Post date: May 01, 2013 6:59:34 PM
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (REUTERS) - With the Dutch master's self portrait back on the wall the Van Gogh Museum inAmsterdam is ready for business after seven months of renovations.
The multi-million dollar facelift was required to bring the building's fire security systems up to latest code, and a fresh coat of paint to help the art shine, says museum director Marije Vellekoop.
Van Gogh Museum Director of Collection, Marije Vellekoop, "Normally we have white walls and only use bright colours for specific themes, but now we have darker colors all over the building, so it's blue, yellow and grey, and of course, a lot more Van Gogh."
The extended collection includes two different versions of his famous 'Sunflowers', one of them being borrowed from London.
Together with "Woman rocking a cradle", this arrangement of works is said to be one of Van Gogh's favorites.
Also never seen before is the artist's working palette.
Eager visitors lined the street to see the 145 paintings, which is almost double the number the museum usually puts on display.