Van Gogh Museum or Kröller-Müller Museum?

August 3, 2010 4:35 AM

So, we will be in Holland for a couple of weeks and I need a Van Gogh fix, but I don't want to overdose. If I was only to go to one Van Gogh museum, which would you recommend: the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam or the Kröller-Müller Museum in Hoge Veluwe National Park?

We will have a car and be travelling around, so distance is not really an issue. In case it makes a difference, "we" are myself, my wife and my 7 year old daughter (who enjoys art museums but has her limits).

posted by oclipa to sports, hobbies, & recreation (11 answers total)

My vote goes to the Kröller-Müller. Less crowded (it seems to me at least - in my mind there are always crowds hogging the famous works in Amsterdam) and the surroundings, including sculpture garden, are amazing. Grab a free bike near the museum and tour the Veluwe national park. Better yet, head over to the Koperen Pot for pancakes afterwards.
posted by swordfishtrombones at 4:43 AM on August 3, 2010

Seconding swordfishtrombones plus I would avoid parking/driving through Amsterdam city centre.
posted by Mrs Mutant at 5:04 AM on August 3, 2010

Third on the Kröller-Müller. That park is one of the things I have most enjoyed in Holland -- it is so beautiful to bike around, and the sculpture garden is a neat plus, especially for a kid. I'm sure there are more Van Goghs in the Amsterdam museum, by sheer number, but you get the experience perfectly well in Kröller-Müller.

(Also, be sure not to miss the Apenheul Primate Park... my other favorite thing!)
posted by wyzewoman at 5:22 AM on August 3, 2010

Another vote for the Kröller-Müller. The sculpture garden is beautiful, and the rest of the park well worth cycling around in. Bring a picknick lunch!
posted by HFSH at 5:32 AM on August 3, 2010

Kröller-Müller, easy, because it has the Night Cafe.
posted by Rash at 6:03 AM on August 3, 2010

Kröller-Müller has a programme for kids on august 14, see here, at the bottom. Summer nights is a very enjoyable small festival with theatre, music and pancakes.
posted by Psychnic at 6:21 AM on August 3, 2010

The Hoge Veluwe itself is worth it. You can have a ride around the park on one of the 1700 freely available white bicycles after the visit to the museum; that way you won't get an overdose!
posted by rom1 at 7:16 AM on August 3, 2010

Another vote for the Kröller-Müller, also you need to visit the St. Hubertus Hunting Lodge which is also in the park.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 8:04 AM on August 3, 2010

Ha! Well, I guess that decides it then. Also, the Summer Nights festival is on just when we are in the area.

Best answers picked for being first, for highlighting the Night Cafe (my daughter is a huge Doctor Who fan) and for mentioning the Summer Nights festival.
posted by oclipa at 8:13 AM on August 3, 2010

Not to be the lone voice in the wilderness, but the one in Amsterdam has his Japanese works, which are pretty neat if you are not very familiar with Van Gogh.
posted by four panels at 12:23 PM on August 3, 2010

For the sake of completeness, I thought I'd let you know that we ended up going to both museums. To self-answer my original question, while the Van Gogh Museum contains some really interesting and uncommon works, the Kröller-Müller museum wins hands down when it comes to a fullfilling day out; the location in the Hoge Veluwe national park is unbeatable (and is probably as good a reason for visiting the Netherlands as any).

Thanks again to all for the input.
posted by oclipa at 4:52 AM on August 23, 2010