The master artist's legend lives on at Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum

Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum displays an abundance of works by Van Gogh himself as well as his Impressionist and post-Impressionist contemporaries, making this attraction popular among students as well as art lovers

Lana de Wit

The Museum and the Art

The modern main building was designed by Gerrit Rietveld and the newer oval-shaped exhibition wing by Kisho Kurokawa. Both allow visitors plenty of space to step back and admire the paintings, even when crowded. Featured masterpieces from throughout Van Gogh's life include Almond Blossom, Sunflowers and The Bedroom.

Thievery at the Museum

20 paintings were stolen from the museum during an audacious robbery in 1991, among them Van Gogh's early work The Potato Eaters. The thieves managed to escape, but all the stolen paintings were recovered from an abandoned car less than an hour later. This robbery was considered the largest art theft in the Netherlands since the Second World War. And as if that wasn't enough, Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen and View of the Sea at Scheveningen were stolen in another incident in 2002 and unfortunately never recovered. With a combined value of 30 million dollars, this heist figures on the FBI's list of Top Ten Art Crimes.

Enjoying your visit

The queues at the Van Gogh Museum can be serpentine during peak times. Once inside, however, visitors will be pleasantly surprised by the easy-to-navigate layout exhibiting the progression of Van Gogh's life and art. The educational tour is available in English and the gift shop is a super place to pick up unique Van Gogh memorabilia. For those inclined, there is also a cocktail bar where DJs perform on alternate Fridays. Free Wi-Fi is available at the museum and photography is strictly forbidden inside.
The Van Gogh museum is located in Amsterdam's Museum Quarter and trams number 2 or 5 will get you here from Central Station. Spend at least two hours at the museum to fully explore the works of Van Gogh and you won't leave disappointed.

Planning your trip to Amsterdam? Check out our favorite downtown hotels in Amsterdam.

Author: Lana de Wit

Guest Relations Manager at Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky

My name is Lana de Wit, Guest Relations Manager at Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. Together with the Guest Relations and Guest Services team we are making sure that all guests are having the best experience at our hotel and look after their special requests, celebrations and expectations. I get energy out of solving problems and striving for the best there is possible and I love the fact that every day is different and full of surprises. I always wanted to work at Krasnapolsky since I was a little girl, so being able to work here the past years has been a dream together with my fantastic colleagues. My biggest mission is to let every guest leave with extraordinary stories and unforgettable memories to take home. I look forward to welcoming you here in Amsterdam to give you the true Anantara experience!

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