The Netherlands is famous for their art museums. We had a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum (the national museum). After the tour, we wandered through the rooms and enjoyed viewing Dutch artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, van Gogh and many more paintings.
Afterward, we stopped by the gift shop to browse. Most museums offer guidebooks — overviews and highlights of their collections, often loaded with photos and descriptive narrative.
This caught my eye
Oh look! The Rijksmuseum bookstore has stacks of museum guides displayed in different languages: English, Dutch, German, French, Japanese.
The cover designs use bright, bold colors with sans serif typography that spills over onto the spine, making the books visually interesting even when shelved. (By the way, the English version is 289 pages.) Each edition shares the same design template, but the distinct color for each language adds clarity and interest.
Book series
Throughout our trip, I kept an eye out for other books designed as a series. At the Van Gogh Museum, one wall had at least nine language versions. Each cover features Van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms painting — sprawling branches and blooms set against azure sky.
Another standout was Face to Face with Vincent van Gogh, which we found in the Museumplein area. The cover shows an extreme close-up of Van Gogh’s self-portrait, with his eyes and nose filling the top half. The title is beautifully arranged: “Face to Face with” in small caps sans serif, and “Vincent van Gogh” below in bold, oversized type. His name leaps off the cover even from across the room.
Museum book covers tend to follow a common design language: clean, modern typography paired with striking visuals, often borrowed from the very artwork inside. They’re not just informational—they’re collectible.
Book design
As a book designer, seeing these titles in multiple languages was visually striking. Using a masterpiece as a cover image is such a powerful design choice. I also couldn’t help but think about the immense effort behind these publications: the research, writing, editing, photography, layout, proofreading, printing, and distribution — multiplied across eight or more languages.
Museums
Millions of people from around the world visit Amsterdam’s museums every year. Museum guidebooks are more than just souvenirs — they’re lasting companions that deepen our appreciation for art long after we’ve stepped outside the galleries.
