The Kröller-Müller Museum is located just an hour away from Amsterdam and is a must-see cultural attraction that seamlessly integrates its surroundings. Designer and curator Tal Erez highly recommends visiting this hidden gem nestled in the heart of a national park.

Arriving at the museum is an integral part of the experience it offers. Next to the Porter’s lodge, the entrance pavilion designed by the Dutch architectural firm MVRDV, visitors can find white bicycles of various sizes available for use free of charge. The bike ride through the park initiates a liminal journey into the relationship between nature and culture. The 15-minute ride between trees and barren fields removes any trace of the context of daily life. Somewhere along the bicycle ride through the park, there is a fence that, for a moment, leaves us wondering what it separates us from. Cycling around it leads to bicycle parking, from which Visitors walk to the museum entrance.

Founded in 1938 by the art collector Helene Kröller-Müller, the museum has an extensive collection of Van Gogh’s works, second only to the Van Gogh Museum’s collection. However, the real attraction of the museum lies beyond the entrance.

Designed by architect Wim Quist, the exhibition wing features temporary and permanent exhibitions of Dutch masters and contemporary artists. These exhibitions are thoughtfully curated and presented. The building’s design, with exposed bricks, black iron, and expert lighting, is an expression of the Dutch style of meticulous carelessness and directness. The window frames seamlessly integrate the interior and exterior, creating beautiful compositions that blur the lines between two-dimensional and three-dimensional works.

However, the true highlights of the museum can be found in its sculpture garden. The park is well-kept and meticulously maintained, with sculptures floating in the lake and displayed majestically on the lawn. As visitors venture deeper into the garden, the boundary between nature and culture begins to blur, and the forest takes over. The sculptures have no specific style or period connecting them, yet the curatorial choices are clear. The garden’s diverse collection ranges from Rodin to Oldenburg and Lishout.

Two hours spent wandering the museum, and the park felt like only a moment, and it could have easily turned into five if it weren’t for closing time. The drive back to reality was gradual and served as a reminder of the constant struggle between the natural environment and the man-made one.

For our comprehensive cultural guide to Amsterdam, please visit our website or refer to the designated link provided.