Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum is one of the biggest draws in Amsterdam, and it holds the largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's work anywhere. It sits on Museumplein in the south of the center, between Leidseplein and Vondelpark, and right next door to the Rijksmuseum. The one thing that has changed completely since we first wrote this page: you can't just turn up and queue. Every visitor needs an online ticket with a start time.

Tickets: online only, with a time slot

The museum sells tickets online only, and every ticket comes with a start time. Without one you won't get in, and that includes people who get in free with a discount card: they still have to reserve a timed ticket online. The old advice to beat the ticket line by arriving at opening time no longer applies, because there is no ticket line.

Prices as of 2026:

• Adults: €25
• Under 18: free (you still need to book a timed ticket)
• Students: €16, with an international student card or proof of enrolment at a school in the EU/EEA
• Museumkaart holders: free

Two things catch people out. First, the museum is no longer part of the I amsterdam City Card (it left the scheme on 1 June 2022), so if you buy that card, budget for this museum separately. See our I amsterdam City Card page before deciding whether the card pays off for you. Second, fake ticket sites are a real problem. The museum's own warning is to buy only at tickets.vangoghmuseum.com or through its listed official resellers.

Book as soon as your dates are fixed, especially for summer weekends and school holidays. Walk-up visitors who assumed they could buy on the day are the ones who miss out.

Opening hours

For most of 2026 the museum is open daily from 9am to 6pm, with Friday evenings until 9pm. From early November to mid-December it closes at 5pm on most days, and the Christmas period has its own hours. The museum publishes a day-by-day schedule, so check it for your dates.

Friday evening is the time we'd pick. The museum runs its "Vincent on Friday" program on those late nights, and the building tends to feel less like a conveyor belt after dinner time than it does at 11am on a Saturday.

What you'll see

The permanent collection follows Van Gogh's life from his dark early work in the Netherlands through Paris and on to the south of France. You can get close to The Potato Eaters, The Bedroom and Sunflowers, among many others. There are also works by his contemporaries, which add some welcome perspective, plus letters and temporary exhibitions. Your ticket covers both the permanent collection and whatever exhibitions are on.

His strange story and troubled life make him compelling even if you don't swoon over the paintings, and the museum tells that story well. The audio guide comes in twelve languages and you can book it with your ticket.

The collection is not huge. Most people are happy with about two hours.

Is it the right museum for you?

Here's our view, and it hasn't changed much: plenty of people book the Van Gogh Museum because it's famous and then find they aren't big fans of his work. If you only have time for one art museum in Amsterdam, think about the Rijksmuseum next door instead. Adult tickets cost the same (€25 at both in 2026), and the Rijksmuseum covers 800 years of Dutch art and history, including Rembrandt's Night Watch. Both museums let under-18s in free.

If you do love Van Gogh, nowhere else comes close, and it's worth doing both museums on the same day since they share a square. Our guide to Amsterdam museums covers the rest, including the Stedelijk on the same square.

A renovation is coming

The museum plans a three-year renovation of its buildings starting in 2028. In 2025 and 2026 it has been in a public dispute with the Dutch government over funding for that work, with the director warning the museum could be forced to close if no deal was reached, and the two sides went into mediation in 2026 (The Art Newspaper). Nothing changes for visits right now, but if you are planning a trip for 2028 or later, check the museum's site for closures before you book.

Getting there

The address is Museumplein 6, and the main entrance faces Museum Square. From Amsterdam Centraal, take tram 2, 5 or 24 to the Museumplein stop. If you're coming straight from the airport, the Amsterdam Airport Express bus 397 also stops at Museumplein, which is handy if you're staying nearby. Our page on getting from Schiphol into the city has the details, and the public transportation guide covers tram fares.

Van Gogh Museum FAQ

Can I buy tickets at the door?

No. Tickets are sold online only and every visitor needs a timed ticket. If today's slots are gone, try the official resellers the museum lists on its ticket page, or look for a Friday evening slot later in your trip.

Is the Van Gogh Museum included in the I amsterdam City Card?

Not since June 2022. The Museumkaart (the Dutch museum pass) still gets you in free, but you have to reserve a time slot online.

Can I combine it with the Rijksmuseum on the same day?

Yes, and plenty of people do. They're a few minutes' walk apart on Museumplein. Two big museums in one day is a lot, so book the Van Gogh for the late afternoon or a Friday evening and do the Rijksmuseum in the morning. The Rijksmuseum garden is free to walk through if you need a break in between.