Van Gogh House and Studio, Eindhoven
The Van Gogh House and Studio, also known as the Parsonage, is a key site for understanding Vincent van Gogh鈥檚 early artistic development and personal life. This 18th-century parsonage was home to the Van Gogh family from 1882 to 1886. Vincent himself lived here for a brief but formative period, from December 1883 to May 1884, during which he produced dozens of studies and drawings inspired by the rural surroundings. The house was originally built in 1764 by the municipality to serve as the official residence for the local Reformed minister鈥擵incent鈥檚 father, Theodorus van Gogh.
Vincent鈥檚 first studio in Nuenen was set up in the laundry room behind the rectory, outfitted modestly with a stove, footstool, and bedstead by his parents. Despite their efforts to make it comfortable, Vincent considered the space inadequate for working with models. In a letter to his brother Theo, he humorously sketched out the studio鈥檚 less-than-ideal layout, complete with references to a nearby coal shed, sewer, and manure pit. In early May 1884, he moved to a larger rented studio owned by the local Catholic sexton and his wife. Following the death of his father and growing family tensions, he left the rectory for good a year later.
The parsonage itself is a beautifully preserved historic building, with its original construction date鈥�1764鈥攕till visible on the front fa莽ade. To the right of the main house stands a coach house built in 1840 by Theodorus鈥檚 predecessor, Reverend Begemann. Van Gogh painted and drew the parsonage multiple times, both while living there and after he had moved out. His works capture both the front and rear views, often including details like the coach house and the cement layer that was later removed in a 1957 restoration. The paintings and drawings served as personal mementos鈥攐ne was kept by his brother Theo and another by his sister Willemien.
The parsonage鈥檚 deep back garden held special meaning for Vincent and was a frequent subject of his work. With its fruit trees, flower beds, vegetable plot, and a pond with a jetty, the garden offered changing light and seasonal moods that inspired some of his earliest landscape drawings. In March 1884, he produced several ambitious pen-and-ink studies of the garden, including winter scenes and views of the path "behind the hedges."
The rectory is still a private residence, but Vincent鈥檚 studio and garden are open to the public several times a year, offering visitors an intimate glimpse into the artist鈥檚 formative world.
Vincent鈥檚 first studio in Nuenen was set up in the laundry room behind the rectory, outfitted modestly with a stove, footstool, and bedstead by his parents. Despite their efforts to make it comfortable, Vincent considered the space inadequate for working with models. In a letter to his brother Theo, he humorously sketched out the studio鈥檚 less-than-ideal layout, complete with references to a nearby coal shed, sewer, and manure pit. In early May 1884, he moved to a larger rented studio owned by the local Catholic sexton and his wife. Following the death of his father and growing family tensions, he left the rectory for good a year later.
The parsonage itself is a beautifully preserved historic building, with its original construction date鈥�1764鈥攕till visible on the front fa莽ade. To the right of the main house stands a coach house built in 1840 by Theodorus鈥檚 predecessor, Reverend Begemann. Van Gogh painted and drew the parsonage multiple times, both while living there and after he had moved out. His works capture both the front and rear views, often including details like the coach house and the cement layer that was later removed in a 1957 restoration. The paintings and drawings served as personal mementos鈥攐ne was kept by his brother Theo and another by his sister Willemien.
The parsonage鈥檚 deep back garden held special meaning for Vincent and was a frequent subject of his work. With its fruit trees, flower beds, vegetable plot, and a pond with a jetty, the garden offered changing light and seasonal moods that inspired some of his earliest landscape drawings. In March 1884, he produced several ambitious pen-and-ink studies of the garden, including winter scenes and views of the path "behind the hedges."
The rectory is still a private residence, but Vincent鈥檚 studio and garden are open to the public several times a year, offering visitors an intimate glimpse into the artist鈥檚 formative world.
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Van Gogh House and Studio on Map
Sight Name: Van Gogh House and Studio
Sight Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands (See walking tours in Eindhoven)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands (See walking tours in Eindhoven)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Eindhoven, Netherlands
Create Your Own Walk in Eindhoven
Creating your own self-guided walk in Eindhoven is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Van Gogh's Nuenen Walking Tour
The small town of Nuenen, located practically a stone's throw from Eindhoven, is a very old Dutch locality that shot into significance as the inspiration behind many of the works by Vincent van Gogh. The painter lived and worked here for 18 months, from December 1883 to May 1885. During this period he created many paintings capturing the images of local people (peasants, weavers, etc.) such... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Eindhoven Introduction Walking Tour
Eindhoven is the largest city in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands. It was founded in the 13th century but didn't see large growth until DAF Trucks and Philips Electronics were established in the city during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Eindhoven was officially given status as a municipality in 1232. It was already a small town with less than 200 houses inside the city... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Eindhoven was officially given status as a municipality in 1232. It was already a small town with less than 200 houses inside the city... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles