Booking tickets for the Van Gogh Museum; perhaps using Museumkaart

When exactly are you here? How crowded the Van Gogh Museum is and how far in advance you need to buy tickets depends on your dates. Usually there are less tourists in Amsterdam in autumn compared to spring or summer, unless your visit coincides with the school’s autumn break.

Dutch_traveler, we'll be there in mid-October.

Mid-October, does that mean that the weekend you talk about is the weekend of October 14-15?

“Timed entry tickets seem to be required; is there a limit on how long we can stay? Can we leave for lunch and return on the same tickets?“

You can stay as long as you want, but you can’t leave and return on the same tickets. You have tour groups who share tickets among the group to thank for that….

Jane, I was there in mid-May and went on a Friday, and did not find it overly crowded. There were definitely a lot of people there but I hate crowds, and I did not feel overwhelmed at all.

I also went early (my ticket was for 9 am) and found that by the time I left (11-ish?), it was a lot more crowded than when I got there, so I would strongly suggest getting there as early in the morning as possible.

I had Friday 10 a.m. reservations at Van Gogh museum last year which had a special olive grove exhibit going on. We beelined for the special exhibit first and it wasn't very crowded at all. But by the time we got through the rest of the museum it was packed to the gills everywhere. I'd suggest the earliest entry time you can get. Personally I'd pick Monday. And I don't believe you can go in and out of the museum, but you can stay as long as you'd like once you get in. And yes, timed reservations are required in all cases - make those as soon as you can.

As I understand it, the Museumkaart is really for tourists, and the tourist oriented pass (iAmsterdam) no longer covers Van Gogh museum. Here are a couple posts on the Museumkaart topic:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/netherlands/netherlands-museumkaart-registration
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/netherlands/museum-pass-little-more-than-a-pain-in-the

Dutch_traveler, yes, we'll be in Leiden October 13 - 16; arriving the 12th, and leaving the morning of the 17th.

The exhibit opens Friday, October 13. I hesitate to choose that day, my reasoning being that the opening day of an exhibit would be more crowded. Monday the 16th will work; I thought we had 5 full days in Leiden, but no, only 4.

CL, your link about the Museumcaart being a pain (with a post there from the ever reliable Dutch_traveler) has me deciding not to bother, especially since we really have no idea what other museums we will be visiting while we're there. And since we only have 4 full days, not 5.

I see that there are places onsite to eat; that's good.

Choosing an earlier time, regardless of day, is certainly a good idea. When we visited the Rijksmueum last February to see the Vermeer exhibit, I chose a late morning start time. It wasn't crowded - at first, but within an hour or so the place was packed, shoulder to shoulder.

It looks like the earliest time slot is 9:00; that's doable for us, although a little later would be easier. I figure leaving our Leiden hotel about an hour and a half or so before our booked museum time would get us to the museum without rushing, and would allow time for missteps.

Thanks to all for your help and suggestions. I'm really looking forward to this exhibit, and simultaneously kicking myself for not scheduling more time in the Netherlands!

We were unable to get tickets for the Van Gogh when we were there in May for the Vermeer; we had always gotten them a day or two ahead in the past and didn't realize how things have changed. So get Van Gogh tickets when you know you will be there asap.

And yes we have tourists from the country with the rudest tourists in the world to thank for all these restrictions on tickets. same is true for the Louvre; we used to go in the morning, leave for lunch and a stroll and then return on the same ticket. Once you know who's tour groups started reusing ticket or passes for multiple groups, this advantage was lost for everyone including the right to multiple entries on a Museum Pass. Apparently same in Amsterdam.

I just booked for the Friday morning; given the timing of other aspects our our trip, we decided going on the Friday, while probably more crowded than Monday, would be less stressful. Thanks, everyone, for your help.

Jane, thanks for the shout out. I’m excited for you to see the exhibit. You may already know this - from Leiden it’s quickest to take the train to Amsterdam Zuid (the south station) and take a 5 tram from there to the Museumplein.

JenS, No! I didn't know that. Thanks for the "heads up."

Jane, glad I could add a tip. : )

Has anyone else noticed there are no tickets available for purchase after the first week of November?

Kathy K

@ dan_kathy it looks like the museum hours change to winter schedule effective November 6. Wait a couple days and I suspect the calendar will open up.

My husband and I are going to be in Amsterdam Nov 13-20. We just found out last week. We started trying to get tickets and there were days that were open but when trying to book them it did not allow me. I tried for a couple of days and now all the days that we are in Amsterdam are sold out. We were able to tickets for Anne Frank, Rijks museum, We have also gotten tickets at the Mauritus House . I did not know if there another way to try and get tickets for the Van Gogh.

You can try if ticket resellers like Tours&Tickets have tickets available for your dates. If not, your out of luck I’m afraid. The Van Gogh Museum doesn’t have a ticket office at the museum. Tickets are only sold online. If they’re sold out, they’re sold out.

I just tried to get tickets for April and they wont show the calendar past March. Do i have to wait until January to book??
Thanks sue

@Sue; please see my reply in the thread you started about this exact same question.