The Netherlands is well-known for its tulip fields, windmills and canals but is also full of art and culture. For hundreds of years, Dutch artists, talented beyond compare, have made their mark in these works and changed the culture of the world with their painting styles and stories. From the golden age, masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer to Van Gogh's sharp strokes the Netherlands can boast some of (if not the) most recognizable and unrivalled paintings in the world. Whether you are a lover of good art, an inquisitive traveler or student of culture, traveling to the Netherlands to see its painting legacy is an inspirational journey through colours, pasts and imaginations.
In order to see these works of art more closely, travelers from every country are planning cultural excursions to Dutch museums and art cities of Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam. If you are from India, the chance to see these age-old paintings is now even more achievable because there is an easier way to get a Netherland Visa from India. Whether you want to get to see Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" or Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" up close, your cultural journey begins with an appropriate travel plan. A Netherland Visa will provide access to these art-related galleries, where each brushstroke is a story waiting to be told.
Here are some of the amazing paintings in the Netherlands.
1. The Night Watch – Rembrandt van Rijn (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)
The Night Watch is perhaps the most famous painting in the Netherlands and one of the crucial masterworks of the Dutch Golden Age. Painted in 1642, this magnificent canvas by Rembrandt is notable for its vivid composition and embodiment of motion. The painting depicts a militia company that is alive and active now, creating a dynamic picture filled with movement. The Night Watch hangs in the Rijksmuseum and attracts millions of visitors every year.
2. Girl with a Pearl Earring – Johannes Vermeer (Mauritshuis, The Hague)
Girl with a Pearl Earring, which is often called the "Mona Lisa of the North," is a small, yet extremely expressive, painting of a girl painted by Vermeer around 1665. In the painting, the girl wears exotic clothing and turns her head with a gentle look of curiosity. The painting has intrigued viewers for centuries with its mysterious gaze and luminous pearl earring. You can see it in the Mauritshuis in The Hague.
3. The Potato Eaters – Vincent van Gogh (Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam)
The Potato Eaters (1885) is an early victor by Van Gogh that captures the somber life of Dutch farm workers in the nineteenth century. Filled with emotion and earthy tones, this painting depicts a family gathering for a simple meal. While the colors are not as bright as van Gogh's later works, the work does reflect Van Gogh's concerns for the poor, while displaying his natural artistic skill. The piece is included in the permanent collection of the Van Gogh Museum.
4. The Milkmaid – Johannes Vermeer (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)
Simply entitled The Milkmaid, this is a calm, domestic scene of a woman pouring milk. What makes this rather ordinary scene, by Vermeer extraordinary is its use of light, texture and the wonderful unaffected moment portrayed. Dating around 1658, this painting represents an admiration for domestic life and simple beauty. Color and natural light have ensured the Milkmaid withstands the viccissitudes of art history and remains a favorite of art lovers and scholars alike.
5. The Threatened Swan – Jan Asselijn (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)
A dramatic and symbolic painting, The Threatened Swan (c. 1650) depicts anguished swan defending her nest from a dog. The painting has come to symbolize Dutch resistance and has been displayed in many an exhibition during political struggles. Its dramatic brushstrokes and symbolism contribute to it being one of the most poignant animal portraits in Dutch art. It resides in the Rijksmuseum.
6. View of Delft – Johannes Vermeer (Mauritshuis, The Hague)
Delft is in many ways the most beautifully painted of all Vermeer’s cityscapes, and one of few landscapes. The composition, View of Delft (c. 1660-1661) presents a wonderfully tranquil and detailed view of the Dutch town where Vermeer lived. The sunny disposition of the painting and how it treats sunlight on the architecture and reflects in the water gives testimony to Vermeer’s care at capturing a moment in time. It can be viewed at the Mauritshuis.
7. Wheatfield with Crows - Vincent van Gogh (Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam).
Wheatfield with Crows (1890) is thought to be one of Van Gogh's final artworks before his suicide, and it is horrifying and emotional. The sky is dark and the way forward is unclear, populated by multiple black crows. The strong brush stroke and use of color show Van Gogh's feelings of turmoil and connection to nature. This personal painting is part of the Van Gogh Museum's collection.
8. The Merry Family - Jan Steen (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam).
Jan Steen was famous for painting humorous and chaotic family landscapes, and The Merry Family (1668) is a fantastic, lively painting showing a family drinking, playing music, and misbehaving! While The Merry Family is a fun painting to observe—there are lots of fun things happening in it—there is also a moral teaching about behaving yourself (often in contradiction to the behaviours represented in the painting). Steen's ability as a storyteller is evident in every character's expression and behaviour, and his details bring Dutch life alive with warmth and humour.
9. Self-Portrait – Rembrandt van Rijn (Mauritshuis, The Hague)
Rembrandt painted a lot of self-portraits, but the version that he painted just before his death in 1669 is truly remarkable. The portrait depicts an old, but strong-looking weathered face, showing its owner’s wisdom and pain. There is no artist alive or in the history of painting that has mastered expression, light, and relevance like Rembrandt has. You get the sensation you are looking beyond the painter into the soul living there; the painting becomes a meditation on aging and identity. This painting can be seen at the Mauritshuis.
10. Still Life with Flowers – Rachel Ruysch (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)
Rachel Ruysch was one of the most commercially successful female painters during the Dutch Golden Age. In her Still Life with Flowers, bouquets of flowers vibrantly bloom and pop from the canvas. Every flower is painted with scientific realism and artistic expression, unmistakably a signature of her work. Rachel was able to balance beauty and realism, which created international acclaim and even her own admiring audience. Rachel Ruysch's works are in dutch museums and hang beside many more well-known male artists at the Rijksmuseum.
Conclusion
The Netherlands is an amazing place for art lovers with a wealth of paintings that span centuries, genres, sizes, shapes, and styles. Whether they are old townhouses that housed the artist, or museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum, you will find a great selection and preservation of art history in the Netherlands. No matter the size or style, each painting represents a time period and the imagination of the artist that created it. So your journey to the Netherlands is much more than a visit; it's a transformative experience through a different time and imagination. Finding the great paintings of the Netherlands strongly connects you to the culture, history, and creativity of such a wonderful country.
If you are planning your next international trip to experience the dreams of Dutch art, the first step towards getting there is submitting your Netherland Visa from India. With the proper visa in hand, and proper preparation for travel, you will find yourself walking through spaces where masterpieces live, feeling the presence of genius in every second, and returning home with poetic and caricatured memories. Regardless if you are visiting the Netherlands for leisure, education, or inspiration, let the Netherland Visa lead you into the engaged world of Dutch colourful paintings.
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