Amsterdam: All About the Art - By: Robert Emdur

Situated in the eastern half of the country, Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. Located just a short hop away from the United Kingdom, it is a city known for its liberality, beautiful waterways and stunning architecture. The many canals that help make the city famous are the result of conscious city planning in the early 17th century, when immigration to the area was at its peak. Student tours that take in Amsterdam can be focused on a variety of areas including cultural phenomenons, architecture, history, and economics. But one of the most interesting aspects of the city is its appreciation for and dedication to art. While in the city, be sure to see the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museums to get a taste of Amsterdam’s art.

Rijksmuseum — As the State Museum of the Netherlands, it has been a part of the history, in some incarnation, since 1800 – and an important inclusion on student tours. In 1885, it moved into its current building (a beautiful Dutch neo-Renaissance building designed by architect Petrus J.H. Cuypers) and is home to a collection that is grouped into three categories. Visitors can wander through the Art Collection, with its paintings, sculptures, applied and Asiatic artworks; through the History Collection filled with paintings, archaeological artifacts, clothing, and photographs; and finally into the Drawing, Prints, and Photography Collection, which houses the partial collections of decorative prints, portraits, and bookplates. The museum is located in the heart of the city at Jan Luijkenstraat 1.

The Van Gogh Museum — After spending a day among the eclectic and comprehensive collections of the Rijksmuseum, participants on student tours can hop across the canal, just a short walk away, to see a museum which is decidedly more focused: the Van Gogh Museum. Located at Paulus Potterstraat 7, the museum contains the largest collection of works by Vincent Van Gogh in the entire world. The permanent collection holds over 200 works and allows visitors the opportunity to see how Van Gogh developed as an artist. In addition to the works of Van Gogh, the museum also houses a collection of other 19th century artists; these are housed in two stunning buildings of architectural achievement, which are worth studying as works of art, in and of themselves.

The Stedelijk Musuem — Located at Rozenstraat 59, the main Stedelijk Museum is home to one of the richest collections of modern art in the world. Those on student tours will learn how the museum building was built in 1891-95 in order to house a collection left to the city by Sophia Augusta Lopez Suasso de Bruyn - it grew from that single collection to be one of the major museums of the Netherlands. In 2010 the Stedelijk Museum opened the doors of the old building to its ever-changing collection - the Temporary Stedelijk 2 at Paulus Potterstraat 13. This collection features some interesting blends of all the important names and movements in the artistic world, and will have to suffice visitors until the main Stedelijk is reopened (it is closed for renovations) later in 2012.

About the Author

Robert Emdur works for Equity Student Travel, the UK’s leading specialist in group travel for students in higher and further education. We organise student tours to destinations around the world covering a wide range of subjects, as well as conference & event-focused trips.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Robert-Emdur/230121

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