Visitor service
The Department of Education and Visitor Services is happy to provide assistance for your visit to the museum. We can help you in preparing your visit and with finding different forms of information in the museum. We can also inform you about group visits, tours, and special activities for children and pupils. In addition, the department organises lectures, musical and stage plays, and other events for young and old.
Information in the museum
The Van Gogh Museum offers information concerning the museum and the art collection through various media and channels. In many places, Dutch and English hall texts and labels can be found, providing some information about the artworks concerned, the artist, or the time in which he/she lived. The information desk provides a leaflet with the story of Van Gogh's life. You can use this text while watching the chronological presentation of Van Gogh's work on the first floor. This free leaflet is available in eight languages (Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Russian), and also contains a floor map of the building. Our audio guide is offered in nine languages, including Mandarin. The information desk employees can address you in several languages if you wish to be orientated before entering the museum, or if you have questions concerning the museum or the collection after your visit. Finally, the www.vangoghmuseumshop.com offers dozens of books and magazines with background information about Van Gogh and other 19th century artists.
Children
For children there is a treasure hunt about Van Gogh, available free of charge at the information desk. It provides children with the opportunity to become acquainted with a number of highlights from Van Gogh's work.
Primary education
The actor, author, and musician Frank Groothof has put himself in Vincent van Gogh's shoes. In a penetrating story, he describes that Vincent experiences a lot as a young boy, and how, after various professions, he ultimately decides to become an artist. His younger brother Theo is his best friend. He enables him to paint; he supports him both financially and emotionally. They live in Paris together for some time, where they fight as real brothers, but have their dreams as well. When they cannot be together, they write down their thoughts and feelings to one another in letters. The book, called Vincent and Theo, brothers in art is an exiting book to read or to read from, for children from 8 years. The Van Gogh Museum has also published a manual for teachers (only in Dutch) with lesson suggestions to go with the book.
Frank Groothof, Vincent en Theo, brothers in art. Publisher: Waanders Uitgevers Zwolle. 48 pages, bound, ca. 50 colour pictures. Available in Dutch and English. ISBN 90 400 9321 0 (Dutch), ISBN 90 400 9354 7 (English). (The book is available in bookshops)
Contact information
Should you have any questions about the collection, museum accessibility, exhibitions, events, tours or activities for education, please contact us. Call, write or fax, or e-mail the Department of Education and Visitor Services. We will be glad to help.
Van Gogh Museum
Education and Visitor Services
PO Box 75366
1070 AJ AMSTERDAM
Tel. +31-20-5705270
Fax. +31-20-5705272
E-mail: info@vangoghmuseum.nl