
Painterly © 2018 Bo Mackison
The light in Amsterdam is a painterly light, indeed.
- Amsterdam Centraal Station ©2018 Bo Mackison
Amsterdam Centraal Station was designed by Pierre Cuypers who is also designed the Rijksmuseum. It’s an impressive work of architectural art. We were racing the clock as we walked by Centraal Station, on our way to our timed admission tickets at the Van Gogh Museum.

Van Gogh Museum ©2018 Bo Mackison
And here we are — two buses in busy Friday afternoon traffic — but we all arrived in time to claim our tickets. This museum is BUSY.

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers ©2018 Bo Mackison
No photographs allowed — though their were plenty of visitors taking photos while pretending not to be taking photos. This copy of Sunflowers was one of the few permissbale photo stops.

Van Gogh ©2018 Bo Mackison
Of course, there was no limitations on photos of prints in the gift shop, so I made do with a photo of a copy. But mostly I enjoyed studying the many paintings. There is an extensive display of his self-portraits — so many self-portraits because Van Gogh would not have had the money to pay a model, thus he painted himself. For free.

Bob the Artist ©2018 Bo Mackison
Bob found a “Bob the Artist” book and was more than content to share.

van Gogh Museum ©2018 Bo Mackison
The van Gogh Museum’s new entrance hall opened in 2015. The curved glass structure, positioned between the museum’s two buildings, connects the spaces while providing shelter for waiting visitors.

Mirroring Cube ©2018 Bo Mackison
A mirroring cube between the entrances of Stedelijk Museum and van Gogh Museum, it reminds me of The Bean in Chicago’s Millennium Park with people talking photos in the reflective surfaces.
- The Rijksmuseum ©2018 Bo Mackison
- Museum Square ©2018 Bo Mackison
We walked past the Rijksmuseum and through its center tunnel. It was designed by Pierre Cuypers and opened in 1885. It consists of two squares with an atrium in each square. In the center is a tunnel with the entrances at ground level and the Gallery of Honour on the first floor.

The Rijksmuseum ©2018 Bo Mackison
The Rijksmuseum is on the Museum Square near the van Gogh Museum.
- Canal and Flowers ©2018 Bo Mackison
- Canal and Light ©2018 Bo Mackison
- Boats on Canal ©2018 Bo Mackison
- Amsterdam ©2018 Bo Mackison
- Amsterdam Light ©2018 Bo Mackison
- A Variety of Transportation ©2018 Bo Mackison
Amsterdam is famous for its canals and its lovely light. Well deserved.

Painting the Town Red ©2018 Bo Mackison
Painting the town red.

Amsterdam ©2018 Bo Mackison

Light on the Canal ©2018 Bo Mackison

Van Go ©2018 Bo Mackison
A decorated bicycle near the Amsterdam Harbor.

Last Toast ©2018 Bo Mackison
The last toast; tomorrow we fly home.