Van Gogh Museum

Today we thought we would venture onto the obligatory Amsterdam canal cruise.  Seeing we had covered all other forms of transport this trip, we thought we might as well add the aquatic version into the mix.

Canal cruise

Our cruise started outside Anne Frank’s house and took us to Leidesplein, where we disembarked to take a leisurely stroll down to Museumplein.  This area includes the famous Rijksmuseum, as well as the purpose built Van Gogh Museum. The area also boasts a delightful children’s playground, large grassed area, water feature and cafes.

Leidesplein

Mueumplain with Rijksmuseum in background

Museumplein playground

 Heading over to the Van Gogh Museum, we were ecstatic to be walking right past the incredible queues to get in as we had arranged pre-purchased tickets through our hotel, affording us immediate access.  Many museums in Amsterdam provide online ticket facilities. As long as you have a printer service in your hotel, as you do need to print the tickets if purchasing online, it is certainly the best way to go.  We did this for Anne Frank’s House, and after seeing the line down the street and around the corner we were pleased we did.  Child or no child, waiting in a queue for an hour is not my idea of fun!

The Van Gogh Museum houses the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s works, including paintings and sketches. It also contains works from Van Gogh’s contemporaries, many of whom had a great influence upon him, such as Monet, Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec and Rodin.

Seeing the paintings that have become synonymous with Van Gogh, such as the Sunflowers, I would have to say my favourite is probably one not as well known, Daubigny’s Garden.

Daubigny's Garden

This Museum is amazing – and well worth a visit. The pure genius that is Van Gogh leaps off each and every canvas;  and to think that this prolific painter lived such a tragic life, dying prematurely at his own hand, and was never really able to realise his own true worth.

In his own words... I put my heart and my soul into my work and have lost my mind in the process...