Van Gogh or Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam?

[ifonly4]

Which one do you recommend? We will only do one. For what it's worth, which one houses the self painting of Van Gogh?

(As well as the above, we'll go to Anne Frank Museum, a canal cruise, cat museum, generally amble around central Amsterdam - includinging The 9 Streets and Red Light District - anything else anyone would recommend?)

I took my 16-year-old DD earlier this year and we absolutely loved the Van Gogh museum. The rijksmuseum also has good stuff but much more old fashioned in feel (and the cafe is weird!)
I think he did several self portraits and the vg museum definitely has at least one. Can’t recall seeing one at the Rijksmuseum but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t one there
Recommend booking the introductory talk at the Anne Frank house if you can
We also enjoyed the resistance museum.

Agree - but you might also love the Fabrique des Lumieres as an extra. There are shows through the day on different painters but (at least when I went earlier this year) the beginning and the end of the day shows are Dutch masters up to Mondrian. It was incredibly memorable and unusual. Also loved the area around the place (a disused factory, which I thought could be in an area that was bit edgy, but was the complete opposite).

Both, and if you buy a joint ticket you can skip the queue at Van Gogh, so worth it just for that

The Van Gogh is a bit disappointing in that there aren't actually very many of the great paintings there.

So by default I'd choose the Rijksmuseum even though I don't much like that either, it's not a patch on the national gallery and is kind of awkwardly laid out!

If you can make it to the Hague, the Mauritshuis is small but perfect!

Van Gogh and also STRAAT

Well, both obviously (and ditch the cat museum!). But if you absolutely have to limit to one, Rijksmuseum.

I would choose the Rijksmuseum of the two. I have been to both several times.

The Van Gogh museum.

Rijksmuseum

The red light district is grim
Go to both art galleries instead

Yes there is a lovely cafe in the Rijksmuseum. Agree give the red light district a swerve it’s seedy and exploitative.

Van Gogh! Also I recommend the moco gallery - I loved it.

Been to both and enjoy both. I prefer Van Gogh museum if it’s Van Gogh you really want to see, but Rijksmuseum is great too (with more in it, from a wider range of artists). Avoid the red light district, it’s seedy, unpleasant and there are drug pushers everywhere. Anne Frank museum is thought provoking, although there were big queues when we were there. Canal cruises are lovely. We enjoyed the Madame Tussaud’s wax work museum too.

Out of the 2, I’d choose the Rijksmuseum.

The Rijksmuseum is phenomenal. Whatever you do don’t skip out on the canal trip. That’s always been the highlight for me every time.

Rijksmuseum Was amazing. But for me it’s Van Gogh all the way. Smaller, more contained, and his art just moves me in ways I can’t quite explain. It was just a beautiful experience.

I preferred the Rijksy thing.

Some people like the other one better.

I wasn't a particular fan of Van Gogh but absolutely loved the museum.
The Rijksmuseum was good but just too big.

Both, because the Van Gogh isn't that big and you won't be in there more than a couple of hours (unless you stand and stare at paintings for half an hour each, of course).
Unless you're an uber fan of Van Gogh then I'd say Rijksmuseum because of the wide range of amazing art and sculpture etc to see there. Particularly Rembrandt.
Also, he painted over thirty self portraits, the Van Gogh has roughly half of them I think but not necessarily all on show (unsure if they travel/lend).
Finally, make sure you book everything in advance, it won't work out otherwise, especially Anne Frank House.

Oh and something fun to do, if you do a canal trip that goes to the A'DAM Lookout, get out and go on the swing before getting back on the boat.
The National Holocaust Museum is worth a visit too. It's opposite ARTIS Zoo which I also like.

I'd go to the Rijksmuseum out of the two. And I loved the canal trip. We went with Those Dam Boat Guys and it was great fun. And I'd also try and see Our Lord in the Attic museum if you have time. But don't overcrowd your itinerary. Make time to visit some brown bars and have some local beer and nibble on some bitterballen!

www.thosedamboatguys.com/

opsolder.nl/en/museum-our-lord-in-the-attic/

I’d recommend Rijksmuseum. Simply because it’s the only place I’ve ever stood in front of a painting and cried. The 17th century Dutch masters are incredible. And the Night Watch is so entertaining.
I had half a day there and had to return the next day, so amazing was the collection. Best art experience ever, anywhere by my reckoning.

Don't forget to book well in advance!

Why are you going to the Red Light District? Is it something that you want to gawp at and celebrate, i.e. the exploitation of women and the insatiable awful appetites of the punters. Is it a cultural experience for you or your DP/DHLeave it out FGS.

Enjoy the rest of Amsterdam and try and go to both museums, then you won't always wonder if you left out the better one!

Curveball - the Stedelijk is one of my favourite museums / galleries in the world.

No good if you don't like contemporary art, of course, but I love it there.

And I think they're about to open a Yayoi Kusama retrospective, which I'd have considered booking flights for myself even if she hadn't just passed...