Van Gogh Museum Hours

The Vincent Van Gogh Museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm throughout the week, except on Fridays.

It opens for extended hours, between 9 am and 9 pm on Fridays due to special events “Vincent on Friday.”

It stays open throughout the year, including Christmas and New Year.

Day of Week	Timings	Last Entry
Sunday	9 am to 6 pm	5.30 pm
Monday	9 am to 6 pm	5.30 pm
Tuesday	9 am to 6 pm	5.30 pm
Wednesday	9 am to 6 pm	5.30 pm
Thursday	9 am to 6 pm	5.30 pm
Friday	9 am to 9 pm	8.30 pm
Saturday	9 am to 6 pm	5.30 pm

Last Entry of Van Gogh Museum

The last entry to the Van Gogh Museum is 30 minutes before closing time.

You can enter the museum at 5.30 pm from Saturday to Thursday.

On Fridays, the last entry is at 8.30 pm.

When Should You Visit Van Gogh Museum?

The best time to visit the museum depends on your preferences.

Consider visiting early in the morning, as soon as the museum opens, to avoid crowds altogether.

After the mid-day rush has passed, late afternoon, after 3 pm is another good time.

Avoid Saturdays and Sundays, as they tend to get crowded.

Instead, try visiting on a weekday, particularly Friday, to enjoy special events.

Read our detailed article on the best times to avoid crowds at the Van Gogh Museum.

How Long Does It Take to Visit the Van Gogh Museum?

The Vincent Van Gogh Museum will take you about 1.5 to 2.5 hours to explore.

A quick overview of the museum highlights, such as “Sunflowers,”  “Irises,” “Almond  Blossom,” and “Wheatfield with Crows,” will take around 1.5 hours.

However, if you want to thoroughly explore the over 200 paintings and 500 drawings on all four floors, try to allocate at least four hours.

Ultimately, the time needed to explore this world-renowned museum depends on your interest in the legendary artist Vincent Van Gogh.

Best Time To Visit Van Gogh Museum: Fewer Crowds & Cheaper Prices

The best time to visit the Van Gogh Museum is early in the morning, just after it opens at 9 am.

Particularly between 9 am and 11 am, the minimal crowds allow you to explore the paintings properly.

If you can’t make it in the morning, you must skip the mid-day hours and arrive in the late afternoon after 3 pm.

The museum is open until 6 pm daily and untill 9 pm on fridays, so you will have plenty of time in the evening with fewer people around.

Please note that the last entry is provided one and a half hours before closing, so make sure to arrive before that.

Also, if you are planning a trip in advance, we have identified the best months and weekdays to visit Van Gogh and provided a conclusion table at the end.

Let’s start with the best time of the year!

Peak vs. Low Season: The Best Time of the Year to Visit the Van Gogh Museum

The peak tourist season in Van Gogh is in the summer season, from May to August. Alternatively, the low tourist season is from November to February.

During the peak season, the weather is good, but the crowds are at their maximum, particularly in June and July due to holidays.

It is a great time to visit for those seeking a lively atmosphere. However, be prepared for heavy crowds.

The best time of year to visit Van Gogh is from November to February if you want to avoid crowds and visit the museum in peace.

During this time, the crowds are minimal, the weather is chilled, and the accommodations and tickets are also cheaper.

There might be fewer daylight hours, but the museum’s opening hours remain unchanged.

Besides this, there are two perfect windows to visit Van Gogh: between mid-March and September, with longer and brighter days.

So, you can still see all the paintings except starry nights under the night stars!

Regardless of which season or month you choose, you must book your Van Gogh Museum tickets in advance online.

By booking tickets in advance, you can save time and money and avoid long and tiring ticket lines at the entrance.

Weekends vs Weekdays: Best Time of the Day to Visit the Van Gogh Museum

Like most tourist attractions, the Van Gogh Museum is busy on weekends.

Besides Sunday, it is particularly busy on Friday due to extended opening hours.

If you are confused about weekdays and weekends, we recommend visiting Van Gogh on the weekdays.

Weekdays attract fewer visitors than the busy weekends, when the museum is filled with both locals and visitors.

These fewer crowds will let you see the paintings properly without anyone pushing behind you to be the next spectator!

Overall, the best time to visit Van Gogh based on days, weeks, and months is:

Time Period	Best Time to Visit
Day	Morning (9 am to 11 am)Evening (4 pm to 6 pm)
Week	Monday to Thursday
Month	November to February OR Mid-March, September

How long does it take to visit the Van Gogh Museum?

The time taken to explore Van Gogh depends on your interest in and appreciation for the paintings there.

On average, visitors spend around 1-2 hours visiting the Van Gogh Museum.

It includes 1 hour and 15 minutes for the permanent exhibit and rest time for visiting the additional exhibitions, which are generally included in the ticket price.

Also, there are no time restrictions for staying once you are in. So, if you are an art enthusiast, you can take more time to explore the arts available there.

However, if you want a comprehensive visit in less time, you can consider taking a guided tour of the Van Gogh Museum, which is very efficient and requires only 1.5 hours.

How to avoid crowds at the Van Gogh Museum?

Here are a few tips to help you avoid crowds at the Van Gogh Museum, such as:

Book tickets in advance: You must purchase your Van Gogh tickets online in advance to skip the ticket queues at the entrance, which is very helpful during peak hours.

Plan in advance: To avoid crowds, plan your visit to the Van Gogh Museum in advance. Consider the months with fewer tourists (typically November to February).

Choose the right day: Weekdays are generally less crowded than weekends. Avoid visiting on weekends or public holidays when tourist traffic is higher.

Visit during off-peak hours: You must plan your visit on weekdays, preferably in the early morning or late afternoon when the museum is less crowded.

Start with the end: Start your visit from the museum’s top floors and work your way down. 

Most visitors start from the ground floor, so beginning from the top can help you avoid the initial rush.

Consider guided tours: You can save time and have more flexibility by visiting Van Gogh with a knowledgeable guide who will give you useful tips on avoiding crowds.

What is the weather usually like in Amsterdam?

When planning to visit the Van Gogh Museum, it’s essential to consider the weather to enjoy the travel and other outdoor activities there.

Amsterdam has a temperate maritime climate, influenced by the North Sea and the presence of numerous canals.

It has warm summers with occasional colder periods, while winters are fairly cold with rain, wind and some snow.

July is the hottest month of the year, with a maximum temperature of 21 °C, and February is the coldest month, with a minimum temperature of 0 °C.

You can take a glance at month-on-month climate change in Amsterdam here:

Months	Low Temp	High Temp
Jan	1°C (34°F)	4°C (39°F)
Feb	0°C (32°F)	7°C (45°F)
Mar	2°C (36°F)	8°C (46°F)
Apr	4°C (39°F)	12°C (54°F)
May	7°C (45°F)	16°C (61°F)
Jun	10°C (50°F)	18°C (64°F)
Jul	12°C (54°F)	21°C (70°F)
Aug	12°C (54°F)	21°C (70°F)
Sep	10°C (50°F)	18°C (64°F)
Oct	8°C (46°F)	14°C (57°F)
Nov	4°C (39°F)	9°C (48°F)
Dec	2°C (36°F)	6°C (43°F)

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