Soon after having visited Ann Frank's House-Museum and because we were on Prinsengracht we decided (as suggested in many guide books) to "explore " its 3 km length canal on foot and some of the other Grachtengordel Canals. Said to have been designed for warehouses and artisan's housing their beauty is now enhanced by the numerous Cafés, Art galleries and houseboats.
Bicycle parking boatsWe then reached the picturesque Bloemenmarkt, where vendors are said to have sailed up the Amstel in the past to sell their flowers and bulbs directly from the boats. Although the flower stalls are still floating it is hardly noticable.
Prior to arriving at the Museum Quarter where we had planned to see one Museum, we came across a painting on a street stall depicting a version of Van Gogh's potatoe eaters which I found to be quite interesting.
I felt that if I were to visit the Rijksmuseum I would have to spend more than a mere afternoon there, not only because it houses millions of works of Art, but mainly because the Dutch paintings, the 17th century sculpture and decorative arts on the first floor could easily "distract" me for endless hours, this being the reason why we decided on the Van Gogh's Museum.
Rijksmuseum facade
Van Gogh MuseumThe Van Gogh's paintings housed in this Museum, which opened in 1973 and most of which were ammassed by his brother Theo were really impressive. I had expected it to be entirely dedicated to his works of Art, but soon realised it also housed other artists as well.
At the Museum shop I managed to buy a book on the letters he wrote to his brother Theo, similar to one I had bought at an auction a long time ago and which was stolen from me in 1979.
(To be continued)
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