Van Gogh Museum Entry Ticket

The standard entry ticket is the foundation of any Van Gogh Museum visit. It covers everything the museum has to offer — both the permanent Van Gogh collection and any temporary exhibitions in the Kurokawa wing — with no hidden fees or additional admission charges at the entrance. This page tells you exactly what you are buying, how to buy it safely, and what to expect when you arrive.

Quick Facts

What the Entry Ticket Includes

The permanent collection

The Van Gogh Museum’s permanent collection spans four floors of the main Rietveld building and contains over 200 paintings, approximately 500 drawings, and more than 750 personal letters by Vincent van Gogh. The collection is arranged chronologically, taking visitors through Van Gogh’s artistic development from his early career in the Netherlands through his time in Paris, Arles, and Saint-Rémy, and ending with his final months in Auvers-sur-Oise.

Major works on display include:

• Sunflowers (1888) — third floor
• The Bedroom (1888) — third floor
• Almond Blossom (1890) — third floor
• The Potato Eaters (1885) — first floor
• Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat (1887) — second floor
• Wheatfield with Crows (1890) — third floor

Works rotate in and out of display, but the major paintings above are present in the permanent collection and are shown in the galleries in all but exceptional circumstances.

Temporary exhibitions

Your entry ticket also covers access to whatever temporary exhibition is running during your visit at no additional charge. The Van Gogh Museum runs two to three temporary exhibitions per year in its Kurokawa exhibition wing. These range from focused thematic shows drawing on Van Gogh’s circle and influences to larger collaborative exhibitions with other institutions. To see what is showing during your visit, check the temporary exhibitions guide.

What is not included

The audio guide, café purchases, museum shop purchases, and guided tours are all separate and not covered by the standard entry ticket.

How Timed Entry Works

When you purchase your ticket, you select a specific date and start time. This start time is your window to enter the museum — typically a 15-minute window within which you should arrive.

You are not required to leave the museum at any specific time. Once inside, you can stay until closing regardless of how long after your start time you entered. Re-entry is not permitted once you leave the building, so plan your café visit and shop browsing for either the beginning or end of your visit rather than stepping out mid-visit.

Your ticket is scanned at the entrance. The system identifies both your booking and your entry window — arriving significantly after your start time may mean being directed to wait for the next available entry window during busy periods.

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your start time to clear security comfortably. During peak periods (summer and weekends), a small queue forms at the entrance before each time slot opens.

Where to Buy

The safest and most flexible place to buy the entry ticket is through an authorised reseller that offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit — a flexibility that the official museum website does not offer in most cases.

Alternative authorised channels include the official museum website (tickets.vangoghmuseum.com), Musement, Klook, and Tours & Tickets. Do not purchase from any platform not on this list — ticket fraud is a documented issue at this museum. See our full guide to buying safely for details.

Should You Add the Audio Guide?

The audio guide is available in 12 languages and can be added to your entry ticket at checkout for approximately €5–7. It runs on a dedicated multimedia device provided at the entrance — not your phone — and includes both audio commentary and screen-based close-up views of painting details.

For first-time visitors without a strong prior knowledge of Van Gogh’s life and work, adding the audio guide is recommended. It significantly enriches the experience of the permanent collection at a low additional cost.

For visitors who prefer an unstructured experience, who have existing knowledge of Van Gogh’s biography, or who are booking a guided tour instead, the audio guide can be skipped.

For a full honest review of the audio guide, see the audio guide review.

Is the Entry Ticket Better Than a Guided Tour?

The standard entry ticket gives you full access to the museum at your own pace. A guided tour gives you the same access plus expert commentary, structure, and the ability to ask questions — but at a higher price and within a group.

For visitors who want maximum depth and context, particularly on a first visit, the small-group guided tour (max 8) provides the most enriching experience. For visitors who value flexibility, budget, and the freedom to linger wherever they choose, the standard entry ticket with the audio guide add-on is the better combination.

When to Book

Book as early as your Amsterdam dates are confirmed. During July and August, popular morning time slots can sell out 1–2 weeks in advance. During spring and autumn, 3–5 days ahead is typically sufficient. In winter (January–February), same-day booking is often possible, though advance booking is still recommended.

For full seasonal booking advice and crowd patterns, see the best time to visit the Van Gogh Museum.

Useful Links for Planning Your Visit

• Opening hours and last entry times
• How long to spend at the Van Gogh Museum
• How to get to the Van Gogh Museum
• Tips for first-time visitors
• What to see — must-see paintings