The 8 Must-Visit Museums in The Hague

Mauritshuis

Mauritshuis was built in the 17th century by a wealthy Dutch count and was eventually converted into an art gallery. The building has housed the Royal Cabinet of Portraits since 1820 which currently includes several invaluable masterpieces such as Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring.

📍 Mauritshuis, Mauritshuisplein 29, the Hague +31 70 302 3456

Gemeentemuseum

Hendrik Petrus Berlage designed the Hague’s Gemeentemuseum according to modernist principles that he had helped shape during his illustrious career working within Amsterdam’s highest urban planning bureaus. The museum opened in 1935 and has always focused open modern art, design and fashion. Its de Stijl collection is almost unrivalled and the museum owns the largest number of Mondriaan artworks in the world.

📍 Gemeentemusuem Den Haag, Stadhouderslaan 41, The Hague +31 70 338 1111

Escher in Het Paleis

The Netherlands’ only Escher musueum is located inside an 18th century palace in the Hague. The museum is completely dedicated to M.C. Escher’s work and features hundreds of prints, lithographs and other items designed by the artist. There are also several interactive displays inside that recreate Escher’s distinctive visual style.

📍 Escher in Het Paleis, Lange Voorhout 74, The Hague +31 70 427 7730

Louwman Museum

Over the past 80 years, the Louwman Musuem has assembled together an impressive number of classic automobiles. Currently the museum owns and displays over 200 cars and constantly updates its collection with new acquisitions. Many of these machines date back to the early years of the automotive industry, while other represent important periods from the history of automobile manufacture.

📍 Louwman Museum, Leidsestraatweg 57, The Hague +31 70 304 7373

Museon

This family-friendly museum was originally established in 1904 in order to introduce children to the world of culture and science. Over the years Museon has collected around 300,000 objects related to these subjects and continues to organise educational exhibitions that are primarily aimed at school children or teenagers.

📍 Museon, Stadhouderslaan 37, The Hague +31 70 338 1338

The Mesdag Collection

During their lifetime Hendrik Willem Mesdag and his wife Sina Mesdag-van Houten compiled a massive collection of artwork including many paintings by their own hands. This collection is now open to the public and features work from several highly influential figures such as Vincent van Gogh’s mentor Anton Mauve. The organisation also manages Mesdag’s room filling panoramic painting of the Hague’s coastline, which is located within walking distance from the museum.

📍 Museum Mesdag, Laan van Meerdervoort 7F, The Hague +31 70 362 1434

The Binnehof

It is actually possible to enter the Binnenhof during guided tours and the parliamentary complex features a full dedicated visitor centre. As the oldest surviving House of Parliament in the world, the Binnenhof is steeped in history and has acted as the democratic centre of the Netherlands since the mid-16th century.

📍 Binnenhof, The Hague, 070 757 02 00

Beelden aan Zee

Beelden aan Zee in the Hague’s Scheveningen quarter is the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated to sculptures. Since opening in 1994, the museum has significantly increased its scope and now features many three-dimensional masterpieces, a beautiful seaside sculpture garden and a research institute.

📍 Beelden aan Zee, Harteveltstraat 1, The Hague +31 70 358 5857