Modern art museums in the Netherlands
January 17, 2019 6:42 AM Subscribe
If you had four nights / four days for a train loop from Amsterdam (maybe Utrecht - Rotterdam - the Hague - Amsterdam), and your goal was seeing the most interesting range of modern art, which museums would be your musts? And where would you spend the middle nights – in Rotterdam?
I care most about sculpture, painting, and installation/media art – some about photography – less about textiles/craft or industrial design.
Two specialized small museums I want to visit: the museum of mechanical musical instruments in Utrecht, and the Escher museum in the Hague. Otherwise, probably looking for bigger modern art museums?
The nights will be a Monday-Thursday in relatively low tourist season. I see the train times between the cities range from 30 to 70 mins. I travel light (small carryon + small backpack) and I can sleep in any city.
How does this look for the 4 nights?
– Monday: Amst daytime, then night in Amst
– Tuesday: Utrecht daytime, then night in Rotterdam
– Wednesday: Rotterdam daytime, then night in Rotterdam
–Thursday: Hague daytime, then night in Amst
– Friday: [Amst daytime, then evening flight from AMS]
Before this, I'll have spent 5 days in Amsterdam at the Muziekgebouw, just east of the Central Station (possibly with time for a few short museum-visit blocks during daytime breaks – but only the Monday [the first day in the list above] can be a full museum day).
I care most about sculpture, painting, and installation/media art – some about photography – less about textiles/craft or industrial design.
Two specialized small museums I want to visit: the museum of mechanical musical instruments in Utrecht, and the Escher museum in the Hague. Otherwise, probably looking for bigger modern art museums?
The nights will be a Monday-Thursday in relatively low tourist season. I see the train times between the cities range from 30 to 70 mins. I travel light (small carryon + small backpack) and I can sleep in any city.
How does this look for the 4 nights?
– Monday: Amst daytime, then night in Amst
– Tuesday: Utrecht daytime, then night in Rotterdam
– Wednesday: Rotterdam daytime, then night in Rotterdam
–Thursday: Hague daytime, then night in Amst
– Friday: [Amst daytime, then evening flight from AMS]
Before this, I'll have spent 5 days in Amsterdam at the Muziekgebouw, just east of the Central Station (possibly with time for a few short museum-visit blocks during daytime breaks – but only the Monday [the first day in the list above] can be a full museum day).
We really enjoyed the Kroller-Muller Museum which is out by Arnhem. There's a huge sculpture park which you could spend a lot of time getting lost in. It's situated in a beautiful national park which you can bike around, or if you want to skip that there's a bus that goes right to the museum. We didn't really spend any time in Arnhem proper, unfortunately, but if we go back I'd definitely want to explore the city more.
As you mention, the Speelklok Museum in Utrecht was also super interesting - take the tour!
posted by backseatpilot at 7:12 AM on January 17, 2019
As you mention, the Speelklok Museum in Utrecht was also super interesting - take the tour!
posted by backseatpilot at 7:12 AM on January 17, 2019
The Stedelijk in Amsterdam was pretty interesting, and I say that as someone who doesn't often visit art galleries.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:28 AM on January 17, 2019
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:28 AM on January 17, 2019
Your schedule looks aggressive but okay to me. As much as I love Utrecht, I would consider skipping it, as it's the city that's the most out of your way (sorry, just saw that you're interested in a specific museum there; I still think your schedule is doable, if you don't mind sitting on trains!). Unfortunately the Kröller-Müller Museum is also quite far out of your way, unless you decide to do Utrecht (and then go further east) and skip Rotterdam or The Hague. By the way, where are you seeing 70 minute train rides? The longest leg of your trip would probably be from The Hague back to Amsterdam, and that should be under an hour (though I wouldn't be surprised if it takes longer on a Sunday). Are you checking ns.nl?
Definitely check out the Stedelijk in Amsterdam, and Foam Gallery if you have time.
In Rotterdam, I highly recommend the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, and I would check what's on at the Kunsthal. They're basically right next to each other, so it's easy to visit both in one day.
posted by neushoorn at 9:35 AM on January 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
Definitely check out the Stedelijk in Amsterdam, and Foam Gallery if you have time.
In Rotterdam, I highly recommend the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, and I would check what's on at the Kunsthal. They're basically right next to each other, so it's easy to visit both in one day.
posted by neushoorn at 9:35 AM on January 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
You should NOT miss the CoBrA Museum in the Amserdam suburb of Amstelveen.
posted by humboldt32 at 10:04 AM on January 17, 2019
posted by humboldt32 at 10:04 AM on January 17, 2019
If you'll be coming to The Hague for the Escher museum, I definitely recommend Museum Voorlinden in Wassenaar. Since it's outside the city it'll take you about half an hour by bus from the main railway station, but it's worth it. The location is also very peaceful and calming.
posted by sively at 10:11 AM on January 17, 2019
posted by sively at 10:11 AM on January 17, 2019
Best answer: Ohh this is my wheelhouse! (I lived there and am a fan of modern/contemporary art).
Den Haag:
The Voorlinden. They have some interesting installations and the setting is GORGEOUS. Occasional traveling/temporary exhibitions.
Gemeente Museum. Home to Mondrian and other Dutch modernists.
Outside Den Haag near the beanch there is also a Turrell installation but it's a bit of a trip.
Rotterndam:
The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has a Kusama installation and some other modern art. Rotterdam is a cool city in general just because it is so different from the rest of the Netherlands due to the blitzkrieg. If you go, don't miss the Buttplug Santa.
Amsterdam:
Others have aready mentioned CoBrA and the Stedelijk (LOVE the Stedelijk). The Rijksmusem also has a few halls dedicated to Dutch modernism and contemporary art. Buy your tickets online to skip the line. Stedelijk usually has cool events on Friday nights. Both the Stedelijk and Rijks are in the same park and it will be an easy walk for you from the Museikgebouw.
Next to the Stedelijk is a private museum called the MoCo (Modern and Contemporary). It's owned by the same people who own the Lionel Galley, which represents artists like Banksy, Hirst, Koons, Appel and more. It's a small msueum that sometimes does interesting juxtapositions of artists but is not focused on Dutch art specifically.
Directly across from the Rijksmuseum's main entrance is the Speigelgracht, which is a street lined with lots and lots of art galleries and antique stores. Definitely worth the walk. There are also a few cool smaller museum in Mokum including FOAM, which is a photography museum, and De Appel
If you like movies at all you should go to The Eye, directy across the river from Centraal Station (you can take a free ferry). For more galleries and good things to see while walking, The Jordaan neighborhood is nice.
posted by Brittanie at 10:14 AM on January 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
Den Haag:
The Voorlinden. They have some interesting installations and the setting is GORGEOUS. Occasional traveling/temporary exhibitions.
Gemeente Museum. Home to Mondrian and other Dutch modernists.
Outside Den Haag near the beanch there is also a Turrell installation but it's a bit of a trip.
Rotterndam:
The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has a Kusama installation and some other modern art. Rotterdam is a cool city in general just because it is so different from the rest of the Netherlands due to the blitzkrieg. If you go, don't miss the Buttplug Santa.
Amsterdam:
Others have aready mentioned CoBrA and the Stedelijk (LOVE the Stedelijk). The Rijksmusem also has a few halls dedicated to Dutch modernism and contemporary art. Buy your tickets online to skip the line. Stedelijk usually has cool events on Friday nights. Both the Stedelijk and Rijks are in the same park and it will be an easy walk for you from the Museikgebouw.
Next to the Stedelijk is a private museum called the MoCo (Modern and Contemporary). It's owned by the same people who own the Lionel Galley, which represents artists like Banksy, Hirst, Koons, Appel and more. It's a small msueum that sometimes does interesting juxtapositions of artists but is not focused on Dutch art specifically.
Directly across from the Rijksmuseum's main entrance is the Speigelgracht, which is a street lined with lots and lots of art galleries and antique stores. Definitely worth the walk. There are also a few cool smaller museum in Mokum including FOAM, which is a photography museum, and De Appel
If you like movies at all you should go to The Eye, directy across the river from Centraal Station (you can take a free ferry). For more galleries and good things to see while walking, The Jordaan neighborhood is nice.
posted by Brittanie at 10:14 AM on January 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
The literal name of the statue is Santa Claus, so you can debate whether it's a gnome or not but plenty of people call it Buttplug Santa.
posted by Brittanie at 1:53 PM on January 17, 2019
posted by Brittanie at 1:53 PM on January 17, 2019
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posted by kalapierson at 6:52 AM on January 17, 2019