The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are two of the most popular art galleries in the world, so if you’re on holiday in The Netherlands, you’ll likely want to visit them both. They’re certainly well worth going to: the Rijksmuseum houses incredible work from artists like Rembrandt (whose The Night Watch, arguably his most famous work, is breathtaking), Asselijn, Hals, and Vermeer; while the museum dedicated to Vincent Van Gogh is a definitive collection on the troubled but brilliant painter and lithographer.
So how can you get into both these iconic places in Amsterdam?
Do You Need Tickets for the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum?
Yes, you need tickets for both museums. What’s more, you need to get them in advance: don’t bother queueing up in the hopes of snagging tickets there and then; they’re not sold at the door.
A few years ago, before Covid-19 restrictions, it was possible to get tickets at the door, but now, you’ll need to pre-book slots. Fortunately, once you’ve got tickets, you can spend as long inside as you want. Indeed, you’ll need to set aside at least 90 minutes for each – that is, if you don’t intend to spend much time checking out the artworks (and even then, crowds around particularly popular pieces like Bedroom in Arles might lengthen your stay); on the safe side, put aside a solid 3 hours for each, although if you really love art, you can easily spend two full days in these museums.
So how can you buy tickets? And where can you find last-minute tickets for the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum? Here are a few ways you can try.
Pre-Book Tickets for the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum Online
The most obvious way to get admission is to pre-book tickets in advance.
These are both incredibly popular and sell out very fast, so we advise you grab tickets as soon as they become available. Typically, slots open for both between four and six months in advance, so if you know the exact dates you’re in Amsterdam that far before going, book an appropriate time.
Such tickets are available through their respective official websites.
So what can you do if you’ve missed your chance and it looks like all tickets are sold out for the dates you’re in Holland?
Ask at Amsterdam Tour Guide Stores
Across Amsterdam, including near all tourist hotspots like the city centre, Vondelpark (home of both the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum), and Anne Frank’s House, you’ll find red-fronted stores named “City Sightseeing”. From these, you can buy tickets for an array of activities across the country, including canal cruises, combination deals often involving branded bus tours, and attractions like the Body Works Amsterdam, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and THIS IS HOLLAND.
And, of course, you might be able to find tickets for the Rijksmuseum and, sadly less likely, the Van Gogh Museum.
This is a long shot, but don’t give up hope. During quieter periods or if you’re booking far ahead of time, these stores might be able to secure tickets for you.
If you ask someone there and they tell you tickets have sold out months in advance, yes, you’ll be disappointed, but there are still avenues open to you.
Check For Tickets in the Late Afternoon
These museums are so popular, tickets really do sell out weeks or months before the actual date of admission. But sometimes, you can secure tickets the day before you intend to go.
Yes, really!
This requires you and perhaps anyone else you’re travelling with to visit the museums’ respective sites repeatedly in the late afternoon. Last-minute tickets are released every single day due to cancellations. All you need to do is be patient, be persistent, and have a little bit of luck on your side. Typically, tickets for the next day are available between 3pm and 4pm, though times do vary.
You will have to be quick. Once you see an opening, go for it – buy those tickets ASAP, because you’ll be one of many trying to get your hands on them. In some cases, this might mean getting into the museums at an earlier or later time than you’d hoped for; nonetheless, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get in around the time you actually intend to.
Keep refreshing and make sure you’ve got a good internet connection. Don’t give up.
And it’s worth remembering that you can spend all day at those museums, so once you’ve got tickets, set that day aside to explore!
For the opening times of the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum, check out their official websites. Don’t just rely on Google, as it can sometimes pick up on the wrong dates, especially as closing times in particular are somewhat seasonal: for instance, at the time of writing, the Van Gogh Museum opens at 9am every day, but closes at either 5pm or 6pm, depending on the time of year or even time of month you’re visiting.
Ask at Your Accommodation
If you’re staying at a hotel, it’s worth checking with reception to see whether they can get tickets for either the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum. The former is definitely more likely. In fact, that’s how I got tickets the last time I went.
Sometimes, they’ll just do the above, i.e. check for cancellations through official sites, but some places may have privileged access, meaning a small number of admission tickets are set aside for guests. If you’re early enough, staff might even ring the attractions for you.
Obviously, hotel staff can be either very helpful or not bother giving you the time of day. Some people will hear you want to get into these sold-out museums and tell you there’s no chance. Either chat to a member of staff you’ve made some sort of connection with, or tell them that you know someone who’s managed to grab tickets this way before then ask them to please check anyway.
Still, most people in The Netherlands are friendly and helpful, so give it a try. The locals might even know other outlets to try.
Still no luck? Visit Amsterdam Tickets by Headout (book.tickets-amsterdam.com) – for the Van Gogh Museum, tickets likely won’t be available on the day; the earliest is probably going to be a week in advance. But you should have much better luck for the Rijksmuseum, for which same-day tickets are frequently available during the off-season, or a day or so later at busier times.
Check Resale Tickets on Dedicated Platforms
If you’ve exhausted all other means, you can try looking on dedicated resale ticket platforms.
Some people buy tickets then realise they can’t make the specific dates or times; some people are forced to cancel for other reasons; and others sadly buy tickets only to sell them on again.
Because admission is so sought-after, the museums plead for those unable to visit despite having tickets to tell them, so they can open up more slots. That doesn’t mean those people will get their money back – far from it. They don’t offer refunds. If you’ve got a ticket that you can’t use, you’re better off using resale sites. These don’t guarantee that you’ll sell them on in time, but it’s pretty likely, especially if you don’t charge too much for them. The best bet, if you’re not worried about making a profit, is simply to charge enough to cover your expenses, i.e. the ticket price plus whatever fees the resale site charges.
And if you’re looking for tickets, this is a fantastic option for you. Visit sites that resell unwanted tickets. You might not get in at exactly the time you wanted to, but if you’re desperate to get in, it’s possible that these handy platforms will save your holiday!
StubHub; TicketSwap; Tixel – there are, of course, lots of reputable resale websites (as well as some scam sites, so be extra vigilant); but you can also try more unusual methods to get tickets and perhaps even save some money – for example, using Marktplaats.nl, which is a wide marketplace for people across Holland, but which also includes occasional tickets and discount codes. Naturally, it’s all in Dutch, so use a good translation service. Your browser should give you the option to translate pages anyway.
Good luck getting tickets. You’re going to love Amsterdam – have a wonderful time!
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