Life and works of a misunderstood genius

Vincent van Gogh is one of the most iconic painters of all times, and a pioneer of modern art. The entire Van Gogh Museum is dedicated to his life and work. It houses a unique collection of his paintings, including the world famous Sunflowers and the Potato Eaters, along with his drawings, letters and personal items.

In this two-hours tour, we survey the highlights of the collection: various self-portraits, Potato Eaters, Sunflowers, Bedroom in Arles, Almond Blossoms, Wheat Field with Crows, and other important works.

The Van Gogh Museum also displays paintings by other artists of Vincent’s circle. Van Gogh’s style changed dramatically over the course of his short career, especially during the time he spent in Paris. The artworks of his friends, mentors, or competitors offer an insight into his artistic evolution.

We’ll see what van Gogh learned from Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat and other French artists – realists, impressionists and post-impressionists. Furthermore, we will examine how van Gogh inspired the following generations of painters. His sensitivity to colors and expressive brushwork anticipated most of the 20^th century art.

Van Gogh’s life story unfolds as we look at his paintings. “I am what my work is,” he wrote once. Many people are only familiar with his tragic life story: poverty, insanity, a cut-off ear. We’ll debunk the common myths around his name. There is more to van Gogh than a tortured mad genius. He was a loving son and brother, a voracious reader, an artist with a tremendous visual culture, a deeply religious person.

All in all, we’ll figure out together what van Gogh’s life was, and what his legacy is.

Follow Vincent’s artistic evolution 

The tour takes you through Vincent’s entire career. We survey his early works in the Netherlands and his later paintings in France. In Paris, he painted impressionist landscapes and portraits. His works from Arles, Saint-Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise reflect his post-impressionist evolution.

How did a mediocre craftsman turn into a pioneer of bold self-expression? Van Gogh’s artistic journey is unique. He learned to draw from handbooks. As a self-taught artist, he worked hard to master his brush. On this tour, we look at the experiments that nurtured this transformation. We discuss Vincent’s science of colors, examine his innovative techniques and talk about his struggle to develop a distinctive style.

Van Gogh’s life and legacy

“Artworks of flesh and blood.” These words of Emile Zola, van Gogh’s favorite writer, could apply to Vincent’s own paintings.

Van Gogh’s artistic career was very short – only 10 years. His legend as a tortured artist often overshadows his work. During this tour, we explore the background of his iconic and lesser-known masterpieces. Vincent’s family relationships, job failures, faith, and love life help understand his artistic quest. We reconstruct his journey beyond the sensational highlights: mental illness, self-mutilation, and suicide.

Why is Van Gogh considered the greatest Dutch painter after Rembrandt? We will see how his work built on the legacy of old masters, while he also continued the experiments of the 19th century artists. Yet van Gogh is unlike anything that came before him. Vincent’s work had a profound impact on the European art throughout the 20^th century. He continues to fascinate people today. He shaped our very idea of art.

The world’s largest collection of Vincent’s works

The Van Gogh museum holds an outstanding collection of Vincent’s works. It comprises about 200 paintings and more than 500 drawings. It also boasts a rich collection of letters and artefacts. It is a visual account of his entire life, from his childhood to his premature death.

The museum was founded by van Gogh’s nephew, Vincent Willem, the son of Theo van Gogh. Vincent’s iconic painting Almond Blossom was a present to him as a newborn.

The Van Gogh Museum tour is led by a professional art historian guide. This intimate, conversational experience helps you build a meaningful connection to the artist.

Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum Combined Tour

Short on time? Consider taking a combo tour of the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. The two museums are located on Amsterdam’s Museum Square, within a short walk from each other. In 4 hours, you can see the best of both. 

If you prefer to explore both museums more thoroughly, you can complete the Van Gogh Museum tour with a separate tour of the Rijksmuseum. 

Experience Vincent’s days with a 19th century city stroll 

Seeing art and hearing stories in a museum is one thing. Want to feel even more of the vibe of Vincent’s century? Then let’s combine the museum visit with a walk through Amsterdam. During this walk, we will focus of life and developments of the 19th century. A walk of 1,5-2 hours combines perfectly with a 1,5-2 hours museum visit. Both ways are possible: we could either first visit the museum and then go on a walking tour, or start with a walking tour and then dive into the Van Gogh museum. 

FAQ

Where is the meeting point?
We will email you the meeting point and other details of the tour upon booking.

We are with more than 5 people. Can we still book this tour?
With some tours we sometimes make exceptions regarding the amount of people in your group. However, the Van Gogh museum tends to get crowded an it’s not comfortable to go around with a larger group. In case you are with more than 5 people, you may always check with us whether we have more guides available.  

Do you provide head sets?
Some guides go through the museum with larger groups, using a whisper set. This is not our style. We value conversation as much as sharing knowledge. As we are strict with your group size for the Van Gogh museum, it will always be possible to actually talk about the art works and stories behind them.

Is Starry Night on display?
This painting is part of the permanent collection of MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art) in New York. Another Starry Night is on display at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

Is the tour suitable for young children?
This tour is suitable from the age of 12. 

Is this tour suitable for people with reduced mobility?
The Van Gogh Museum is well accessible for people with reduced mobility.

I have particular interests at the Van Gogh Museum. Can this tour be customized?
We always adapt every tour to your wishes and interests. Please contact us, and we will be happy to come up with a customized solution for you.