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ITINERARY (1/2 Day)
Van Gogh Museum
Museumplein
nugget’s Advice
Prepare in advance
Tickets may be purchased months ahead online. The "I Amsterdam City Card" is valid at the Van Gogh Museum, but a time slot must be booked via the "I Amsterdam" website beforehand. Also, if you want to take a guided family tour of the museum, be sure to book the tour ahead of time.
Recommended day/time
The Van Gogh Museum is open daily. The busiest hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Recommended time of the year
We visited during Amsterdam's high tourism season in the month of August. Even though we booked as much as possible online, there were crowds and lines everywhere. The museum was no exception. We were told April, May and July are equally busy.
Save Money
Admission to the Van Gogh Museum is free for children under the age of 18. Also, anyone who is unable to navigate his/her way through the museum independently may bring a companion for free.
About This Day
The Van Gogh Museum is one of Amsterdam's biggest attractions and one you don't want to miss when you visit the Netherlands with kids. My girls have known about Vincent Van Gogh since they were 2 years old, so the Van Gogh Museum was definitely their first choice of places to visit in Amsterdam, and we were not disappointed. The museum does a terrific job in explaining Van Gogh for kids. While many websites suggested the museum would take about 1 1/2 hours to view, we really could have stayed all day learning about Vincent Van Gogh. So, plan at least for a morning of inspiration and education, and afterward relax with a picnic at Amsterdam's Museumplein.
Van Gogh Museum
6 Museumplein, Amsterdam
$$$
The story of Van Gogh’s art and life is told throughout the gallery's displays of about 200 of his paintings and through his personal letters. This is one of the most family-friendly museums we have visited so far, especially with their family guides to help you navigate the museum and paintings. We also took advantage of their guided tour for families, which we booked ahead of time. Even though the museum was quite packed during our visit, the family tour made us feel like we had the museum to ourselves and we learned so much about this amazing Dutch painter.
DIRECTIONS
If you are using public transportation, the nearest stops are Van Baerlestraat (tram 2, 5 or 12) or Museumplein (tram 3, 5 or 12, bus 347 or 357). The museum website has detailed information about the best routes to take from different tram and bus stations.
TIP
Take advantage of all the free activities available for children ages 6-12. Vincent’s Travelling Case is filled with fun assignments for families to explore Van Gogh’s paintings. My youngest's favorite was the Treasure Hunt. After she answered the questions and completed the tasks, she received a gift to bring home as a souvenir.
Museumplein
1 Museumplein, Amsterdam
$$$
Museumplein, also known as Museum Square, is a public square that contains three major museums: the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art and the Van Gogh Museum. It is a great place for children to run free and families to rest in between museum visits. You'll also find a playground, an ice-skating pond (in winter), a skateboard ramp and green areas for having a picnic. There are also vendors selling ice cream, coffee, food and toys, such as the biggest bubble maker.
DIRECTIONS
The Museumplein square is right outside the Van Gogh Museum.
TIP
Concealed below the green spaces and the museums is a large supermarket. It's perfect for grabbing a picnic.
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