Van Gogh Museum. We will arrive on 09 May, a Friday, for five nights. I've read in one of Rick's guidebooks that Friday evenings are especially nice for this museum (some soft live music, a wine bar etc.) and light crowds. Anyone visited the Van Gogh museum on a Friday evening? Also, I would like to have a tour of some of the flower fields. Biking is a no go (bum knee) so any recommendations on short train rides, buses, tours etc. that you or someone you know have gone on would be great info to know.
Posted by
Boston, MA, United States
1806 posts
Last May I went to the Van Gogh on two separate Friday evenings. Both times I went there immediately after the Rijksmuseum closed for the evening. There was a line for people who needed to purchase tickets, but not a huge one. I had a Museumkaart so I went straight inside to the security checkpoint. Even though Rick might say it's "light crowds", be prepared for some jockeying for position to get a glimpse of some of the more famous paintings - although it's no where near as difficult as trying to get near some of the Vermeer's or Rembrandt's in the Rijksmuseum!
I don't know that I would have called the live music "soft" either time I went. One Friday it was a band that played Reggae, Rap & Ska. The other Friday it was more like Alternative Rock. I thought the music was great both weeks. They also had some screenings of special films and a few lectures going on downstairs on the lower level while the bar and band was on the ground floor. They do post ahead of time what bands and what other special Friday evening events are taking place on their website, so you can check to see whether you might be interested. I also ate dinner in their on-site cafe as they offered a couple different selections for about 12 Euro.
Can't give you a review on Keukenhof as it was unseasonably cold and rainy last May and I heard the tulip fields aren't that good if it's too cold. But there are plenty of ways to get out there by train, bus or an organized tour from Amsterdam. I would personally not book any sort of tour until I knew exactly what the weather would be.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
As the last poster touched on, "tulips" + "near Amsterdam" = Keukenhof. By early May, most of the bulbs in the polders are usually harvested, but Keukenhof usually stays open until mid-May. I visited in April one year, and it was fantastic, but quite crowded by mid-afternoon. Try to arrive as soon after opening time as possible. By the hour we left in the afternoon, the crowds in the indoor exhibits were practicaly elbow-to-elbow. You can easily reach the gardens by public transportation from Amsterdam.