Things you must see in the Netherlands

The Netherlands may be small in stature, but the artists our country has produced throughout history certainly are not! Painters such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Vincent van Gogh, Johannes Vermeer and Karel Appel are known the world over for their exceptional painting skills. The Kröller-Müller Museum's collection consists of nearly 20,000 modern and contemporary paintings and sculptures by both Dutch and international artists, such as Vincent van Gogh, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso and Georges Seurat. 

One of the artists whose work you will encounter at the Kröller-Müller Museum is the Dutchman Vincent van Gogh. With almost 90 paintings and over 180 drawings, the museum has one of the largest Van Gogh collections in the world. Helene Kröller-Müller, who founded the museum, was a great admirer of Vincent's work and amassed a large collection. Since the museum opened in 1938, the Van Gogh Gallery has been located at its heart, and includes his world-famous works Terrace of a Café at Night (Place du Forum) and The Potato Eaters.

Have you admired the museum’s collection in the exhibition rooms? Then you're really only halfway through your visit. Because an equally large part of the collection can be found outdoors, in one of Europe's largest sculpture garden. While strolling through the garden, you can see both small and very large sculptures. Such as Jardin d'émail by Jean Dubufett. This enormous sculpture is one of the museum's best-known and most popular artworks. And what is often not allowed is actually encouraged with this work: you can touch it, walk through it and even play on it. It's no surprise that this sculpture is also extremely popular among children. Make your visit to the sculpture garden extra special by bringing your own picnic and laying your blanket in one of the many beautiful spots. A unique experience!

The sculpture garden is open all year round and is full of surprises in every season. Enjoy the sculptures and the magnificent nature, in the sun or in the snow. Curious about the museum's collection and the sculpture garden? Then take a look at the online collection search tool.

The Kröller-Müller Museum is special not only because of its large and diverse collection of modern art and contemporary art. Or because it has the second largest sculpture garden in Europe. The location of the museum is every bit as special. That's because the Kröller-Müller is situated in De Hoge Veluwe National Park: a unique nature reserve in the east of the Netherlands. The landscape consists of forests, heathland, moors and streams that you can explore on foot or on the iconic white bicycles. Immerse yourself in the expansive beauty of the Dutch scenery and marvel at the sheer variety of the landscape. Who knows, you might even encounter a deer or wild boar on these beautiful walks or bicycle rides. The breathtaking beauty of the national park is something you must see in the Netherlands.

Children are also more than welcome at the museum. And they won't get bored, because there is so much to discover at the museum. Go on a treasure hunt together with the Geo Route app, which lets you search for real treasure in the sculpture garden. Find the code and see if you can open the treasure chest... In the sculpture garden, children can run, play and burn off their energy. Finished playing? Then there is also plenty to do inside. With the Detective Game, you can search together for famous noses in works of art. Plenty to do for the whole family!

You can learn even more about the artworks on display at the museum with the help of the audio tour. The tour is available in several languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Chinese. Learn more about around 30 artworks from the permanent collection as you stroll through the museum at your leisure. You can rent an audio tour at the museum's reception desk for €2.50. 

You can also choose to join a guided tour. During this tour, you will explore the museum or sculpture garden and receive interesting background information about masterpieces and their creators. These tours are provided on request and there is a choice of two different tours: a tour of the museum or a tour of the sculpture garden.

Complete your list of things you must see in the Netherlands with a visit to the Kröller-Müller. Nowhere else will you find such an exceptional combination of art and nature. If you are looking for unique, educational and relaxing things to do in the Netherlands, then a visit to the museum is an absolute must! Those who think the Dutch landscape consists only of flat meadows and tulip fields will be blown away by the stunning beauty of the Dutch nature in Otterlo. Whether you visit the museum for a day or plan a weekend trip to the Veluwe: the Kröller-Müller is one of the finest art museums and one of the most beautiful sights you must see in the Netherlands.