Van Gogh Museum celebrates 50th anniversary with festivities

The Van Gogh Museum hosted a series of festive activities here to commemorate its 50th anniversary and honor the legacy of Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous and prolific Dutch artists, reported Xinhua.

In tribute to Vincent van Gogh's life and artistic works, the Van Gogh Museum first opened its door on June 2, 1973.

The day's festivities took the form of a Sunflower Art Festival, held at Museum Square in Amsterdam. Attendees were treated to an array of engaging events, including street theater performances, acrobatic stunts, bicycle decorations with flowers, and musical performances. As a delightful gesture, fresh sunflowers were distributed as complimentary gifts to festival goers.

Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands attended the celebration. During the event, the princess was presented with a sunflower by Emilie Gordenker, the museum's director, mirroring the moment that occurred five decades ago when her mother, Princess Juliana, received a sunflower at the museum's grand opening.

Warren Gregory, a renowned local artist known for his captivating flower bikes in Amsterdam, displayed specially crafted bicycles adorned with sunflowers, one of the most iconic themes in Van Gogh's works.

Born in 1853, Van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter, whose life and artistic journey captivated the world. He died in 1890 at the age of 37.