Vincent van Gogh loved windmills. During his years in Brabant, but also afterwards, he saw, described in his letters, drew and painted quite a few. In Brabant alone there are about 130 polder, corn, wind and water mills. You can discover most of them by walking or cycling, but the great thing is that you can also visit quite a few. This is a special way to get to know these landmarks in our landscape and the miller's craft.
During his long stay in Brabant, Van Gogh proved particularly fond of water mills. There are some wonderful examples in the vicinity of Nuenen. How nice, therefore, that numerous parties have joined the Watermill Landscapes project, part of Van Gogh National Park. The project is part of the so-called Heritage Deal. This is an alliance of thirteen partners that focuses on the meaning and future of heritage in a changing Netherlands. Brabant coast its water mills awake!
North of Nuenen in the open landscape you will find the mill named after the area in which it stands. The mill is still used for grinding grain and is thus a "living" monument, worth a visit! This mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
This water mill can be found between Nuenen and Eindhoven. Van Gogh lived in Nuenen and regularly passed this largest water wheel in the Netherlands, which made the water mill a favorite drawing and painting object of this painter. This mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
Vincent worked on several paintings of mills in May 1884. For example, he painted the Collse watermill that he passed as he walked from Nuenen to Eindhoven. This mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
During his stay in Nuenen, Vincent regularly went out into the surrounding area. It has been established that in August 1885 he depicted the mill De Vogelenzang in Lieshout twice as a black-and-white drawing with sheaves of wheat in the foreground. The mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
The mill is private property, is not open for viewing and is not in operation. But of course you can go and look at it and enjoy this old mill and the authentic Brabant nature.
Vincent recorded this mill several times, such as in November 1884. He is said to have met Anton Kerssemakers at the mill, by his own account. The two became good friends and Vincent gave him painting lessons. The mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
Vincent van Gogh decided only at the age of 27 to do what made him famous worldwide: become an artist. In barely ten years (1880-1890) he produced about 900 paintings and 1100 works on paper. He also left behind a correspondence of 902 letters. His legacy (and inspiration) is scattered all over the world, at museums and in private collections. On this page we are working on a concise overview. Initially of the locations in Brabant and the rest of the Netherlands.
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam houses the largest collection of original works by the painter. The website explains the paintings in the collection and highlights aspects of the painter's life.
Het Noordbrabants Museum takes visitors to the Brabant of Vincent van Gogh. The website explains Van Gogh works from its own collection.
The Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo is the second home of Vincent van Gogh with 90 paintings and 180 drawings in collection. The website explains works from the collection.
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen has 15 paintings and drawings by Vincent van Gogh, including from the period when he lived in Brabant.
Museum de Vier Quartieren is a surprising museum in Oirschot. The experiential exhibition "The Eye of Vincent" tells the story of life in a peasant family. Unique objects match the reproductions of Van Gogh.
The website vangoghletters.org allows anyone to view Vincent van Gogh's rich correspondence in detail, with explanations and search terms.
Route Van Gogh Europe connects some 25 sites and museums in the Netherlands, Belgium and France where Van Gogh has lived, worked or where his work is displayed and preserved.
Van Gogh Locations describes more than 700 locations in Europe relevant to the life and work of Vincent van Gogh and makes route suggestions.
