Any one have recommendations for a private tour guide for the Van Gogh? And/or the Rijksmuseum as well? I've already contacted one company and the price was astronomical! Thanks!
Posted by
NorthCarolina
936 posts
they have headsets you can rent that are very detailed and very good. That's all you need.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4322 posts
Prices for private tours anywhere are astronomical.
Posted by
183 posts
I agree- just there in October and the audio guides are great. Don’t spend the money for a private guide for either museum.
Posted by
7672 posts
You don't need a private guide, do the audio guide and read up on his art prior to going.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
13946 posts
For the Rijksmuseum, download the app, bring your ear buds and use that to navigate thru the museum.
The Van Gogh does not have an official app, so I agree with getting the audio guide there.
Posted by
Washington, DC USA
348 posts
Kimberly, if you go onto the Van Gogh Museum website and dirll down into the section on private tours, they do offer a couple options of private tours with an expert provided by the museum. The price listed is 96Euro (plus admission) for up to 15 people for 50 minutes Depending how many people you are travelling with, this price might not be astronomical for you. I haven't checked the Rijksmuseum website but they probably have some options too.
I have not taken these private tours but when I was at the Van Gogh this past October, I couldn't help hearing/seeing a guided tour that seemed to be led by someone from the museum with considerable expertise. (I often had to wait for them to finish in order to see some of the paintings). I was very impressed with the little I heard of this particular guide; she provided much more, including answering question from her group, than what I was getting with the audio guide and several guidebooks I had. The tour was selective, so if I had been on it I still would have wanted to go back through to museum to see all the paintings she didn't discuss.
Like others who have responded, I just used the audio guide plus I had with me on my phone several guidebooks and an art critic's book that each gave extra information on their selected highlights. Generally, I found the audio and guidebook sources sufficient. At the Rijdsmuseum, I thought some of the private guides that were all over the Gallery of Honour were quite unappealing and unimpressive but I don't believe that they were provided by the museum.