If you’re going to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, there’s one thing I want to tell you right away: get your tickets ahead of time.
I learned this by reading the experiences of travelers and even former museum employees. The Van Gogh Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam, and tickets often sell out days or even weeks in advance.
In this article, I’ll share some useful tips for the Van Gogh Museum so you can avoid common mistakes and enjoy a stress-free visit.
Always buy your tickets online
The first thing you should know is that you can’t buy tickets at the Van Gogh Museum entrance. Everyone who wants to visit must book a timed-entry ticket online in advance.
This means you can’t just walk in and buy a ticket like you can at many other museums. If tickets are sold out online, you won’t be able to enter that day.
A regular adult ticket costs about €27, but kids under 18 can get in for free (but they still need to make a reservation).
Book your tickets 2–4 weeks in advance
The Van Gogh Museum is extremely popular. During busy travel seasons like spring and summer, tickets can sell out very quickly.
Travel experts usually recommend booking 2 to 4 weeks in advance if you want your preferred time slot.
From what I’ve seen, the busiest times are late morning and early afternoon. If possible, try to book:
- Early morning (around 9:00 AM)
- Late afternoon
- Weekdays instead of weekends
These time slots are usually less crowded and more comfortable to visit.
Entry times are more flexible than you think
A helpful tip shared by a former museum employee on social media is that entry times are not extremely strict.
“If your time is 10:00 AM, we can let you in from 9:30–10:30.”
This means visitors usually have a 30-minute window before or after their scheduled time to enter.
Of course, it’s still best to arrive on time to avoid unnecessary stress.
If tickets are sold out, try this trick
Sometimes the website shows that all tickets are sold out. But there may still be a small chance to get one.
A common tip in the Amsterdam travel community is to check the website again around 5 PM. Sometimes extra tickets or cancellations are released for the next day.
It doesn’t always work, but many travelers say this trick helped them find last-minute tickets.
Be careful with third-party tickets
When tickets are sold out, it can be tempting to buy from random websites or people online. But this can be risky.
Some common problems include:
- Fake tickets
- Duplicate QR codes
- Extremely high prices
Travel experts recommend sticking to the official website or well-known ticket platforms. Otherwise, you might arrive at the museum and be refused entry.
Small things that make your visit easier
Here are a few simple tips that can make your visit smoother.
- Make sure you take everything out of your locker before you leave the museum, because you usually can’t go back in once you’ve left.
- Taking a picture of your locker number is also a good idea. A lot of people forget their locker number or code, which can be annoying.
- Lastly, get there a little early. During busy times, there may still be security lines, even with timed tickets.
These little things can make your trip much more enjoyable.
Final thoughts
One of the best things to do in Amsterdam is go to the Van Gogh Museum. It is a very special experience to see famous paintings like Sunflowers or The Potato Eaters in person. But the most important thing is to plan ahead so you can enjoy your visit.
If I had to summarize my advice in one sentence, it would be this: Book your ticket early, and choose a quieter time slot if possible. Do that, and your visit to the Van Gogh Museum will be much more enjoyable.