrance with your pre-booked online ticket. You can print out your ticket, although it is not necessary. You can also just have them scan your QR code on your phone at the entrance.
Book your tickets to the Van Gogh Museum!
When to visit the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
The Van Gogh Museum is open almost every day of the year.
The main thing to consider when planning your trip is when you will have the best chance of avoiding crowds.
The Van Gogh Museum is a very popular museum so you will most likely be visiting with a lot of other people but we have had the best luck visiting with fewer people when we visit Amsterdam during off-season months (we love January and November!) and visiting in the afternoon, two to three hours before closing.
Make sure you book your ticket in advance to make sure that you can choose a time to visit during your trip.
Book your tickets to the Van Gogh Museum!
Book your tickets to the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
The Van Gogh Museum is a very popular museum and one of the top sights in Amsterdam, so reserving a ticket in advance is key to make sure you get to visit during your time in Amsterdam!
Most days tickets are sold out, so you won’t be able to buy a ticket at the door.
Book your tickets to the Van Gogh Museum!
Our favorite paintings at the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
Of course beauty and “favorites” are always subjective – but these are the paintings that caught my eye during our most recent visit to the Van Gogh museum.
View of a Butcher’s Shop, 1888
This was the very first painting that Van Gogh painted after moving to Arles, France.
He rented a room at the Carrel hotel and restaurant, located at 30 rue Amédée Pichot and this is where he painted this painting.
The scene is of a butcher shop, called Reboul Charcutier, that was visible to Van Gogh across the street from the hotel.
Read more about this painting on the Van Gogh Museum website.
Sprig of Flowering Almond in a Glass, 1888
Van Gogh arrived in Arles, France (in Provence) in March and there was still frost on the ground. Despite the snow, he was able to find two branches of almond blossoms that he brought home to paint.
This began a large series of paintings he did of flowering orchards : pear, almond, plum and peach trees.
Read more about this painting on the Van Gogh Museum website here.
Sunflowers, 1889
This is one of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings. He painted them in Arles, France, in Provence (in the South of France).
In total, Van Gogh painted 5 large paintings of sunflowers. They had special significance for him. He wrote that, to him, they represented “gratitude”.
Read more about this painting on the Van Gogh Museum website here.
Gauguin’s Chair, 1888
Van Gogh explained that this painting was a “portrait” of his friend, Paul Gauguin, who came to stay with him for some time. He used the colors red and green to represent his friend’s personality, which he claimed was “night”.
Apparently, he also painted a version that represented his personality : a blue and yellow chair, the colors of his personality : “day”.
Read more about this painting on the Van Gogh website.
Self-Portrait with Pipe and Straw Hat, 1887
The Summery color palette and light brush strokes of this painting show the influence of the Impressionists on Van Gogh’s work.
As models were expensive, Van Gogh chose to buy a mirror and pay himself.
I am so glad he did – I love his self-portraits, especially this one which may just be my favorite.
Read more about this painting on the Van Gogh Museum website.
Self-Portrait as a Painter, 1887
This was the last painting that Van Gogh painted in Paris before he left the city.
He said that the city had completely exhausted him – both physically and mentally.
He wrote in a letter to his sister that he had painted himself with “wrinkles in forehead and around the mouth, stiffly wooden, a very red beard, quite unkempt and sad”.
Read more about this painting on the Van Gogh Museum website.
Montmartre in the Snow, Auguste Lepère, 1876
This is the only painting on this list that was not painted by Van Gogh. There are some other painters’ painting on display as part of the permanent collection at the Van Gogh Museum.
Montmartre is one of my favorite areas of Paris and we spent a particularly magical day there when we got snow in Paris a few years ago.
This painting reminds me of the beauty of Paris covered in a thick layer of snow!
Read more about this painting on the Van Gogh Museum website here.
Book your tickets to the Van Gogh Museum!
Museum Address
Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam
Where to stay in Amsterdam
- The Pulitzer – this is such a special place to stay if you want to have the experience of staying in an authentic canal house that has been converted into a luxury boutique hotel. The small hotel has rooms with canal views, a gorgeous hotel bar and fabulously chic restaurant.
- The Dylan – such a special hotel located in the heart of Amsterdam. This hotel is so elegant and chic. Enjoy the beautiful bar and 3-Michelin star restaurant.
- Eden Hotel Amsterdam – this affordable 4-star luxury boutique hotel is well-located and beautifully decorated.
- NH City Centre Amsterdam – you can always count on NH hotels to offer comfortable and clean lodging in great locations and the NH City Centre Amsterdam is no exception.
Don’t miss these other activities in Amsterdam!
- Book a canal cruise with unlimited cheese and wine – we’ve tried several canal cruises and this was our favorite!
- Visit the Van Gogh Museum – enjoy this gorgeous museum dedicated to Van Gogh’s work.
- Visit the Anne Frank House – learn more about Anne Frank’s story and see where she and her family hid.
- Visit Rembrandt’s House – experience the home where Rembrandt lived and learn about his life and work.
More Amsterdam posts to help you plan your trip!
- 2 Days in Amsterdam (what to see, where to stay, what to eat & more!)
- Rijksmuseum Amsterdam (everything you need to know to plan your trip!)
- Monkey Bar Amsterdam (In’t Aepjen)
Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
We hope you love the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam as much as we do! Which paintings are your favorites?
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Kim of Glover Gardens says
This is a good primer on what to see at the museum. I went with my son last summer and was overwhelmed by the sheer number of Van Gogh paintings, let alone their magnificence. You’re absolutely right about purchasing tix ahead of time – it’s the only way.
A Hedgehog in the Kitchen says
It can feel overwhelming! It’s nice to set out to see a few key paintings and then to go from there. I hope you enjoyed your visit! Thanks for stopping by the blog.