Van Gogh Museum Tour: A Guided Crash Course

Uncover the secrets of Van Gogh and his artworks, up close and personal
From US$346 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
2 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
Van Gogh Museum
Photos & Highlights
  • Van Gogh Museum tour with a local expert or art historian
  • Explore the life and work of one of the world's most famous modern artists
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Tour Description
From those famous sunflowers to iconic landscapes and self-portraits, Van Gogh and his work continue to influence our cultural imagination. But who was this man, and how did his tumultuous personality and relationships manifest in his art? We’ll dig into the life and work of this enigmatic artist on our 2-hour Van Gogh Museum Tour in Amsterdam, a tribute to one of the most beloved artists, both in the Netherlands and around the world.

Van Gogh Museum Tour

The story of Vincent Van Gogh combines high drama and a remarkable outpouring of creativity. Throughout his life, the artist suffered highs and lows, states and extremes that are expressed in his masterful, beautiful paintings.

Though he lived in relative poverty, Van Gogh suspected that his work would one day become important, and he couldn’t have been more correct. Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum in his honor is the world’s largest dedicated to a single artist and is testament to his incredible ongoing legacy.

Van Gogh and Amsterdam: an Art History Love Story

In the company of an art historian, we’ll spend the entirety of our time together in the various galleries of the museum. While the works themselves—with their thick layers of vibrant paint, unexpected colors and imaginative, near-magical textures and patterns—are fascinating enough, we’ll also look at the social and biographical meaning behind the scenes. Using stories and details from Van Gogh’s life, which started in the Netherlands and ended in France, we’ll analyze notable works of the museum’s collection. Looking at works ranging from The Potato Eaters to his self-portraits and famed Sunflowers, we'll also explore  the timeline of his artistic development.

Take Aways

By the time we exit the museum and return to the large Museumplein Square, we’ll have a sense of Van Gogh’s importance to art history. Not only that, we'll have an appreciation for the mastery of his paintings and a deeper understanding of Vincent—the man and the myth. Why not then cross the square for a broader perspective on Dutch art on our Rijksmuseum Tour? We also have a combined tour that visits both the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum.

FAQ


Can we book this tour for later in the day?
The Van Gogh Museum becomes very crowded throughout the day. We strongly recommend a 9:00 am start time for morning tours, but we can certainly accommodate requests for other times.

Is this tour suitable for children?
For families traveling with children under 12, we recommend our Van Gogh Museum for Kids tour which is led by family friendly guides and is specifically designed to engage younger learners.

Can we use the tickets to re-enter the museum after the tour is finished? 
Tickets at the Van Gogh Museum are timed and re-entry is not permitted, but you can stay inside the museum as long as you like.

There are 7 in my group but your website won't allow me to include more than 6 participants. Can't you make an exception?
No, unfortunately, due to venue reservation restrictions, we cannot accommodate groups larger than 6 people. If your group is larger, we recommend you split into multiple groups.

Where You'll Start
182 Reviews (4.81)

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Alette was an excellent guide! We enjoyed the tour very much! She was extremely knowledgeable and presented the museum to us very well. We learned about the development & progression of Van Gogh’s painting and how it related to his life. Fascinating!
Five stars! Amazing in depth and interpretive experience with such a knowledgeable and enjoyable guide. So glad we did this. Adult and teen alike enjoyed!
So passionate and great with our teenagers!