Van Gogh Museum vs. Rijksmuseum: My Honest Opinion
On my last trip to Amsterdam, I visited both the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. Both of these museums are amazing in their own ways. But what if you need to narrow it down to just one to visit?
If you’re trying to decide between two of Amsterdam’s most popular art museums, I’ve got you covered. This guide will help you decide which museum to visit if you can only choose one of them.
Both the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum are among the most popular tourist attractions in Amsterdam. These two famous art museums are located close to each other in the Museumplein area of the city, along with several other museums, including the Stedelijk Museum and the Moco Museum.
As the name suggests, the Van Gogh Museum is dedicated to the life and works of Dutch-born artist Vincent Van Gogh. The Rijksmuseum, on the other hand, has a broad collection of Dutch artwork.
I always love visiting art museums when I travel. Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists (like Van Gogh) are my favorites, but I honestly enjoy seeing any type of art. That’s why I was so excited to visit both of these incredible museums, and now I can share my personal experience with you.
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Which Museum Should You Visit?
On my first trip to Amsterdam, I only had a day and a half in the city, and since it was a very last-minute visit, I wasn’t able to book tickets for any of the popular attractions in the city, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. I vowed to remedy this on my next trip to Amsterdam, and I did.
Two and a half years later, I returned to the city for three full days and had time to visit both the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. And I was so glad I did! Both museums are absolutely incredible.
My top recommendation would be to visit both of these museums.
But what if you can’t or don’t want to? That’s okay, too. That’s why I’m writing this guide! Some reasons you might be choosing between the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum include:
- Budget: Both museums charge a steep admission fee, so you may only want to pay for one.
- Time: If you’re short on time in Amsterdam, you may only want to visit one museum.
- Interest: Not a huge fan of museums in general? You may only want to choose one of them.
Whatever the case, this guide will help you decide which Amsterdam museum to visit. I love both of these museums, but I’m sharing my thoughts on each one below to help you make your decision.
Here’s a look at each museum, including who I think each one is best for:
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum has the most comprehensive collection of artwork from Vincent Van Gogh in the world. This Dutch-born Post-Impressionist painter is one of the most famous and beloved artists of all time. The Van Gogh Museum is about not just his artwork, but also about the life of the painter.
Along with more than 200 paintings and 500 drawings from Van Gogh, the museum has more than 700 letters Van Gogh wrote to his younger brother. There are also works from Van Gogh’s peers like Monet and Gauguin. The museum brings to life the complicated and tragic figure of Vincent Van Gogh.
It’s a very moving experience, and the museum takes you chronologically throughout the artist’s life. Even someone who is only casually interested in art will have a great experience at this immersive museum.
Van Gogh Museum Info
Tickets for the Van Gogh Museum are €24 for adults and free for visitors 18 and under.
Discounted student tickets are available for €11 on weekdays only.
You must purchase your timed ticket online in advance — they are not available in person. I recommend buying your tickets through GetYourGuide because it offers free cancellation or rescheduling up to 24 hours in advance, which is not the case if you purchase your ticket directly from the museum.
The Van Gogh Museum is open every day, typically from 9 AM until 5 PM or 6 PM, although it stays open until 9 PM on many Fridays. The hours change seasonally, so check current information here.
Why You Should Choose It: My Take
You’re short on time. The Van Gogh Museum is smaller than the Rijksmuseum, and you can follow the whole museum program in about two hours. In comparison, you could easily spend over half a day at the Rijksmuseum because of its massive collection. So the Van Gogh Museum is the winner here.
You’re a student on a budget. If you’re a student from anywhere in the world with a valid student ID, you can get into the Van Gogh Museum for half price on weekdays. The Rijksmuseum offers a similar discount, but it’s not available to everyone (which I’ll talk about below), so I’d pick the Van Gogh Museum here.
You’re interested in following just one artist. While the Rijksmuseum contains a massive collection spanning hundreds of years, the Van Gogh Museum focuses on just one artist over his lifetime.
You prefer more modern art. Van Gogh’s vibrant Post-Impressionist paintings appeal to a lot more people than some of the more stuffy Dutch Golden Age artwork you might see at the Rijksmuseum (myself included!) If you prefer more modern art like this, I would recommend the Van Gogh Museum.
You’re visiting with kids. Of the two museums, I think the Van Gogh Museum is better for families. It takes less time to visit, the exhibits are kid-friendly, and the paintings appeal to visitors of all ages.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum opened in 1885 and displays an impressive collection of Dutch art through the ages, showcasing artists like Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Steen. There are even a few works from Van Gogh here, too! You also shouldn’t miss the magnificent Cuypers Library (it’s on my list of the most beautiful libraries in the world) and the collection of blue-and-white Delft ceramics.
I actually wished I had more time at the Rijksmuseum. I spent several hours there, but then I had to leave for my tour of the Anne Frank House. And unfortunately, you cannot re-enter the museum once you exit.
Visiting the Rijksmuseum is a great experience for anyone who is interested in seeing some of the most iconic works by Dutch artists. You can also learn a lot about Dutch history at this museum.
Rijksmuseum Info
Tickets for the Rijksmuseum are €25 for adults and free for visitors 18 and under.
If you have a European Youth Card (EYCA), then you can get discounted tickets for €12.50. These cards are only available for Europeans under the age of 30 and have to be applied for in advance. So it’s not a student discount that applies to everyone, unlike the one that is offered at the Van Gogh Museum.
Like with the Van Gogh Museum, you must purchase your timed tickets online in advance. Again, I recommend buying your tickets through GetYourGuide (although note that all Rijksmuseum tickets are non-refundable and cannot be changed, unlike Van Gogh Museum tickets from GetYourGuide.)
The Rijksmuseum is open every day from 9 AM until 5 PM. See more information here.
Why You Should Choose It: My Take
You want to make a day of it. As I mentioned above, the Rijksmuseum is much larger than the Van Gogh Museum. I’d recommend spending at least four or five hours here. If you want to visit a museum that you can make a full day out of as opposed to spending just a couple of hours, choose the Rijksmuseum.
You want to learn more about Dutch history. The Rijksmuseum provides a more holistic overview of Dutch history and art through the ages, rather than focusing on one particular artist.
You’re interested in seeing a more diverse collection. Similarly, if you want to see a broader collection of art (rather than that of just one artist), you should choose the Rijksmuseum.
You love getting lost in museums. While the Van Gogh Museum has a chronological program to follow, the Rijksmuseum is more of a place where you can just get lost and wander, exploring whichever collections are most interesting to you. You don’t have to go in any specific order at this museum.
Van Gogh Museum vs. Rijksmuseum: My Final Thoughts
This guide showed you how to choose between the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this guide, my top recommendation would actually be to visit both museums. I think each one is worthwhile, and I was really impressed by my experience at both of them.
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However, if you’re limited by budget, time, or interest, you can’t go wrong with choosing just one of these museums to visit, either. Hopefully, this guide helped you figure out which one to prioritize.
Enjoy your trip to Amsterdam!
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