If I would have to write a list of five best museums in the Netherlands, Kröller-Müller Museum would definitely have a place on it. Located in a beautiful Hoge Veluwe National Park in Otterlo, and being home to the second-largest collection of Van Gogh’s work in the world, it’s a museum that shouldn’t be missed. Here is a short guide for visiting the Kröller-Müller Museum, with the best ways of getting there and some other useful tips.

Kröller-Müller Museum

Kröller-Müller is a museum of modern and contemporary art with more than 20,000 art pieces in its collection. It’s a great place to see the development of modern art, from the first Impressionist painters to some significant contemporary artists. Some of the most famous paintings in its collection are works of Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, George Seurat, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian etc.

Besides a beautiful collection (of mostly paintings) inside the museum, it has a fantastic sculpture garden located right in the beautiful nature of the Hoge Veluwe National Park. That connection between art and nature is something which makes this museum so unique.

⤷ Read more: 10 things you didn’t know about the Rijksmuseum

How to get to the Kröller-Müller Museum

The only problem with that lovely place is that it’s a bit dislocated. And if you’re visiting Kröller-Müller Museum from Amsterdam or Rotterdam, you should make a day trip out of it. Here are some options of how to best get there:

By public transport – I went to the Kröller-Müller Museum from Amsterdam by public transport. I’ve taken a train from Amsterdam to Ede. And have taken a bus to Otterlo from there then. Once in Otterlo, I’ve taken another bus to the Kröller-Müller Museum. It took me around two hours to get from Amsterdam to Kröller-Müller Museum with public transport.

⤷ TIP: If you’re going to do the same, download the public transport app 9292. You can see the latest updates and the best options for public transport in the Netherlands that way.

By a car – That’s definitely an easier option. There is a large parking space in front of the museum where you can leave your car.

⤷ TIP: Rent a bicycle! Kröller-Müller Museum is located in beautiful nature, and you can explore it on a bike. Many bicycles could be rented at the entrance of the national park in which the museum is located. All of the bicycles provided have a child seat, so it could be a great family activity, as well. Oh, yes, and they are free of charge!

How the Kröller-Müller Museum was created

Kröller-Müller Museum is quite interesting because it was initially founded as a private collection, created by a really fascinating woman, Helene Kröller-Müller (1869 – 1939). She was one of the most important art patrons and collectors in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. Coming from a wealthy family, she decided to invest her money into art. Helene has created an art collection she could display at the museum and, in the end, donate to Dutch people.

While on a trip at the Hoge Veluwe National Park, she finds it to be an ideal location for her museum. The idea of displaying art in a peaceful nature is something that works so well still today. Construction of the building was finished, and the museum opened its doors in 1938.

Paintings at the Kröller-Müller Museum

Central, and my favourite part, of the Kröller-Müller Museum, is an extensive collection of modern paintings from the mid-19th century until the mid-20th century. There are some famous Impressionist paintings there, like the work of Renoir, Monet or Pissaro.

These are a great introduction to the large collection of Van Gogh’s paintings in a central part of the museum. You can see work of his contemporary painters and many influences from them, visible in his art. That was one of my favourite things in the Kröller-Müller Museum. It’s a great way to understand the development of Van Gogh’s unique style. But, also to understand the evolution of modern art in general.

⤷ Read more: Impressionists at Musée d’Orsay

Van Gogh Collection at Kröller-Müller Museum

The reason I visited the Kröller-Müller Museum in the first place was its Van Gogh collection. With almost 90 paintings and around 180 drawings, it’s home to the second largest collection of his work in the world.

I really liked the way his paintings are displayed and interpreted there. They are not exhibited in chronological order, but, by the subject instead. It was interesting to see the changes in his style throughout time, especially on the paintings showing the same subject.

⤷ Read more: Dutch art reproductions

Some of his very famous paintings, like ‘Moulin de la Galette’, ‘The Sower’ or ‘Bridge at Arles’ are on display there. I was so surprised to see another version of his ‘Potato Eaters’ there, as well. It’s a beautiful place to enjoy in many Van Gogh’s paintings because it’s not as crowded as the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. You can come close to his paintings and enjoy in them in peace and quiet. Some of my favourite of his paintings there were ‘Terrace of a Cafe at Night’, ‘Portrait of Joseph Roulin’ and ‘Four Sunflowers gone to Seed’.

Sculpture Garden

Besides a great Van Gogh collection, another thing that is really beautiful there is its garden with sculptures. Although the weather wasn’t the best on the day I was visiting, that garden was still fantastic.

Being a part of the Hoge Veluwe National Park, nature there is just so amazing. All the different kinds of trees and some of the first spring flowers, made that place so relaxing.

Helene Kröller-Müller’s idea of connecting art and nature is really understandable and visible there. To me, that garden had a feel of a modern version of the 19th-century Romantic garden. And with many contemporary sculptures, it looked almost surreal.

⤷ Read more: Dutch towns you have to visit

Restaurant & Museum Shop

It’s easy to make a day trip out of your visit to the Kröller-Müller Museum because there are many different things you can do there. After enjoying art and walking around the sculpture garden, I had lunch at a museum restaurant. Walls of that part of the building are made entirely out of glass. So, while having a nice lunch there, I enjoyed in a beautiful view of the forest.

There is a lovely gift shop in a museum, as well. It has a large selection of art books and usual gifts with motives or prints from the paintings in a museum.

Kröller-Müller Museum is one of the top museums in the Netherlands, and you should definitely pay it a visit. Lovely for a day trip from Amsterdam or even a weekend if you would like to explore more of the Hoge Veluwe National Park.

Useful info about the Kröller-Müller Museum:

⤷ The museum is open daily (except on Monday), 10 AM – 5 PM

⤷ You can get your online ticket on a link here

⤷ More info about the museum – official website page

You can read all of the posts from my Van Gogh trip below:

⤷ TIP: Would you like to visit some other Dutch cities filled with art and culture? Check out Haarlem, Maastricht or Rotterdam.

I have visited Kröller-Müller Museum as a part of my ‘Follow Van Gogh’ trip, that was supported by Route Van Gogh and Kröller-Müller Museum. Thanks to both of them for helping me organise it and providing me with a complimentary visit!

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