Sunday, July 12th – Amsterdam

I amsterdam sign in front of Rijksmuseum

I was like a kid on Christmas morning pawing through my newly reunited suitcase this morning choosing fresh clothes. After living in the same jeans and t-shirt for the past 48+ hours, I was almost giddy to feel clean once again.

But that was this morning and it is now Sunday night in Amsterdam and I’m gathering my thoughts, reflecting upon our day. 

The short version is that we visited two world-class museums today, the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum.

Getting there: I absolutely love the public tram system. Lucky for us, the Dam Square tram stopped literally right in front of our hotel. Our very helpful front desk staff gave us a quick briefing on which number we needed and price options. In our case we could take either the #2 or #5 tram which would take us directly to the Museum Quarter.

You board the tram getting on in the (usually) next to last car from the front where a payment booth is located. You can choose to purchase a one hour or 24 hour ticket. A GVB 1 hour ticket costs €2.90; a 24 hour GVB ticket costs €7.50. Other longer options are available. Exact change is not needed. Click HERE for more info about their public transportation including rates and map.

Conductors cabin on the tram (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Van Gogh Museum

It had been recommended that we do the Van Gogh Museum first as it is smaller and fewer people are let in at any one time. The lines and waiting time can get long. With that in mind, we arrived shortly after they opened and breezed right in.

We rented the audio headsets and chose the highlights option. Our time in Amsterdam was limited so we planned to do two museums in one day. Perhaps a little too much and if we had more days I think doing one major museum in a day would be better.

One might argue that Vincent Van Gogh was a mixture of artistic genius and an unstable lost soul seeking to create a new vision in the art community.

A troubled personality had him in and out of mental institutions over several years. His art was often his salvation. Using bold strokes, vibrant colors and forging a brand new, innovative style, his work was largely dismissed while he was still living.

After a dispute with friend and fellow artist, Paul Gauguin, Vincent famously cut off part of his own ear. It has been 125 years this year since Van Gogh shot himself in the chest at the young age of 37.

The Van Gogh Museum was fabulous – even if they did not allow photography inside. As a work-around, I took a few shots of replicas of his work in the gift shop so I could give at least some idea of my favorites.

Also on display were some of his drawings and letters to his family, the bulk to his brother, Theo.

Almond blossoms, 1890

The piece I found most interesting and which I had not known the story behind was Almond Blossom. Painted as a gift for his beloved brother Theo and his wife Jo, and presented to them on the birth of their son, Vincent II. His nephew eventually went on to be the founder and driving force behind the creation of the Van Gogh collection and Museum.

A few more of the highlights include:

Self Portrait

Sunflowers, 1889

The bedroom, 1888

Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum has been on my radar for many years. My one and only visit to Amsterdam was in the early 1980’s. We were just here for a few short hours and my lone memory was taking a canal cruise. We had very limited time to explore afterwards. I don’t even remember how I spent that time. I do recall that a few people in the group made it to see this world-famous museum and raved about it. I have wanted to see it ever since and can now finally cross it off of the bucket list.

The price of admission is € 17.50 per person ($27 US at today’s exchange rate). We prepurchased our tickets at our hotel which allowed us to have a fast track entrance.  After hearing some horror stories about long lines, it was refreshing to walk right in.

The architecture of the building is part of the charm and beauty, starting from the outside. But it is the inside that wows. My day was improving as photography was allowed here.

Inside architectural details

An enormous collection of work by Dutch masters including Rembrandt, Vermeer and a few more Van Gogh. But it is so much more than paintings. Also housed here are furnishings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, porcelain, ship models, doll houses, books and Delft pottery.

I have already written far too many words today, so I’ll simply let the pictures of pieces that caught my eye speak for themselves. I hope you enjoy your mini tour through the Rijksmuseum…

The Milkmaid, Vermeer

Tim and Joanne in front of Night Watch, Rembrandt

I loved how the people looking at this painting by Bartholomeus van der Helst seemed to become part of it

Library

Delft (?) ceramic

A portrait of Helena van der Schalcke, not quite three years old by Gerard ter Borch c.1648

The Rat Poison Seller by Ambrosius van Swol, c.1660 (Boxwood)

Self portrait, Vincent van Gogh c.1887 (oil on cardboard)

In the Month of July by Paul JC Gabrielc. 1889

Two Mothers by Frans Stracke, 1893 Terracotta

Ten weepers from the tomb of Isabella of Bourbon

Gratitude Moment: Today I am grateful to have crossed one more item off of my VERY long bucket list. Seeing the Rijksmuseum was all I had hoped it would be. I was also surprised by how much I loved the Van Gogh Museum. A long time fan of his work, it still exceeded my expectations.

For anyone who has made it all the way to the end of this post – WOW and a very hardy THANK YOU for your dedication!