10 Reasons why the Van Gogh Museum is incredibly wheelchair-friendly
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The Van Gogh Museum is one of the most wheelchair-friendly museums in Amsterdam. Home to over 200 of Van Gogh’s masterpieces, the museum showcases everything from the ‘Sunflowers’ and ‘The Bedroom’ to ‘The Potato Eaters’ and various iconic self-portraits. With a range of accessibility features, the Van Gogh Museum building has been well-adapted for wheelchair users. Read on to find out what makes the Van Gogh Museum incredibly wheelchair-friendly.
1. Museum information desks all include a low countertop
Some of the many information desks in the Van Gogh Museum
First of all, each information desk at the Van Gogh Museum includes a low countertop. This inclusive design allows wheelchair users to be easily seen and heard from behind the information desk.
2. Chaperones (or ‘companions’) can accompany wheelchair users for free
Free companion tickets can be bought on the Van Gogh Museum website
Wheelchair users visiting the Van Gogh Museum are permitted to bring a chaperone (or ‘companion’') for free. A companion ticket can be ordered online via the Van Gogh Museum website. Simply click on the ‘Show more’ button and select ‘Entrance Companion ticket’ alongside your other ticket. The companion ticket will be added to your order free of charge.
3. A wheelchair accessible floor plan outlines the museum’s accessibility features
Van Gogh in all his glory on the cover of the floor plan
The Van Gogh Museum offers visitors a free accessibility floor plan. The floor plan outlines (amongst other things) the entrances, exits, lifts, and wheelchair-friendly toilets throughout the Main Building and Exhibition Wing. A floor plan can be collected at the information desk or downloaded via the Van Gogh Museum website.
4. The cloakroom includes wheelchair-friendly lockers
The touch screen shows “wheelchair accessible (small)” and “(medium)” lockers
Van Gogh Museum visitors can store personal belongings in a private locker. Several touch screens allow you to create a unique password that operates your locker. The touch screen on the far right of the room includes the option of “wheelchair accessible (small)” and “wheelchair accessible (medium)”. Selecting either of these options ensures you will be given a locker within reach for wheelchair users.
5. Wheelchairs are available for visitors to borrow
As I don’t have a photo of the wheelchairs, here are visitors admiring the ‘Sunflowers’ instead
Dozens of manual wheelchairs (and folding chairs) are available for visitors to borrow. Wheelchairs must be reserved in advance. If you’d like to reserve a wheelchair, please email info@vangoghmuseum.nl indicating the date and time of your visit.
6. Exhibition halls are spacious
Plenty of space to pop a wheelie!
Exhibition halls in the Van Gogh Museum have plenty of space for wheelchair users to manoeuvre. Doorways are wide and threshold-free. Much of the text on the walls (though not all) is written in large font, easily readable from a seated distance.
7. Lifts provide access to every floor and collection
A platform lift leads down to the Van Gogh Museum gift shop
The Van Gogh Museum includes lifts to every floor and collection. While the Main Building and Exhibition Wing floors can be reached via a standard lift, the museum gift shop is accessible via a platform lift. To operate the platform lift, ask a museum staff member for assistance.
8. The gift shops are wheelchair accessible
Japanese books at the Van Gogh Museum gift shop
If you’re a fan of museum gift shops, you’ll be happy to know that all of the Van Gogh Museum gift shops are wheelchair accessible. Gift shop countertops are low; many products are located on low shelves (but also high ones); and payment machines are within reach for wheelchair users. The gift shops sell a variety of books and knick knacks celebrating the life and art of Van Gogh.
9. A disabled parking space can be found near the museum entrance
Colourful paintings in the Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum has a disabled parking space located along Paulus Potterstraat number 7. A second disabled parking space can be found on the same street, in the direction of the Van Baerlestraat; a third slightly further away, on the corner of the Johannes Vermeerstraat/ Hobbemastraat. The Van Gogh Museum also has a drop off and pick up space for disabled visitors.
10. Accessibility information is clearly presented on the Van Gogh Museum website
The Van Gogh Museum has a fantastic overview of its (wheelchair) accessibility information on the museum website. The mobility aids page includes relevant floor plans, measurements, videos, and contact information. The museum video above takes you through key wheelchair accessibility tips to make your Van Gogh Museum visit a success.
