(Updated April 25) Turned away at the Van Gogh museum

Thanks for posting this Mona! Hopefully you will save a few others from this fate. We've been to Amsterdam before, but missed the Van Gogh museum so will make it there this time:). I bought us timed tickets thank goodness:)

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/plan-your-visit/ticket-prices

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/nl/plan-je-bezoek/toegangsprijzen

On their website it states this spring tickets are only available online. I have to say the information in Dutch is more clear. There it states that you need an online ticket, even if you have a Museumkaart or an IAmsterdam Card. (But no mention of spring in Dutch)

I think they just changed this and it is only while the Van Gogh and Japan exhibit is going on (until June 24th). I had checked a month or so ago and didn't see it, but it's on their website now that for the spring, you need a reservation. i just made my online reservation for the Van Gogh museum last night - they do have a checkbox for the Museumkaart so there was no charge to reserve a time slot (not even the small fee that the Anne Frank house charges).

Thanks for posting this here. You should also submit this directly to Rick's "people" using the Guidebook Feedback form: https://www.ricksteves.com/forms/guidebook-feedback-form

This is exactly the kind of last minute or temporary change that can not be handled in a printed guidebook that takes so long to get in print. And it's why you need to use the internet for getting accurate up to date current information for open/close times, prices, and ticket information. Guidebooks are great for planning and general information about a place but just not as up to date as online information for the details.

I did report this information in the proper link on the RS website last night.

Today we returned with our timed entry reservation. I was told to speak to a person at the information desk so I did. She said the new policy started in April this year. I talked to her about how the English webpage could be more precise in its language. We talked about possibly accommodating desperate people ( believe me we saw some yesterday) by allowing people to wait for "no show" reservations during this rollout period. She said they were still analyzing how to do this new system. I asked her if this would continue after spring and she said "most definately".

Like Nancy said, guidebooks can't cover all situations so look at the attraction's website. Too bad the VGMs website wasn't more clear on their first page where it said "everyone needs a ticket". They never say timed entry reservation but I talked to museum personnel about this as they transition.

Mona, thanks for the information and the update. What an excellent opportunity to talk with the folks there and yes, perhaps it will have an impact both on the policies and on the translation.

Oh my goodness! So glad you were able to figure it out and get in! The VG museum was one of my highlights of my Amsterdam trip.

This is great info. I will be there in late June and was just planning to wing it - now I guess I'll have time to make some firm plans. Do you suppose the same would be true at the Rijksmuseum? Thanks! - Gary

Gary, we went to the Rijksmuseum and a dozen other museums in the Netherlands in the past two weeks. None of them had timed entry requirements and we just walked right in, usually in the middle of the day, and had a ticket person scan our Museumkaart barcode within a minute. The only museum we encountered that seemed crowded was the Hermitage with its tiny rooms. Their current exhibit, Dutch Masters, ends on May 23 I think. They don't have a timed entry but they do charge an extra $10 for Museumkaart holders.

We didn't go the Anne Frank house, where a timed entry is required, on this trip as we've been there on past trips.

With regard to the Rijksmuseum policies, it never hurts to check again before your visit but for now they aren't requiring a timed reservation.

When I visited the Hermitage for the Dutch Masters exhibition, I had a timed entrance. (Actually I was a little bit early, and the ticket didn't open the stiles. The security man had to open it for me.)

We were at the Rijksmuseum yesterday and no timed entry was required. Certainly crowded but not an issue.

Thanks-you Mona, Ton and DJ! Looks like it would be prudent to pre-purchase for the Van Gogh museum. I'm not sure that purchasing a Museumkaart will make sense for us (if we're only planning to hit the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum). We've been to the Hermitage in St.Petersburg and wouldn't stop at their satellite museum in Amsterdam, if anything we may head down to The Hague and go to the Mauritshuis since they have Vermeers that I haven't seen face-to-face.

Good info. Thanks! We will be there in a few weeks and I do want to see the Van Gogh museum. I was going to wait bc I wasn't sure when it fit in our schedule best but I will have to take my best guess, I think!

Ton was your timed entry a requirement or a convienence? We just showed up at the Hermitage Amsterdam two days ago with our Museumkaart and they scanned us right in.