Tour guides are welcome to visit the Van Gogh Museum with their own group. In order to help guarantee that everyone has an enjoyable and safe visit, the Van Gogh Museum asks guest tour guides to adhere to the following guidelines:
1. Register in advance
To help avoid delays upon arrival at the museum, you're are obliged to register as a guest tour guide in advance, either using the registration form on the website or via the email that you previously received from the Van Gogh Museum.
It is not permitted to guide groups in the museum without registering, and you may be refused entrance to the museum. In this case, the group can visit the museum independently, without the guest tour guide.
2. Book a group visit in advance
Guest tour guides can book a tour for their group in the booking system. Choose one of the optons for ‘Group visit with external guide’.
In the booking system, you can see current availability for days, times and group numbers. You cannot deviate from this. If there are not enough tickets available on a certain date or time, please choose another day or time.
3. Access and priority
- Van Gogh Museum guides always have priority. Both when entering the museum and when providing explanations in the galleries.
- If a Van Gogh Museum guide is busy with a group, please wait patiently until the area is available.
4. Take crowding into consideration
- When guiding a group, always take crowding in the galleries into consideration. Avoid busy times, and ensure that your group does not hinder other visitors.
- Plan your route through the museum in such a way as to avoid causing unnecessary stoppages.
- If a visitor in your group has difficulty walking, a foldable seat can be borrowed for this person at the museum. It is not permitted to use these seats for visitors without mobility issues. It is also not permitted for groups to remain seated in galleries for longer than necessary, in order to avoid obstructing the flow of visitors.
5. Keep groups together
- Make sure that your group stays together at all times. This helps prevent group members getting lost and ensures that the visit runs smoothly.
- Stay visible to your group and Van Gogh Museum staff in the galleries.
6. Follow staff instructions
- Always follow the instructions issued by Van Gogh Museum staff, which are intended to ensure that everyone’s museum visit runs smoothly and safely.
- Respect the guidelines regarding visibly wearing the guide badge, photography, noise nuisance, and touching the artworks, and ensure that all members of your group adhere to them.
7. Respect for the galleries and others
- Speak softly in order to avoid disturbing other visitors, and if necessary, use a tour guide system when providing explanation. You are required to bring your own tour guide system.
- Give other visitors space to view the artworks, and try not to stay in one place for too long with your group.
8. Departing on time
Be sure you and your group leave the building before the museum closes. This helps the Van Gogh Museum to end the day smoothly and prepare for the next day.
9. Not adhering to terms & conditions and guidelines
In the case of a first violation, you will receive an official warning. In the case of a second violation, the museum will contact the organisation for which you work. In the case of a third violation, you may be banned from the museum. If multiple guides from the same organisation fail to adhere to the terms & conditions and guidelines, the museum may ban the entire organisation.
By following these guidelines, you will contribute to a pleasant museum experience for everyone.
These guidelines may be adjusted as required without prior notice.
Terms & conditions for visitors
The General Terms & Conditions for Visitors are applicable, including the special provisions for guest tour guides and group visits.