Hotels near Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Van Gogh Museum houses over 200 paintings by Vincent van Gogh, making it the largest collection of his work in the world. In addition to the paintings, the museum also owns more than 500 of his drawings and around 750 letters written by the artist. These works span Van Gogh’s entire career, from early studies in the Netherlands to the vivid, emotionally charged pieces created in France.

The collection includes many of his most recognized works, as well as lesser-known pieces that showcase his artistic development. While parts of the exhibit are periodically rotated for preservation purposes, the main highlights such as The Potato Eaters, Bedroom in Arles, and several versions of his self-portraits are almost always on display.

The depth of the museum’s collection allows visitors to gain a broad understanding of Van Gogh’s evolving style, influences, and techniques. For those interested in the full scope of his creativity, the Van Gogh Museum offers a rare and comprehensive look at the life, work and legacy of one of history’s most influential artists.

While the Van Gogh Museum's collection spans Van Gogh's entire career, the Arles period (1888-1889) is the most well-represented. This was arguably Van Gogh's most prolific and creative period when he produced many of his best-known paintings.

While in Arles, Van Gogh perfected his representation of color, light, and emotional intensity - the core principles that defined his mature style and birthed masterpieces such as Sunflowers and The Yellow House, as well as numerous self-portraits.

The Van Gogh Museum also exhibits earlier works from his Dutch period, which depict rural life predominantly in darker tones, as well as later works painted during his time in Saint-Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise.

Yes, one of Van Gogh's famous Sunflowers paintings is on display at the Van Gogh Museum for visitors to admire. This particular version is part of a series he painted in Arles in 1888 and 1889 and features vibrant yellow blooms in a simple vase set against a light background, showcasing Van Gogh’s exploration of color and form.

While several different Sunflowers paintings are held by other museums around the world, the Amsterdam version is one of the most recognizable pieces of Western art, making it the ultimate highlight of the museum's permanent collection.

The Sunflowers are exhibited alongside other works from the same period, offering a comprehensive view of Van Gogh’s time in southern France and the stylistic features that characterize this period.

Officially opened to the public in 1973, the Van Gogh Museum was established to preserve Vincent van Gogh's paintings, drawings, and letters and present them as a comprehensive collection in one dedicated space. Vincent Willem van Gogh, Van Gogh’s nephew, laid the foundations for the museum decades earlier by ensuring his uncle's works remained together after inheriting the family's collection.

With the help of the Dutch government, the museum was eventually designed by architect Gerrit Rietveld and built in Amsterdam’s Museumplein.

Today, its influence extends beyond its role as a major art institution, serving as an educational and research center for Van Gogh's life and artistic legacy.

The Van Gogh Museum has a number of lesser-known works on display that offer compelling insights into the artist's journey of creative discovery and development. These include early and less-recognizable sketches, figure studies, and landscapes, such as the Peasant Woman Digging or The Old Church Tower at Nuenen, which are thoughtfully integrated into the exhibitions and prove pivotal in understanding the evolution of his style.

The museum also offers an unprecedented glimpse into how Van Gogh tested new techniques and materials through exhibits of his unfinished works and experimental studies. In addition, the museum features works by artists who influenced or were influenced by Van Gogh, adding further context to his legacy.

By covering a broad spectrum of Van Gogh's work beyond the masterpieces, the museum provides visitors with a more complete picture of his artistic genius.