Amsterdam Museums: Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh

Three of the world's greatest museums are found on the Museumplein, a grassy open space in Amsterdam-Zuid (South).

RIJKSMUSEUM — With its superb collection of Rembrandts, Vermeers, Halses and Steens, the Rijksmuseum will reopen on April 13, 2013, after a 10-year, $450 million renovation. The Dutch neo-Renaissance building debuted in 1885. Following the reconstruction, the galleries are flooded with natural light and augmented by an extensive new visitors’ center. Highlights of the museum include Rembrandt’s “Self Portrait as the Apostle Paul” and “The Night Watch,” and “The milkmaid” and “The Love Letter,” both by Vermeer. In addi- tion, the museum has sections dedicated to arts, crafts and Dutch history. It also has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a substantial holding of Asian art. Museumstraat 1. Tel. (31) 20-674-7000.

VAN GOGH MUSEUM — The much-loved Van Gogh Museum attracts nearly 2 million visitors a year and contains 200 paintings and 400 drawings, the world’s largest collection of the artist’s work. It will reopen in May after a comprehensive renovation of its galleries. (In the interim, 75 of its canvases are on display at the Hermitage Amsterdam.) Upon van Gogh’s death in 1890, his unsold work fell into the possession of his brother, Theo. Theo died six months later, leaving the paintings to his widow, Johanna. The collection was inherited by her son, Vincent Willem van Gogh, in 1925 and was eventually loaned to the Stedelijk Museum. It was transferred to the Vincent van Gogh Foundation in 1962. Major works include “Sunflowers,” “Bedroom in Arles” and “Wheatfield with Crows” (thought to be Van Gogh’s last painting). Paulus Potterstraat 7. Tel. (31) 20-570-5200.

STEDELIJK MUSEUM AMSTERDAM — The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam contains an outstanding collection of contemporary art and design. The main building opened in 1895. Between 2003 and 2012, it was completely renovated and a controversial bathtub-shaped new wing added. (“I can’t recall seeing a more ridiculous building,” commented New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman.) The Stedelijk reopened on September 23, 2012. The collection comprises works from the early 20th to the 21st century. It features virtually the entire pantheon of modernist greats, including artists such as Kandinsky, Chagall, Braque, Picasso, Matisse, Malevich, Pollock, Warhol, de Kooning, Rauschenberg, Johns and Lichtenstein. Museumplein 10. Tel. (31) 20-573-2911.