Ten years, two hundred paintings
Van Gogh painted for barely ten years, and the museum's collection covers all of them: the dark early work from the Dutch countryside, the lighter palette he found in Paris and the colour of the south of France.
Your guide brings that story to life in front of the paintings, with help from the letters Vincent wrote to his brother Theo, which explain more about the work than any label.
The tour is private and adjusted to your interests. Painters can focus on technique and colour, families can keep it short and visual, and anyone curious about one period or painting can go deeper. Tell us when you book.
The Van Gogh Museum stands on the Museumplein, a short walk from the Rijksmuseum, so it combines easily with our private Rijksmuseum tour.
What you'll see on this tour
What our guests say
Real reviews left by our guests across our tours, on Google, Tripadvisor and GetYourGuide. Every one of them is unedited and in the guest’s own words.
“A very good and cheerful guide. Historically knowledgeable yet entertaining. And he managed to adapt to the leisurely walking pace of my guests.”
“Ein sehr guter und fröhlicher Guide. Historisch fundiert und trotzdem unterhaltsam. Und es ist ihm gelungen, sich an das gemütliche Lauftempo meiner Gäste anzupassen.”
Translated from German
Google · April 2026“Excellent tour. Robin has a light hearted approach that was amusing as well as keeping to be very informative. Would highly recommend to others. 👍”
“Frederico Cassani is a excellent guide and wealth of information. I really enjoyed my walking tour with him.”
Google · April 2026What's included
Included
- Knowledgeable private guide for your group only
- 1-hour private guided tour inside the museum
- Booking of your group visit with the museum
Not included
- Museum entry tickets, which you can add at checkout at the museum's own price
- Audio guide
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities for the guide (optional)
What to expect
Meeting at the group entrance
Your guide meets you outside the museum's group entrance on Paulus Potterstraat, on the other side of the building from the glass hall on the Museumplein. Guided groups go in here, not through the main entrance. Arrive ten minutes before your time slot.
Meeting point: At the group entrance of the Van Gogh Museum, Paulus Potterstraat 7, Amsterdam. You can also choose a custom starting location. Just add it as a comment when you book.
Vincent's story
Ten years of painting, from the dark farm scenes of his early work to Paris and the south of France, told through the paintings and his letters to Theo.
The highlights
Works such as Sunflowers, The Bedroom, Almond Blossom and his self-portraits, depending on what is on display on the day.
Shaped around your group
Technique and colour, his life and letters, or one period in depth: tell us when you book and your guide adjusts the tour.
After the tour
The tour ends inside the museum and you keep your ticket, so you can stay as long as you like or visit the temporary exhibition.
Highlights
Sunflowers, The Bedroom and Almond Blossom explained by your own guide
Your own knowledgeable guide, for your group only
We book the group visit with the museum, so you only have to turn up
Frequently asked questions
Are museum tickets included?
Not in the €199, but you can add them when you book, for €26 per adult. Under-18s are free: enter how many are coming at checkout and we book their free tickets with the group.
We have a Museumkaart. Do we still need to add tickets?
Leave the paid tickets off and tell us in the booking comment how many of you have a Museumkaart. The museum still wants a ticket in every guided group, so we book a free one for each card holder. Bring the card on the day.
Where exactly do we meet?
At the group entrance of the Van Gogh Museum, Paulus Potterstraat 7. Guided groups enter here rather than through the glass entrance hall on the Museumplein. Your guide waits outside; arrive ten minutes before your slot.
What times can the tour start?
Tours start hourly between 10am and 3pm, so the guided hour always ends well before the museum closes. The museum works with timed entry and we book your slot when you book the tour.
How many people can join a private Van Gogh Museum tour?
Up to fifteen guests per guide, which is the museum's own limit for a guided group. Bigger groups get a second guide, and the checkout works that out from your group size.
Can we take photos inside?
In the permanent collection, photos for personal use are allowed without flash, tripod or selfie stick. Some temporary exhibitions and loaned works are marked no photography. Your guide tells you where.
Is one hour enough for the Van Gogh Museum?
For the guided story of his life and the key paintings, yes. Most visitors spend two hours or more in total, and that works well here: an hour with your guide, then as long as you like on your own with your ticket.
Can we leave the museum and come back?
No, a Van Gogh Museum ticket does not allow re-entry. If you want lunch or coffee, there is a café inside, or plan the tour for the end of your visit.
Can we combine this with the Rijksmuseum?
Yes. Both museums are on the Museumplein. Book our private Rijksmuseum tour for the morning and this one for the afternoon, or the other way round, with time for lunch in between.
More about Amsterdam
What else there is to see, how to get there, and when to come.
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