We’ve had two days here now and have had some time to play tourist and wander around.  And the weather has been kind – sunny, and cooler than Scotland (never thought I’d be saying that!)

On our first full day we had a 9am ticket for the Van Gough museum; we arrived a little early after a relaxed stroll from our hotel to find a queue forming for the 9am opening and a separate queue for folk without tickets.  Moral of the story – it’s a smallish museum so best book tickets in advance online.

The museum itself was interesting – some of Van Gough’s greatest hits – one’s like his painting of his bedroom and sunflowers that you’ve seen reproduced a million times – and lots that are just as striking but much lesser known. There was also a smaller exhibition of posters from Paris by artists Van Gough knew and/or influenced – an interesting take on the art and style of the period.

We had lunch at the museum and after wandered back to our hotel and dipped into some of the small shops and boutiques around it, before a snack and then a canal trip in the historic boat the hotel owns.  Was interesting to see things from the water.