The museum's collection is presented in such a way that you'll come away with a good understanding of who Vincent Van Gogh was, what motivated him, where he found inspiration, and how he inspired his contemporaries as well as later artists. Brief texts accompanying the paintings go a long way in telling Van Gogh's story. That said, guides certainly add a lot of richness to your experience. You have two options: an interactive multimedia audio guide (provided by the museum at an extra fee: select the "With audio guide" option when ordering your ticket) [ref]The Van Gogh Museum has a professionally produced interactive multimedia audio tour guide available. The guide covers both the permanent collection and the special, temporary exhibitions. It is available in 11 languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese and Korean. As frequent visitors to the museum we highly recommend this multimedia guide. It highlights many aspects and details you would otherwise miss. The tour provides insights into the life and work of Vincent van Gogh, and further helps you to view his work in context. The small, lightweight guide hangs around your neck or is held in your hand. Either way, you can easily interact with the screen. You can either follow the suggested route through the museum or visit only the sections of your choice. And you're in control: you can go at your own pace, and skip paintings, sections, or entire floors if you wish. You can order the Audio Guide along with your ticket. Select the "With audio guide" option. Pick up your guide inside the museum. (Note: Children under age 18 can use the multimedia guide free of charge).[/ref] , or a live tour guide. [ref]Of course, the one drawback of a multimedia tour is that you cannot ask it questions. That is one reason many first-time visitors prefer to visit the Van Gogh Museum with a live tour guide. If this is your first or only visit to the museum, we suggest your seriously consider using a guide.[/ref]