What to See, Where to Go, and What’s Actually Worth Your Time 🌻
If you’re visiting the Netherlands and want to see Van Gogh’s work, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is an excellent place to start. It holds the largest collection in the world and is absolutely worth your time.
For many visitors, that museum alone is enough.
But if you’re curious about where he lived, where he struggled, and where he first became a painter, there’s more you can explore — and that’s where I’m going to help you with this guide.
This guide is for you if:
- You’re deciding how deeply you want to go
- You’re planning more than just a quick museum visit
- You want to use your time wisely
It’s not for you if:
- You’ve already decided on one museum stop and prefer to keep it simple
I’ve visited all these locations myself — some many times — and I don’t recommend them equally. Some are essential. Some are optional. I’ll help you sort that out.
The Three Ways to Experience Van Gogh in the Netherlands
There are really only three meaningful ways to experience Van Gogh here.
1. See the Masterpieces in Amsterdam
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam holds the largest collection in the world.
If you want to see his:
- Sunflowers
- Almond Blossom
- The Potato Eaters
- Self-portraits
- His letters
This is where you go.
It’s central, easy to combine with the Rijksmuseum, and works well if you’re staying in Amsterdam for a few days.
If you can only visit one Van Gogh location and you’re based in the city, this is the obvious choice.
But I rarely recommend it as the only Van Gogh experience if you have a full week in the Netherlands.
⤷ See my detailed Van Gogh Museum guide →
2. Experience Van Gogh in Nature — Kröller-Müller Museum
The Kröller-Müller Museum, located inside Hoge Veluwe National Park, holds the second-largest Van Gogh collection in the world.
It feels completely different from Amsterdam. This is one of favorite places to visit when I want to get away from the city.
Here you get to see:
- A large selection of Van Gogh paintings (the museum owns the 2nd largest collection)
- A famous sculpture garden
- Space
- Quiet
- Nature
When someone tells me they love art but dislike crowds, I point them here. It’s such a different experience compared to a city museum visit.
But this is not a quick visit. It requires planning. Public transport is possible, but slow. Most visitors underestimate the logistics.
You can also rent a car, or go on private tour where door-to-door logistics are handled for you.
⤷ Read my Kröller-Müller guide to learn more →
3. Walk Where He Lived and Worked — Brabant & Drenthe
This is where things become more personal.
Van Gogh spent most of his early life in the southern province of Brabant. That’s where he:
- Decided to become an artist
- Painted The Potato Eaters
- Developed his early dark style
If I had to choose one place in Brabant, I would choose Nuenen without hesitation. This where he truly came alive for me. So many recognizable places he painted, his elderly home, the church. His first crush. I lead private tours here, where we even have dinner in a mill he painted.
Zundert (his birthplace) is meaningful, but I don’t consider it essential. I was disappointed by the museum there. A photo in front of the house is often enough unless you’re a dedicated fan.
Etten is worth a stop if you’re already nearby. The Van Gogh Church gave me more insight than I expected, mainly because of the enthusiastic volunteer that greeted me when I walked in.
Drenthe is different. He stayed only three months, but he wrote that “everything is beautiful here.” If you have time and enjoy driving through open landscapes, it adds context. If your itinerary is tight, I would focus on Brabant first.
⤷ See my full Brabant guide →
⤷ See my Van Gogh in Drenthe guide →
So What Should You Actually Do?
Let’s simplify this.
If You Have 1–2 Days in Amsterdam
Visit the Van Gogh Museum.
Buy tickets well in advance. It sells out year-round. And the best slot is the one when the museum opens.
Keep it simple.
⤷ See my detailed Van Gogh Museum guide
If You Have 3–5 Days in the Netherlands
Add Kröller-Müller — or choose it instead of Amsterdam if crowds drain your energy.
The experience is calmer, and the park setting adds something you won’t get in the city.
If you’d like to see both the Kröller-Müller Museum and Nuenen in one well-paced day, my private tour combines them without the stress of planning the logistics yourself.
⤷ Read my Kröller-Müller guide
If You Have More Time and Want the Full Story
Read both my Van Gogh Brabant and Drenthe guide for all locations. But know it will require logistics.
- All places are reachable by public transportation but require careful planning and add extra time to your schedule.
- You can also rent a car. That makes logistics easier. But you have to be comfortable driving on foreign roads and deal with busy traffic.
- If you want to visit these smaller locations and like logistics taken care off you can also hire me as your personal driver guide. You tell me the places you want to see and I take you there.
Some Van Gogh locations that are harder to reach – © Hidden Holland
If you want to experience these locations without dealing with logistics. Consider hiring me as a private driver guide. We can tour Brabant or Drenthe location in one or more days.
Van Gogh Museums in the Netherlands (Ranked by Importance)
If your focus is seeing actual paintings, these are the priorities:
1. Van Gogh Museum — Amsterdam
Largest collection in the world. Essential if you’re in Amsterdam.
2. Kröller-Müller Museum — Hoge Veluwe
Second-largest collection. More space, less pressure. A completely different experience.
3. Noordbrabants Museum — Den Bosch
The have a few of his early works. Interesting if you’re already in Brabant. And Den Bosch is beautiful and fun city to visit.
4. Rijksmuseum — Amsterdam
Only a few Van Gogh paintings — but meaningful because he visited this museum himself.
He admired Rembrandt deeply. Seeing the Jewish Bride in person, the same way he did, adds context that many visitors overlook.
⤷ Here is my Rijksmuseum guide for tips and practicalities
Final Thought
Van Gogh’s most famous work was painted in France.
But his foundation — the discipline, the early struggles, the fascination with rural life — was formed here.
If you only see the paintings, you understand the artist.
If you also see the landscapes, the villages, and the churches — you understand the person.
And that’s a very different experience.
If you’d like my help to decide which Van Gogh locations are right for your trip, and help with the logistics you can book a 1 on 1 planning call with me and we make these decisions together.
