Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam - Amsterdam

The number one paid attraction in Amsterdam is the Van Gogh Museum which is dedicated to the life and works of the prolific painter. The museum, which opened in 1973, received a wing for modern architecture in 1999. It is visited by approximately 1.5 million people each year. Located near many youth hostels it is  popular among backpackers.

The Van Gogh museum portrays more of Van Gogh’s famous works than any other museum in the world. Famous paintings such as  The Sunflowers, and Van Gogh’s self-portrait are part of the permanent collection. You can ask at your youth hostel if any special exhibitions are being showcased.

Guided tours are not offered by the museum but can be booked (possibly at your youth hostel) with an outside guide. If you prefer to visit the museum by yourself it is recommended that you acquire the booklet which explains Van Gogh’s life. The booklet which is available in many languages including English can be found at the museum’s information desk and at many youth hostels. The booklet also contains a map of the museum to further facilitate self guided tours.

If you are passionate about art and especially Van Gogh, know that the Van Gogh Museum has a specialized library containing over 24,000 books on Van Gogh and other artists of the nineteenth century.

Directions
The Van Gogh Museum is located on the Museumplein. The entrance is at number 7 at the Paulus Potterstraat. The museum is easily accessible by public transportation (tram lines 2, 3, 5 and 12 and buses 170, 171 and 172) which may be very close to your youth hostel.
The museum is open daily from 10AM to 6PM, however, on Fridays it closes later at 10Pm.
Admission is 14 euros but is free for those under 18. Unfortunately, there is no student discount.