Learn about the life and legacy of the great Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh — one of the most famous artists in the history of Western art — on this 5-day tour around the Netherlands. Start in Amsterdam, where you'll view some of the artist's original paintings at the Van Gogh Museum. Move on to the Dutch province of Brabant and Noordbrabants Museum in Den Bosch, home to several Van Gogh masterpieces. Zoom around the artist's onetime home of Nuenen on an e-bike, then finish the itinerary at Hoge Veluwe National Park and Kröller-Müller Museum, which houses the second-largest Van Gogh collection in the world.

Highlights

  • View the greatest works of Vincent van Gogh in person
  • Explore the artist's onetime hometown of Nuenen
  • See works by Van Gogh and Hieronymus Bosch in Den Bosch
  • Discover Hoge Veluwe National Park on an e-bike
  • Walk around on of Europe's largest sculpture gardens

Brief Itinerary

Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Visit the Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
Day 2 Detour to Van Gogh's Home Province of Brabant  's Hertogenbosch
Day 3 Cycle Around Nuenen on a Self-Guided Art Tour Nuenen
Day 4 Explore Hoge Veluwe National Park & Kröller-Müller Museum Otterlo
Day 5 Depart Amsterdam - End of Trip  

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Visit the Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh Museum

Museum crowds in Amsterdam

Welcome to the Dutch Lowlands! After arriving in Amsterdam, you'll transfer to your hotel in the city center, a picturesque labyrinth of canals and small streets dotted with old houses and buildings. 

Begin your art tour on a private boat cruise through the city's canals. After about two hours on the water, the boat will drop you off in front of the Rijksmuseum, the most famous museum in the country. It's home to The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn, considered one of the most important paintings ever created in the Netherlands. Near this massive artwork, you'll also see The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer and many other 17th-century works by Dutch Masters. 

Next, you'll stop by the Van Gogh Museum. Take a break for lunch in the museum's café, then explore the collections at your own pace. Van Gogh famously created over 2,000 paintings in a little over a decade. The museum houses some of his most famous works, including The Potato Eaters, Sunflowers, Almond Blossom, and one of his very last works, Wheatfield with Crows.

In the evening, have a leisurely dinner at one of the many restaurants near your hotel. 

Day 2: Detour to Van Gogh's Home Province of Brabant 

Detail of a piece by Hieronymus Bosch

After breakfast, you'll take a train to ’s Hertogenbosch, or Den Bosch for short. Den Bosch is the capital of the province of Brabant, the province where Vincent van Gogh was born and raised, and features a charming old town with beautiful buildings, historic churches, and many excellent cafés and restaurants.

Begin by visiting the Noordbrabants Museum, home to several paintings from Van Gogh's early period, and many paintings by other local artists like the great Hieronymus Bosch (or Jeroen Bosch as he is locally called). To dive deeper into Bosch's life and work, head over to the Hieronymus Bosch Art Center. You'll see reproductions of his fascinating and highly detailed works here — the center's ceilings are adorned with 3-D sculptures inspired by images from his paintings. Walking around the city center afterward, keep your eyes open and you'll see elements of Bosch's work on almost every corner, especially in colorful street art. Finish the day with a boat tour through the city and dinner in one of Den Bosch's many restaurants.

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Day 3: Cycle Around Nuenen on a Self-Guided Art Tour

Getting up close with Van Gogh's masterpieces

Today you will head to Nuenen, Vincent van Gogh's hometown between 1883 and 1885. After checking into your hotel, you will start your self-guided e-bike tour, visiting various places in the area where Van Gogh lived and worked. You will also visit Vincentre Museum, where you will learn more about the artist's life and legacy. The evening is free to relax and enjoy the local bar and restaurant scene.

Day 4: Explore Hoge Veluwe National Park & Kröller-Müller Museum

A forested path in De Hoge Veluwe National Park

The adventure continues with a trip to De Hoge Veluwe National Park, one of the largest forested areas in the Netherlands. It once served as the private hunting grounds for Dutch royalty. Check into your hotel in Otterlo, right next to the park gate, and travel by e-bike to the Kröller-Müller Museum. The museum has the second-largest Van Gogh collection in the world, with almost 90 paintings and over 180 drawings. Among these are a version of The Potato Eaters (1885), Cafe Terrace at Night (1888), Sorrowing Old Man (1890), and Country Road in Provence by Night (1890). You'll also find masterpieces by Georges Seurat and Pablo Picasso.

In the sculpture garden, one of the largest in Europe, stroll around hundreds of works sculptures by artists including Aristide Maillol, Jean Dubuffet, Marta Pan, and Pierre Huyghe. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the surrounding park on your e-bike.

Day 5: Depart Amsterdam - End of Trip

Cycling in Amsterdam

Today the trip comes to an end. You'll transfer to the airport to catch a flight out. Safe travels!

More Netherlands Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to the Netherlands? Check out these other Netherlands itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights. 

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