[This post is based on my visit to Amsterdam in June 2025. All photos are mine unless otherwise indicated.]
Bonjour ! School’s out and I’ve just returned from a week-long summer vacation trip to Paris with my younger daughter! (More to come on our visit to Paris.)
Our return itinerary included a long layover and overnight stay in Amsterdam, which gave us the opportunity to spend the afternoon exploring the Netherlands’ largest city known for its colorful tulips, historic architecture, and numerous museums, including the Van Gogh Museum.
About the museum and building
After Vincent van Gogh’s passing, his works were managed by his brother Theo and his wife Johanna van Gogh-Bonger. Their son, and Vincent’s nephew, Vincent Willem, founded the Vincent van Gogh Foundation in 1962. Together with the State he built the Van Gogh Museum, in which the family collection was placed on permanent loan to make sure that it got managed and preserved for future generations.
The main building of the museum at the Paulus Potterstraat was designed by Gerrit Rietveld and opened in 1973. It houses the permanent collection with works by Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. In 1999, Kisho Kurokawa designed the exhibition wing. The state-of-the-art glass building was built by Hans van Heeswijk Architects in cooperation with Octatube. On September 5, 2015, the new entrance foyer on Museumplein opened.
How to get to the Van Gogh Museum from Schiphol Airport
You can go by car or take a bus to the Van Gogh Museum from the airport. My daughter and I took a 29-minute ride on the Amsterdam Airport Express number 397 bus. Since we were spending the night at an airport hotel, we each bought a “return trip” bus ticket from the red van parked outside the airport for €11,75. (It saved each of us €0,75 off two single-ride tickets). We got off the bus at the “group entrance” to the museum, which is only a few steps away from the main (glass) entrance.
In addition to Sunflowers and The Bedroom in Arles (the first version), I enjoyed seeing the following works of art in person.
Zonnebloemen (Sunflowers), 1889 (oil on canvas). Van Gogh used no more than three tints of yellow to create this painting, one of five versions
De slaapkamer (The Bedroom), 1888 (oil on canvas). Also known as The Bedroom in Arles (the first version) since there are two others, currently in Chicago and Paris
De tuin van Daubigny (Daubigny’s Garden), 1890 (oil on canvas). Van Gogh drafted this painting on a tea towel before painting it on canvas
Boomwortels (Tree Roots), 1890 (oil on canvas). This painting is unfinished as Van Gogh sadly died two days after a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest on the afternoon he worked on this painting. He was 37.
Temporary exhibition (from May 30, 2025 to September 7, 2025)
For the first time in its history, the Van Gogh Museum presents work by an African artist, “in an artistic dialogue that opens up new perspectives.” Inspired by Van Gogh’s painting style and life, Nigerian artist, John Madu, created ten new works for this exhibition now on view through September 7, 2025.
Van Gogh’s painting (below), Voor een restaurant te Asnières (Exterior of a Restaurant in Asnières), 1887 (oil on canvas) inspired John Madu’s painting (above)
At the museum, there was a video showing how through a microscope, you can see beige, brown, and black grains of sand that were blown into the paint of Van Gogh’s painting, Seascape near Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (Arles, June 1888).
A few tips for visiting the Van Gogh Museum
- Purchase your timed-entry tickets online only and weeks in advance, if possible (to avoid disappointment!)
- Pick an early entry time
If you pick the last entry time of 16:30 (like I did), be sure to pace yourself, so you’ll have enough time to see all the exhibits and visit the gift shop before 18:00, when both the museum and gift shop close.
- Start from level 3 (top floor) and work your way down
Van Gogh’s more popular works are on the lower levels, so it’s understandable that those floors would be more crowded. I found myself lingering longer on levels 0 and 1 for a chance to see the paintings up close. As a result, I lost some time and I ended up rushing through levels 2 and 3.
- Follow their “no selfies with the artwork” rule
They are serious about no flash photography and no selfies. I witnessed a security guard telling a couple of people to delete their selfies from their devices on the spot!
Fun fact: The Dutch pronunciation of Vincent van Gogh’s name sounds like, “Fin-sent Fun Hawh.” (In French, I’ve heard it as “Vansan van Gogg,” while we Americans pronounce it “Vincent van Go.”)
After our visit, we decided to explore the surrounding area. Just across the way from the Van Gogh Museum is the Rijksmuseum, which features more art work by Van Gogh and other Dutch masters like, Rembrandt and Vermeer.
Then we picked up some soft and chewy caramel stroopwafels, a cool can of Heineken for me to drink back at the hotel and a can of lemon Fanta (a flavor not available at home in the U.S., so my daughter was happy)!
While waiting for a steady swarm of cyclists to ride past, we peered over the canals and waved to passengers in boats as they sailed under the bridge. Some of them even waved back! In search of Amsterdam frites and pretty postcards for my collection, we happened to find the cutest wooden tulips to bring home!
As we had an early flight the following morning, we caught the 397 bus back to the airport before dark. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the convenience of staying at the comfortable citizenM Schiphol Hotel (this is not an ad). It was literally a six-minute walk to/from the airport’s entrance!
Overall, we enjoyed our afternoon in Amsterdam. Everyone we met was so friendly. The welcoming atmosphere has certainly inspired me to plan a return trip some day to see more of Amsterdam and the Netherlands.🌷🇳🇱
Many thanks to the Van Gogh Museum for giving me a press visit ticket. All opinions are mine.
Thanks for reading Bonjour: A Francophile Blog!
Bonjour: A Francophile Blog 
Great choice — you’ve picked one of the best museums in Amsterdam! The no-selfie rule seems to be a new one to me, though — I thought that kind of reverence was only reserved for Buddha statues (:
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Yes, and with the intense pressure to take selfies in this “pics or it didn’t happen” age, it’s easier said than done. At the same time, I understand the no-selfies rule as selfie-taking can sometimes be distracting to others seeking a quiet contemplative space while they engage with the artwork. Thanks for reading, Sophie!
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I’m a huge van Gogh fan, and I also visited the van Gogh Museum when I was last in Amsterdam almost a decade ago. Admission prices are a bit steep, but well-worth paying for an abundance of van Gogh’s finest works. I’m glad you took advantage of the long layover in Amsterdam to visit this museum– it is a must while in town!
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I couldn’t pass up the chance to see Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” and “The Bedroom in Arles (first version)” with my own eyes. It was also great to see many of his self-portraits in one place. It’s impressive how many works of art he was able to create in such a short amount of time (10 years!) I agree, the Van Gogh Museum is a must when in Amsterdam! Thanks for reading, Rebecca!
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