Kröller- Müller vs the Van Gogh Museum

Art-lovers anxious to get their fix of Van Gogh should bypass the popular Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, with its overcrowded rooms and long lines, and head instead to the fascinating Kröller-Müller Museum, located in the heart of Hoge Veluwe National Park in the eastern Netherlands.

Here you’ll find an extensive collection of the great man’s work in an idyllic rural setting of woodland, heathland, grassy plains, and sand drifts. This fine, isolated museum is named after Helene Kröller-Müller, a 20th-century art enthusiast who built up a large collection of works, including many Van Gogh paintings, with the support of her wealthy industrialist husband.

But when his business was hit hard during the Great Depression, Helene feared for the future of her collection, and in 1935 she gave all 11,500 pieces to the Dutch state on the condition that a museum be built to house them. Her wish was granted, and in 1938 the Kröller-Müller Museum opened on the family estate at Hoge Veluwe.

Helene’s favorite artist was Van Gogh, who she believed “created modern Expressionism.” She purchased 91 of his paintings and 175 drawings, and, while this is less than half the number owned by the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, it represents a more digestible helping for one visit. Look out for the arresting Self Portrait of 1887, in which the artist’s face emerges from a thunderous, swirling background and seems to stare right at you, and Four Cut Sunflowers, with its fiery yellow petals that appear to flicker on the canvas.

The paint has been applied so thickly in The Sower (1888) and Country Road in Provence by Night (1890) that the works have a shimmering quality, the energy from the bright stars and the sun somehow radiating far beyond the edges of the canvases. The famous piece Café Terrace at Night (1888) is also on display. Some critics believe this is part of a trilogy that includes Starry Night (1889) and Starry Night Over the Rhone (1888), both of which are exhibited elsewhere.

The Kröller-Müller collection also has a major collection of 19th- and 20th-century French paintings and a sculpture garden with distinctive works by Auguste Rodin and Henry Moore.

FORGET THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM?

THE BUILD-UP

The Van Gogh Museum boasts the largest collection of the artist’s work in the world and offers visitors the chance to compare his style to that of other 19th-century artists, including Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, and Seurat. It is conveniently located close to the Rijksmuseum on Museumplein (Museum Square) in Amsterdam, which has an extensive collection of the work of other Dutch masters.

THE LETDOWN

The temptation to view so many great works of art all together can be irresistible. But how much can the brain absorb at one viewing, especially when you’re vying for viewing space with so many visitors? Nearly 2 million people visit the museum every year.

GOING ANYWAY?

Amsterdam is undoubtedly one of the most popular and interesting cities in Europe, and its museums are renowned the world over. The Van Gogh Museum has a very good English-language website that is essential reading if you wish to make the most of your visit. It is better to visit off-season and at either end of the day (particularly at opening time) to avoid the worst of the crowds.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Getting There and Around

Schiphol Airport, located on the outskirts of Amsterdam, is 60 miles (95 km) from the Kröller- Müller Museum. You can travel to the museum by car, train, or bus.

Where to Eat

Amsterdam boasts a good variety of places to eat, from basic cafés to sophisticated restaurants. For a unique dining experience try De Kas Restaurant, with its glass conservatory. At the museum, there’s a very good self-service café called Monsieur Jacques.

Where to Stay

Try the small and friendly Hotel Multatuli, located in the center of Amsterdam and named after a 19th-century Dutch writer.

When to Go

The driest, warmest months are from April to September.

Budget per Day for Two

US$300 including accommodations, food, transportation, and entrance to the museum.