AMSTERDAM & THE HAGUE — Great Art in the Netherlands

Amsterdam has been a bustling center of activity for nearly one-thousand years, and we have always felt that the energy and the vibe that characterize New York City pay homage to its Dutch history. Yes, you can still find that vibrancy by visiting the Netherlands, even during the quieter months. If you are young in age, or young at heart, Amsterdam is perhaps more exciting than ever. This is a great destination for friends, and also for families and couples with diverse interests. For the tourists traveling alone, you will not be lonely for very long.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a small country compared to most tourist destinations, and that is another PLUS!  With its friendly, multi-lingual residents and highly functional transportation options, the Netherlands should be near the top of your list for that perfect get-away.  {High Season for tourism in the Netherlands begins from March 15^th through May 15^th when the tulips are in full bloom.}

In preparation for this article we visited Amsterdam more than once and stayed overnight at hotels in different parts of the capital city, as well as in an airport hotel at Schiphol, and in the smaller city of Delft.  Additional time was spent in neighboring Belgium, visiting Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Leuven, and Brussels.

Amsterdam + The Hague

There are fine museums in Rotterdam, and near Arnhem in the east, which we did not visit recently; and you should definitely visit the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, the Kröller-Müller Museum, and other Dutch collections in various regions, whenever possible. For your benefit, we focused on art in The Hague and Amsterdam, since you will be able to see several museum collections in these two cities.

While many of you will take a train into Amsterdam and head directly to one of the trendy areas, such as the Leidseplein, the Red Light District or the Museumplein, our hope is that you may choose a more relaxed approach to the city. Upon arrival at Centraal Station, for example, you might choose to walk directly into a charming, nearby neighborhood — such as the lovely Jordaan — and settle into a hotel for a few days to take in the lovely, historic canals full of beautifully restored rowhouses.

If you have been to Amsterdam before and do not appreciate the hectic pace (and numerous trams) outside Centraal Station, you might choose to head directly for Metro lines 51, 53 or 54 and travel to the Waterlooplein (and beyond). In this cosmopolitan, friendly culture you will find it easy to depart from the typical touristic route and find your own beauty in Amsterdam via a self-guided walking tour at your own pace through some of the more serene and charming areas.  Your walk might take you to the Begijnhof courtyard, near Spui, to see the oldest wooden house in Amsterdam (# 34) and the chapel (below, right) where Beguines and Catholics attended services in secret until 1795.

Amsterdam – Cultural Highlights for
Art Lovers

 Rijksmuseum

More than 650,000 art lovers headed over to the Rijksmuseum in 2023 to see the “VERMEER” exhibit. 28 paintings by Johannes Vermeer were on view, and an attendance record was set during that exhibition. Unlike Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, Vermeer left an unusually small body of work, about 35 to 37 paintings. Several Vermeers remain on display in the Gallery of Honor, along with works by Frans Hals, Vincent van Gogh, and Rembrandt.

Dedicated to Dutch arts and history, the Rijksmuseum was founded in The Hague in 1798 and moved to Amsterdam 10 years later. The current main building opened in 1885, and the museum welcomes visitors every day from 9:00 until 5:00 in the afternoon (17:00). The Rijksmuseum is free for everyone under 19 years of age.

The wedding portraits of Marten and Oopjen (below) by Rembrandt, painted in 1634 and purchased by the Baron Gustave de Rothschild in 1877, is now on view at the Louvre Museum in Paris — where it will remain on display for five years before returning to the Rijksmuseum. The two museums paid a total of $174 million for the pair of paintings, which will always remain together.

Art Lovers TIP: A simple 5-minute walk along the Museumplein — from the Rijksmuseum to the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum — will take you into one of the greatest museum quarters in the world! All three museums may be reached via Tram # 2 and Tram # 12 from Amsterdam Centraal Station, and by Tram # 5 from the direction of the Leidseplein. Metro 52 stops at “Vijzelgracht” and Tram # 3 stops at “Museumplein.” You should visit the “I Amsterdam” — and “VVV” visitor centers in several Dutch cities — or check their websites, for the most up-to-date information on transportation changes and schedules.

Stedelijk Museum

“On the Outskirts of Paris, Near Montmartre” (above) was on display at the Stedelijk Museum, as part of the exhibit “MODERN — Van Gogh, Rietveld, Léger and Others,” which closed in 2023. Located next door to the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum of modern and contemporary art is showing ongoing exhibitions, including “YESTERDAY TODAY” — art and design from 1880 to 1950 including DeStijl, Bauhaus, CoBrA and other movements; “EVERYDAY, SOMEDAY AND OTHER STORIES” (1950 – 1980); and “TOMORROW IS A DIFFERENT DAY,” highlights of their collection from 1980 until the present day. Check the museum’s website for numerous exhibitions of contemporary art!

Van Gogh Museum

Hosting the world’s largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh has enabled the Van Gogh Museum to surpass the much-larger Rijksmuseum in attendance over the past 10 years. To enjoy special exhibitions related to Vincent’s career and influence, you will enter the fantastic modern space designed by Kisho Kurokawa and completed in 1999, whereas groups enter the Van Gogh Museum through the main building housing the permanent collection which was designed by Gerrit Rietveld and opened to the public in 1973. 

Current Special Exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum

“Long Live Impressionism! — Masterpieces from Dutch Collections” featuring paintings by Pissarro (above) and Monet (below), as well as works of art by Morisot, Degas, Cezanne and Sisley is now on view at the Van Gogh Museum. Drawn from the finest collections all over the Netherlands, this unique presentation of Impressionist art will be on display until January 26, 2025.

For your convenience, we have included highlights from the permanent collection of the Van Gogh Museum and previous special Van Gogh exhibits you may have missed — plus hotel options in Amsterdam — at the very end of this article.

The Hague

Mauritshuis & Kunstmuseum Den Haag

While Amsterdam can become chaotic with hordes of tourists and densely-populated quarters, The Hague exudes a special dignity and deserves a few days in your itinerary. We suggest you begin with the Golden Age of Netherlandish painting at the Mauritshuis, and on your way there you should stop at a cozy cafe for high-quality coffee or tea and dessert! We stopped at “Sipsy” to sample their cookies, lemon blueberry cake, and classic carrot cake. A great way to enjoy museums is to take a break and enjoy the local charm!

Mauritshuis, The Hague

Rembrandt

The collection at the Mauritshuis, currently called the Royal Picture Gallery, began to take shape with about 200 paintings collected by William V, Prince of Orange, in the 18th century. It now houses almost 800 paintings, including 11 by Rembrandt van Rijn and notably his final self-portrait.

Vermeer

Famous for its focus on Dutch and Flemish artists, such as Rogier van der Weyden, Jacob van Ruisdael, Frans Hals, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck — and beloved for its three masterpieces by Johannes Vermeer — the Mauritshuis also has paintings by Lucas Cranach I, Jan Gossaert and the German-Swiss painter Hans Holbein the Younger.

After viewing paintings from the Dutch Golden Age at the Mauritshuis, you will want to enjoy The Hague’s amazing collection of Modern Art, including the world’s largest holdings of paintings by Piet Mondrian, at the Kunstmuseum (known, until 2019, as Gemeentemuseum Den Haag).

The Kunstmuseum Den Haag houses a collection of 165,000 works of art and, earlier in 2024, presented an exhibition highlighting the fascinating and diverse oeuvre of Max Beckmann.

The retrospective entitled “Universe Max Beckmann” closed in The Hague in May 2024; however you can enjoy the fashions created by Christian Dior (1905-57) from September 21 through January 26, 2025 during the exhibition “DIOR — A New Look.” In addition, the Kunstmuseum’s impressive holdings of MONDRIAN and DE STIJL are always on view in The Hague’s most comprehensive art museum!

Before you say goodbye to the The Hague, be sure to visit the famous Mauritshuis with its amazing collection of paintings by Rembrandt, as well as Vermeer’s “View of Delft” and “The Girl with a Pearl Earring.” While the quality of paintings in The Hague is equal to works of art in Amsterdam, the experience is quite different. Interestingly, in the period 2005-11, the Mauritshuis received between 205,000 and 262,000 visitors per year, making it the 13th most visited museum in the Netherlands in 2011. From 2022-23, the Mauritshuis saw a substantial increase to an estimated 400,000 to 450,000 visitors each year.

Collection Highlights from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

After viewing the special exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum, plan to spend at least an additional two hours enjoying the permanent collection of the Van Gogh Museum.

Past Exhibits at the Van Gogh Museum

“Van Gogh in Auvers — His Final Months”

The Van Gogh Museum presented “Van Gogh in Auvers — His Final Months” in 2023. This exhibition resulted from a collaboration with the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, where the show was on display in 2024.

“Van Gogh Along the Seine”

From October 2023 through January 2024, the exhibit “Van Gogh Along the Seine” was presented at the Van Gogh Museum.

The Impressionists often found inspiration in pastoral and suburban locations. This special exhibition, a collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago, explored the “next generation of ambitious artists” — specifically, Vincent van Gogh and four other Post-Impressionists who traveled outside of Paris to villages along the Seine on the northwestern fringes of the French capital in order to spark their creativity.

Containing works from international museums and private collections, including masterpieces by Paul Signac and Emile Bernard, this fine show entitled “Van Gogh Along the Seine” closed in Amsterdam in January 2024.

Another novel exhibition entitled “Golden Boy Gustav Klimt, Inspired by Van Gogh, Rodin, Matisse …” was on view at the Van Gogh Museum through January 2023. Below, you can enjoy highlights from that first-rate exhibit.

Golden Boy Gustav Klimt, Inspired by Van Gogh, Rodin, Matisse…

When “Klimt — Inspired by Van Gogh, Rodin, Matisse …” closed at the Van Gogh Museum in 2023, it traveled to Vienna for its presentation at the Belvedere Museum.

Popular Hotels in Amsterdam

Hotels have grown increasingly expensive in major cities throughout the Netherlands, especially in Amsterdam. In recent years, we stayed in 3 properties which you can find on the Marriott.com website.  Those of you arriving at Schiphol Airport for a brief stay may choose the Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel.  Recommended by more than 85% of its guests, this uniquely-situated Sheraton is not as fancy as downtown hotels, but it is certainly convenient.  With its central location right inside the airport, a 5-minute walk from your plane (or train) will lead you directly into the Sheraton’s lobby, passing a supermarket, shops, buses, and trains along your route.  The hotel’s Club Lounge is adequate, though not special. Centraal Station is about 25 minutes away by train.

The Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel at Kattengat 1 is a most convenient lodging if you are arriving by train at Amsterdam Centraal and wish to walk directly to your hotel in less than 15 minutes.  About 90% of guests recommend the Renaissance, which offers a fitness center and efficient Concierge services.  For example, one may be able to buy a public transportation card from the Concierge at no extra charge.  The Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel is large, offering many styles of rooms, but the surrounding area is quite cozy; a 10-minute walk will take you to the Anne Frank House and the beautiful, quiet Jordaan neighborhood.  If you desire to be near the center of everything, but not in the midst of the action, the Renaissance is a perfect choice, especially if you enjoy quiet evening strolls along the lovely canals.

Across from the Leidseplein, a prime option for museum lovers is the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, at Stadhouderskade 12.  If you want to be near the best dining choices and major museums, this is the place to stay!  An easy 10-minute walk from the Marriott will lead you to the Rijksmuseum, high-end shopping, Vondelpark and the Van Gogh Museum.  If you choose a rate with “M Club Lounge” access (or as a free amenity for Bonvoy Titanium- and Platinum-level members), you will definitely enjoy the Marriott even more.  The lobby itself and standard rooms are not the major attraction, but the friendly staff and “Location, Location, Location” will WOW you, especially if your primary goal is to take in the museums! Schiphol Airport is less than 14 km. (8.3 miles) from the hotel, with an estimated taxi fare of 80 euros. Over 90% of guests recommend this hotel, which may be reached by Trams # 2 & # 12 from Centraal Station. We recommend you consider taking Bus # 397 to and from the Airport. At a cost of 10+ euros each way, this 40-minute bus ride will leave you outside the Marriott’s door.

The Amsterdam Hilton is a pleasant surprise, and a favorite hotel of ours. We stayed in at least two dozen different Hilton properties in recent years and this hotel provided the classiest experience, with lovely renovated rooms, nice views, and a relaxing ambiance.  Though farther from the Jordaan and tourist attractions, and a 20-minute walk from the museums, the Hilton is located in a more residential, leafy and authentic part of Amsterdam. Minutes away on foot one finds The Royal Concertgebouw (considered among the world’s finest concert halls) and, if you cross the canal on the way to the Museumplein, the Cornelis Schuytstraat will charm you with its amazing beauty and fine dining.  Also check out the Beethovenstraat to look for books, antiques or a cozy cafe. The Amsterdam Hilton is the hotel made famous in 1969 by the Lennon-Ono “Bed-In” for peace, an experimental non-violent protest against war mentioned in the Number 1 Hit “The Ballad of John and Yoko.” Hotel guests are entitled to use an excellent gym for free, and you should definitely take in the spectacular views from the Executive Lounge. Though the Hilton looks like a behemoth from the street, do not allow that to dissuade you; the interior proportions, classy bar and each room’s large glass windows will delight you. If you choose the superior buffet breakfast on the main level, take a table to the left of the bar for a better (quieter) experience. Tram # 24 to Gerrit van der Veenstraat from Centraal Station will leave you within a pleasant walk to the Hilton. 

Affordable alternatives

If the hotels mentioned above are outside your price range, do not be discouraged.  The Bilderberg Hotel Jan Luyken for example, at Jan Luijkenstraat 58, offers simple accommodations at reasonable prices on a lovely street a very short distance from the Museumplein.  Also, the family-run Hotel Asterisk, Den Texstraat 16, may be reached using Tram # 24 or Metro 52 from Centraal Station and is a pleasant 10- to 15-minute walk to the museums.  You may also consider hotels outside the major cities.

Delft

If you plan to spend one week (or more) in the Netherlands, why not explore the smaller cities?  We purchased train tickets from Amsterdam Centraal to Schiphol Airport for roughly 8 euros per person and then used the Airport as a base to explore other destinations.  A round-trip train fare from Schiphol to Delft, the birthplace of Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), costs around 25 euros.  The canals in Delft are just as charming as any Dutch city’s, and you will find the peacefulness a refreshing change from the overly-touristed parts of Amsterdam.  Explore the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church, completed in 1496) located in the Delft Markt (Market Square) and, if the famous (and expensive!) Blue Delft china inspired your visit here, head over to the Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles, open daily.  History buffs should undoubtedly go to the Museum Het Prinsenhof, a palace from the Middle Ages (near the Oude Kerk, founded in 1246), before enjoying a simple meal of fantastic Indonesian food at “Toko Idola” located on Brabantse Turfmarkt 32a (the Prinsenhof and restaurant are closed on Mondays).  Perhaps you will choose to skip the porcelain factory (that is what we always do) and take photos instead!  In addition to picturesque Delft, other small cities deserving your time include Breda and Den Bosch.  Each of these 3 cities has a population between 100,000 and 150,000 residents and offers a charming window into the Netherlands’ past, plus more affordable accommodations than larger cities.

Please let us know about your experiences touring the Netherlands, and if you have favorite museums or hotels you wish to share with our readers. Please tell us which cities you most want to visit in the future in Europe and in the USA.

We look forward to your feedback. Thank you for visiting us at ArtLoversTravel.com.