Anyone who is a lover of fine art, or who simply appreciates the artistry of the master painters of earlier ages, a trip to Amsterdam can provide wonderful opportunities to enjoy many museums that pay honor and tribute to a number of European masters. The Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam is one of the finest museums anywhere and it holds the unique honor of housing the grandest collection of Vincent Van Gogh's original artwork, right in the very heart of Amsterdam city.

The Van Gogh Museum provides visitors the unique opportunity to closely follow the artistic developments of the genius painter and to see the progression of both his style and also the subject matter that held his interest and evoked his creativity. At the same time, with the many pieces of art by his contemporaries on display, it is an unparalleled way to compare Van Gogh's paintings to the works created by the hands of other masters of 19th century art.

Vincent Van Gogh lived in Paris from 1886 until 1888 and while there he developed an intense interest in Japanese prints. Over the years, he voraciously purchased Japanese woodcut art and the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam now displays the collection he amassed, which numbers approximately 500 prints on exhibit.

This unique and amazing collection is presented in what is called the Print Room, which is located in the exhibition wing of the Van Gogh Museum. This is an exhibit which is parallel to the major exhibition of the collection of Siefgried Bing, the art dealer from whom Van Gogh purchased most of the Japanese prints. The presentation of Van Gogh's work in the Print Room also includes a number of works by Van Gogh that were strongly influenced by the Japanese art he was so enamored with.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam allows visitors to enjoy access to the world's largest accumulation of original works by Van Gogh, including his paintings, his drawings and even many personal letters. Some of the contemporaries of Van Gogh, whose work is also on display at the museum, are familiar names like Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Jean-Franois Millet, Lon L'hermitte, and many others as well, all of which are part of the exhibit that highlights the art that these masters created toward the end of the 19th century.

The permanent collection of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam includes approximately 800 letters of correspondence, which are in the artist's hand. These letters, many of which were written to his beloved brother, Theo, and to artist friends such as Paul Gauguin, provide some fascinating glimpses and insights into the life, the mind and the heart of this genius and master artist whose work is so beloved by people all around the globe.

The Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam is situated in two amazing edifices, both of which are reflective of a beautiful style of modernist architecture that is quite prevalent and seen in a great number of Amsterdam Netherlands structures. With the museum paying homage in a magnificent way to one of the most famous artists of Holland, any visitor to the Amsterdam area will no doubt be enthralled by the exhibits that showcase the handiwork of Vincent Van Gogh in such a wonderful way.