Artful Amsterdam

Depart UK and travel to Amsterdam

Upon arrival in the Dutch capital, transfer to your hotel and check-in. After time for lunch, visit the Rijksmuseum, a national institution offering an overview of Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages and important aspects of European and Asian art. 

The rest of the afternoon and evening is at leisure. Perhaps enjoy a guided tour, to point out the major landmarks Amsterdam has to offer and learn a little of the history of the fascinating city. Alternatively, visit the Anne Frank Museum. For over 2 years, assisted by Dutch office workers, the cramped rooms held 3 Jewish families hiding from the occupying Nazi forces. Discover the world behind the bookcase through quotations from Anne’s diary, historical documents and photographs, and original objects.

Exploring the Power of Photography

Today, visit the Huis Marseilles, Museum for Photography. Opened in 1999 and extended in 2013, it was Amsterdam’s first photography museum. The museum offers a rich and varied exhibition programme, which changes four times a year. In addition, it has its own collection of contemporary, national and international photography. Huis Marseille exhibits photography that focuses on a specific visual language, characterised by inquiry and innovation as well as having social relevance in a changing world. Street Photography Workshops are available and the gallery will enable your students to develop a new and visual language that is relevant to the artistic nature of photography and is central to the museums ethos.

After lunch, head for FOAM – an internationally operating organisation in the field of photography, based in Amsterdam. FOAM informs and inspires the widest possible audience by presenting all facets of contemporary photography. Perhaps undertake a Portrait Photography workshop where your students will be both model and photographer.

You will have a free evening to do as you please, however, why not enjoy an evening cruise of the city? Amsterdam is a city built around its waterways, and a canal cruise allows you to see the sights from a different perspective, seeing the buildings illuminated at night and providing excellent photo opportunities!

An Introduction to Van Gogh

Despite the country’s many famous, renowned art masters, Vincent Van Gogh is probably the best known of all Dutch painters. The Van Gogh Museum is home to some of his earliest works. An expert guide will show your students some of Van Gogh’s famous paintings, and shed light on how his approach was influenced by modern artists in Paris and how he developed his famous individual style in the south of France. Perhaps include a workshop to allow students to put their learning in the classroom into perspective when they visit the museum and get a better in-depth knowledge of his art. Furthermore, the museums provides a free teaching resources to accompany the graphic novel “Vincent Van Gogh – An Artists Struggle” in preparation for this workshop.