The night was still young and the museums were open late, so after the Tulip Museum, Eating Amsterdam tour, and Anne Frank Huis, I grabbed a taxi and headed across town to the Van Gogh Museum. It's very modern and fancy.

My ticket was eighteen euros and included an audio tour. I love audio tours.

The Van Gogh Museum is run by a foundation created by the ancestors of Vincent Van Gogh. Specifically, it was opened by Van Gogh's nephew, who was named after his uncle. When Van Gogh died, all of his unsold art was inherited by his brother Theo, who in turn, died six months later, and left it to his widow. 

The audio tour elaborated on Van Gogh's close relationship with his brother Theo and the mental illness that ran in their family. The museum currently houses the largest collection of Van Gogh art in the world. Although the collection is big, it did not contain many pieces in the style that I've come to associate with Van Gogh. The collection seemed less vibrant and more subtle, than the pieces that I've seen in other museums or in touring exhibitions. The structure of the museum includes pieces from every phase of his career, so it is representative, but just maybe less flashy than the pieces that have made their way to America. 

My take-away was the overall Van Gogh story, his relationship to Theo, and how that reflected in the art, rather than individual pieces. I was excited to see Bedroom in Arles and The Potato Eaters, in person. It's a rush to see the real deal, after studying the pieces in text books. 

I enjoyed the Van Gogh Museum and left with a deeper appreciation for his life and art. However, I'm not sure that I would recommend including this in your itinerary, if your visit to Amsterdam is short or if you're not a huge Van Gogh fan.