Top art galleries to visit in Amsterdam on a school trip

You can’t pick a better location than Amsterdam for an art school trip.

This lively capital city has an attractive mix of towering canal houses with their iconic gables, excellent cafes and shopping, quaint cycle-centric cobbled streets, and world-class art galleries and museums, three of which are conveniently located together on Museumplein, otherwise known as “Museum Square”.

As a central public space, it is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum, three must-visit Amsterdam galleries for any art student.

Why is Amsterdam an art gallery capital?

The vibrant city of Amsterdam has long been associated with art. Its artistic roots can be traced back to The Dutch Golden Age, the period between 1588 and 1672, noted for bringing wealth and power to the Netherlands, and for a period of great artistic and scientific contributions.

Rembrandt van Rijn

One of the most influential painters of all time, Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 – 1669), was active during the Golden Age and made Amsterdam his home. Rembrandt is responsible for iconic paintings such as The Night Watch and Syndics of the Drapers' Guild, which can both be admired in person at Rijksmuseum on Museumplein.

Vincent van Gogh

The Golden Age and Rembrandt were succeeded by fellow world-class Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890), who lived briefly in Amsterdam and whose instantly recognisable paintings can be viewed at the dedicated Van Gogh Museum.

In more recent years, Amsterdam’s contemporary vibe and creative community have made it a destination for modern art, on both a local and international scale. Today, Amsterdam has an excellent variety of art galleries to visit, and a unique creative atmosphere that is sure to inspire.

Rijskmuseum: A historic hub for Dutch art and identity

High on your “to-visit” list should be the National Museum of the Netherlands, otherwise known as Rijskmuseum. This cultural icon is the largest museum in the country, and it’s also one of the oldest, having first opened its doors in 1798 in The Hague, before relocating to Amsterdam in 1808, and to its current building in 1885.

In addition to exploring collections and exhibitions showcasing 800 years of Dutch history and culture, students can have the pleasure of viewing works by the masters of the Golden Age, such as The Night Watch by Rembrandt and The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer, in the flesh. And there’s nothing like seeing an artistic masterpiece in person to truly appreciate the skill behind the brushstrokes, use of light, and the composition.

Rijskmuseum is handily located on Museumplein, to the southwest of Amsterdam city centre, and is easily accessed by public transport. An impressive Gothic-style building that was majorly refurbished between 2003 and 2012, Rijksmuseum is large and immersive enough to take up an entire day of your art school trip.

Key information about visiting Rijskmuseum:

Location: The museum can be found in Amsterdam’s museum quarter and is easily accessible by tram. The full address is Rijksmuseum, Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX.
Tickets: Booking is essential and can be done in advance online. Visitors are required to pick a start time for their visit, but can then stay for as long as they wish. Tickets for Rijksmuseum are free for under-18s, but there is no student discount.
Food & Drink: Rijksmuseum has a bright, welcoming cafe serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, salads, soups and more. There are also various espresso bars around the museum where you can fuel up on coffee and light bites. Or for a Michelin-starred dining experience, try RIJKS® restaurant.
Accessibility: The museum has a mission to be open to all, thus, they take accessibility very seriously. Rijksmuseum is wheelchair accessible, there are lifts on all floors, and assistance dogs are welcome.

Van Gogh Museum: The celebration of a true artist

It’s every art student’s dream to see Van Gogh’s immersive works with their own eyes, and you can do just that at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

This unique art gallery was born out of a special relationship between the descendants of Van Gogh and the Dutch state. The state purchased a huge collection of paintings, drawings and letters from the family, and committed to maintaining a museum to showcase and preserve these precious pieces of art for generations to come.

And with approximately 1.8million visitors per year, the goal to make Van Gogh’s masterpieces available to the public has certainly been achieved. A huge 85% of these visitors are from abroad, and it’s not hard to see why this Amsterdam art gallery is a must-visit for tourists.

The Van Gogh Museum is also located on Museumplein, but unlike Rijksmuseum, all three buildings that make up the museum are contemporary, with the most striking feature being the shimmering curved glass atrium. Once inside, art students can immerse themselves in world-famous post-impressionist paintings such as Sunflowers, Almond Blossom and The Potato Eaters, an incredible opportunity for any art student.

Key information about visiting the Van Gogh Museum:

Location: The art gallery is located in Amsterdam’s dedicated museum quarter and is easily accessible by tram. The full address is Van Gogh Museum, Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ.
Tickets: All visitors to the art gallery must pre-book a timed entry ticket, which can be easily done online. The Van Gogh Museum is free to under-18s, and a student discount is available Monday to Friday (not including Dutch public holidays and school holidays) to those with a valid student card.
Food & Drink: Restaurant Bistro Vincent offers a selection of hot and cold drinks, plus pastries and lunch options. There are also two welcoming cafes on-site for quick refreshments.
Accessibility: With an ethos focused on making the iconic works of Van Gogh available to all, you can rest assured that the art gallery is fully accessible, with a range of facilities and mobility aids.

Stedelijk: A contemporary Amsterdam art experience

Providing a pleasing contrast to the two previous Amsterdam art gallery picks, Stedelijk is a museum of modern and contemporary art and design, with almost 90,000 objects to admire.

This Amsterdam art gallery is one of the best to visit for any students with an interest in art and design from the 20th and 21st centuries, including archetypal abstract works by legends such as Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso and Henry Matisse, and famous pop-art pieces by Andy Warhol.

There’s also an extensive collection of furniture that will capture the interest of those with an interest in design, style and interiors, along with a selection of ceramics, glass and graphic design works.

The structure of the museum itself also prompts artistic debate and discussion, with its striking blend of traditional and modern; a traditional 19th-century building combined with a gigantic white “bathtub” extension that was completed in 2012.

Stedelijk hosts regular exhibitions and events, from guided tours to workshops and lectures. If you want an engaging and inspiring experience, then this art gallery is most certainly one of the very best for art students to visit.

Key information about visiting The Stedelijk Museum:

Location: This epicentre of modern art is again located on Museumplein, meaning it can also be accessed via public transport. The full address is Museumplein 10, 1071 DJ
Tickets: Tickets must be pre-booked online; pick your date and then arrive anytime between 10am and 5:45pm. Students can get a discount on the admission price, and is free to anyone under the age of 19
Food & Drink: Stedelijk has two cafes and a bar, so whether you fancy an expertly crafted coffee, a homemade pastry, Dutch classics such as open sandwiches, or a relaxed evening meal, you will be catered for.
Accessibility: Making the art gallery accessible to all is a top priority of Stedelijk. There are lifts, rest areas and accessible toilets, and assistance dogs are welcome.

Invigorate your students with an art & design trip to Amsterdam

Museumplein and its three major museums make Amsterdam a haven for art and design students. Easy to reach via public transport and just a stone’s throw from the city’s vibrant centre, this hub of creativity, culture and history is guaranteed to captivate and inspire students.

And while Rijskmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk make up the three best art galleries to visit on a school trip to Amsterdam, there are several smaller galleries to add to your list, such as Moco Museum (modern, contemporary and street art), Nxt Museum (art and technology), and Foam (photography).

For school groups, Amsterdam really is the ideal destination to give your art students a fresh perspective and experiences that will stay with them throughout their academic career and beyond.

Get the most from your Amsterdam art trip with European Study Tours

At European Study Tours, we specialise in organising Art & Design trips to Amsterdam that will maximise all that this unique creative capital city has to offer.

Picking the right school trip provider takes away the stress of organising transport, accommodation and activities. This allows teachers to focus on their students and what they can gain from an immersive cultural art experience in Amsterdam.

Find out more about our art & design trips, or request a quote to get the ball rolling on your trip.