Are you traveling to The Hague, Netherlands, and looking for the best museums? The best museums in the Hague are clustered around the downtown of The Hague. Museums tend to be concentrated along or near Statenkwartier, which is close to the city center.
In this article, we will explore some of the best museums in The Hague, Netherlands. From Dutch national museums to history museums, or privately-owned art galleries there are plenty of options for travelers seeking a cultural day trip.
List of the Best Museums in the Hague, Netherlands
1. Louwman Museum
Address: Leidsestraatweg 57, 2594 BB Den Haag, Netherlands
Historic cars, carriages, and associated artworks are on display at the Louwman Museum. It’s a fascinating museum that was formerly called the National Automobile Museum and the Louwman Collection.
The museum is located at the Leidsestraatweg in Hague. It is home to one of the world’s greatest private automobile collections.
The centerpiece of the exhibit is a full-scale replica of a historic bus, which has been meticulously brought back to its original condition.
Its vast number of antique automobiles enables you to view the history of the automobile from a unique perspective.
It’s possible to get a feeling of traveling back in time when going through various antique modes of transportation, such as horse wagons, antique and classic automobiles, and vintage race cars.
Notable vehicles in the museum include Elvis Presley’s 1955 Cadillac, as well as the gorgeous Aston Martin DB5 from the movie Goldfinger.
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2. Mauritshuis
Address: Plein 29, 2511 CS Den Haag, Netherlands
Mauritshuis is one of the Netherlands’ most fascinating art museums, with a collection of notable Dutch Paintings and other works of art by Dutch and Flemish masters. Every art lover will delight in exploring this museum.
In the 17th Century, it was used as a residence and hotel for high-ranking visitors to the city. Today, the Royal Museum of fine arts is still located in the city’s center and is regarded as the finest museum in the city for 17th and 18th Century art treasures.
The museum has a unique collection of iconic pieces, one of which is the famous Girl With The Pearl Earring by Vermeer.
The museum’s collection includes masterpieces by Jan Steen, Rembrandt, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, and other 800 works by leading artists.
It’s also a great museum to kick off a day trip as it’s in the vicinity of the Escher in het Paleis and Louwman Museum.
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3. Nationaal Monument Oranjehotel
Address: Van Alkemadelaan 1258, 2597 BP Den Haag, Netherlands
The Nationalaal Monument Oranjehotel is a treasure trove of ancient structures and monuments in the city of The Hague, the Netherlands. It’s a fascinating historical museum with several intriguing tales and a lot of history.
The South Bank of the Kromme River, which separates the Netherlands from Belgium, is home to several remains from World War II.
It was previously a jail known as Scheveningen where Germany detained around 25,000 people. The old site was also utilized for interrogations and prosecutions of criminal suspects in the past.
Today, it is a magnificent museum that accurately recreates the look of the jail in the past while also telling tales from the previous through its exhibitions.
The Oranjehotel is a National Monument that houses an outstanding permanent exhibit that recounts inmates’ experiences and demonstrates how fragile freedom is. Taking a walk through the museum will offer you insight into anxiety, liberty, and hope, which will be an enlightening experience.
The museum is near the Oranjehotel, which can be reached on foot, and can be reached by several forms of public transportation.
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4. Binnenhof
Address: 2513 AA The Hague, Netherlands
The magnificent Binnenhof complex in the Royal City of The Hague is a beautiful old building and one of the most famous landmarks in the country. Built in 1446, it’s also known as Het Binnenhof.
It’s an adventure to visit the site because it is a tour of beautiful architecture and a lesson in Dutch history and politics.
For ages, the Binnenhof structure has served as the country’s political nerve center, and it still does today. It is a well-known meeting spot for members of the Dutch parliament, government, and leaders, and home of the Office of the Prime Minister.
The site of many events in the nation’s history and European political history, and it’s worth a visit.
Visitors may go on a tour of the facility and experience its beauty by selecting from several itineraries that include a walk through the ancient structure and see the House of Representatives, which has an awe-inspiring design.
When planning to explore the attraction, some tours take a journey inside its complexes. Among the fascinating rooms to see is the Hall of the Knights.
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5. Escher in Het Paleis
Address: Lange Voorhout 74, 2514 EH Den Haag, Netherlands
The Escher Museum in Het Paleis is one of the best museums in The Hague, Netherlands. It is a fascinating museum that features a permanent collection of Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher’s work.
Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher was the undisputed master of producing incredible circumstances and optical illusions in his paintings and prints, and one of the most important artists in history.
The stately Lange Voorhout Palace, once a home to the Dutch Royal Family, is now home to Escher in Het Paleis (Escher in the Palace), located in The Hague’s historical town center, and houses this exceptional collection of Escher’s work.
Discovering more about the artist dubbed the master of optical illusion, goggling at the exhibits, and creating your own optical illusions as a memento are just a few of the things to do at the Escher Museum.
Checking out Escher at Het Paleis is a must, not just for the museum and art collection it houses, but because it is located in a great spot near to other attractions in the Netherlands, such as Noordeinde Palace and Museon.
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6. Panorama Mesdag
Address: Zeestraat 65, 2518 AA Den Haag, Netherlands
There are many museums to visit in The Hague, but the Panorama Mesdag is one of the finest locations to admire art. The museum’s name is taken from the renowned Dutch painter Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1750-1803), whose best-known work is on display there.
The Panorama Mesdag (from where this exhibit gets its name) is the largest circular painting in Europe; a fascinating panoramic beach painting with a unique representation of an early Scheveningen Beach painted in the 19th Century.
The painting is about 120 meters long and 14 meters tall. You may think you’re sitting on a watchtower overlooking the medieval Scheveningen coastline when you see the work in its entirety.
There are several things to do before or after seeing the museum, including visiting shops and restaurants, as well as other museums such as the Mauritshuis and Haags Historisch Museum, both of which are worth a visit.
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7. Kunstmuseum Den Haag
Address: Stadhouderslaan 41, 2517 HV Den Haag, Netherlands
The Kunstmuseum Den Haag is a contemporary and modern art museum in The Hague, the Netherlands. The museum serves as an acknowledged authority on many topics, including contemporary art and fashion.
It’s a fantastic museum to visit since it houses Piet Mondrian’s art, making Kunstmuseum Den Haag one of the world’s most significant collections of his works.
The Victory Boogie Woogie is one of Mondrian’s most well-known paintings, and it’s one of the museum’s most prized exhibits.
There’s a huge selection of modern art in the museum, which is not to be missed. Discovering great Picasso, Kandinsky, and Monet masterpieces are all possible here, under one roof…and what a roof.
Aside from the museum’s incredible collection, one of the most stunning things to see while visiting is the magnificent architecture of the Kunstmuseum Den Haag itself.
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8. Peace Palace
Address: Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ Den Haag, Netherlands
One of the best museums in the Hague, Netherlands is Peace Palace. It is an international law administrative building that houses some of the notable establishments in the city.
The Peace Palace, also known as the Het Vredespaleis’, was founded on the ideas of opposing wars and striving for world peace principles in the early 20th Century.
The International Court of Justice, founded in the 1930s, is one of the most prominent sections of the complex. The beauty of the Palace and Permanent Court of Arbitration may also be appreciated.
The tour will also take you to the Hague Academy of International Law, which is recognized for its huge library and excellent research facilities.
The manicured grounds of the palace are also a wonderful place to spend some time. The magnificent gardens were created through contributions from numerous countries.
The palace garden is an excellent site for photographs as well as just hanging out.
The entire interior of the Peace Palace, which was designed by Le Corbusier, has been inspired by nature.
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9. De Mesdag Collectie
Address: Laan van Meerdervoort 7F, 2517 AB Den Haag, Netherlands
The De Mesdag Collection, often known as the Mesdag Collection, is an art museum in The Hague, Netherlands. It’s one of the city’s most notable art museums and attractions that you don’t want to miss.
The Hendrik Willem Mesdag Museum displays the works of the famous Dutch painter Hendrik Willem Mesdag, a painter of the Hague School, and creator of the aforementioned Panorama Mesdag. The Sina van Houten Collection, which belonged to Mesdag’s wife, is also on display there.
The mansion museum, located on the grounds of the Mesdag Palace Museum, is home to French and Dutch artists from the 19th Century.
Other than paintings, Theodoor Colenbrander’s Japanese Vases, and other pottery were added to the museum by Mesdag.
The museum’s beautiful interior design, in addition to the museum’s priceless artworks, is breathtaking.
Make a point of going to the adjacent art gallery, Panorama Mesdag, as well as Escher in the Palace, and Museon’s science museum while visiting the museum.
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10. Museum Bredius
Address: Lange Vijverberg 14, 2513 AC Den Haag, Netherlands
The Abraham Bredius Museum is one of the finest art museums in The Hague and a must-see for art enthusiasts. It’s an excellent museum that focuses on art historian Abraham Bredius’ work.
The museum has a unique permanent exhibition of Bredius’ art on the grounds of a stunning 18th Century mansion. The museum’s collections include sketches, interesting paintings, and porcelain collections, to be viewed and admired.
Jan Steen’s The Satyr and the Peasant, Jan Miense Molenae’s The Painter at Work, and many other works are on display in addition to the works of Bredius.
The museum also has a lovely gift shop where visitors may purchase a memento of their visit. The museum also includes a period room, which may be utilized for meetings, lectures, cocktail parties, and dinners.
If that weren’t enough, the Museum Bredius houses the world’s largest silverworks collection, in addition to the several centuries’ worth of artwork.
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11. Rijksmuseum de Gevangenpoort
Address: Buitenhof 33, 2513 AH Den Haag, Netherlands
In The Hague, the Rijksmuseum de Gevangenpoort, also known as Gevangenpoort, and the Prison Gate Museum are two of the most fascinating attractions to see in the city.
The Rijksmuseum de Gevangenpoort houses the National Collection of punishment and Torture Equipment.
The museum was formerly a medieval gate built in the 15th Century, and it later served as the Netherlands’ most important prison. The Buitenhof has preserved the ancient jail and gate, which will certainly appeal to history buffs.
The museum contains well-preserved historic artifacts. Suspects and convicts were imprisoned here, and the guillotine and other torture devices on display here saw use during the French Revolution.
A luxury prison cell has been preserved and may be viewed today. The lavish cell, which is also referred to as the “magnificent cell”, has accommodated prominent Dutchmen such as Cornelis de Witt.
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12. Stichting Atlantikwall Museum Scheveningen
Address: Badhuisweg, 2582 JD Den Haag, Netherlands
Outside of the huge collection of art museums, there’s also a fantastic war museum to explore in the Hague; The Stichting Atlantikwall Museum Scheveningen. It’s a real hidden gem among hidden gems because most of it is literally hidden underground!
It’s an old German bunker, part of the Widerstandsnest 318’s Widerstandsnest 318 complex, just one small section of Hitler’s vast Atlantic Wall to keep British and American invaders from liberating Europe.
This historical location will be of interest to history or war buffs. The bunker gives you a very real sense of life for German soldiers during WWII.
The vast underground tunnel complex beneath the Agricultural Hall Museum was used as a bomb shelter during World War II.
The subterranean chamber housing the museum’s highlights, rooms, and historical relics is well preserved.
The sensation of what it was like before giving an authentic historical experience may be felt by passing through Its narrow concrete corridors.
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13. Fotomuseum Den Haag
Address: Stadhouderslaan 43, 2517 HV Den Haag, Netherlands
The Hague, the Netherlands, has a museum that exhibits pictures taken not just by professional photographers but also photographs from other museums that feature art and historical artifacts.
The Fotomuseum Den Haag is a museum in the Netherlands dedicated to photographs of all types, both modern and antique.
It is one of the newest museums in the country dedicated to photography and was established in 2005, located near to the beautiful Scheveningen Beach and other attractions to see in Statenkwartier.
The Fotomuseum features exhibitions by internationally lauded photographers from the past and present, such as Man Ray, Sally Mann, Emmy Andriesse, Anton Corbijn, and Erwin Olaf.
The museum holds at least four exhibitions each year that are both contemporary and educational. The work of the Hague’s well-known and up-and-coming photographers is also on display.
The Fotomuseum is located just next to the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag. As a result, visiting two prominent attractions in town is pretty easy and encouraged.
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14. Haags Openbaar Vervoer Museum
Address: Parallelweg 224, 2525 NL Den Haag, Netherlands
When visiting Hague, Netherlands, the Hague Public Transport Museum, or the Haags Openbaar Vervoer Museum, is a must-see heritage museum.
The museum was historically a tram depot in the town, converted into a museum in 1989. The old depot even houses the oldest Dutch tram in existence.
A tour around the museum takes you back in time. One of the most pleasurable aspects of a visit to the museum is taking photographs of the old vehicles and learning about their history.
The trams and buses in the museums have been well-maintained, and their majesty and historical significance entice everyone who comes to see them.
The Haags Openbaar Vervoer Museum is the ideal starting point for a tour of local museums since it is conveniently located near many beautiful museums in town.
The Museum Van Kleef, the Prison Gate House, and the fascinating Prince William V Gallery are some of these attractions.
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15. Museon
Address: Stadhouderslaan 37, 2517 HV Den Haag, Netherlands
The lovely town of The Hague, Netherlands has a museum dedicated to science and culture.
This museum is the Museon, a kid-friendly museum with incredible exhibits and amazing wonders that children of all ages will enjoy. Putting the Museon on your travel itinerary when taking a vacation with the family is a must.
The museum has several interesting exhibits and educational tours. It’s one of the finest museums in The Hague, with a lot of exciting activities for children and teenagers.
The museums’ most popular exhibit is about Earth, humanity’s first people, nations, dinosaurs, and more.
It’s worth seeing how life on Earth began and searching for the world through the museum’s exhibit.
The One Planet museum is a permanent exhibit that includes facts as well as Participatory Games for kids to participate in.
The Museon is near to Scheveningen Beach and LEGOLAND Scheveningen, as well as other family-friendly things to do in the area.
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16. Museum Beelden aan Zee
Address: Harteveltstraat 1, 2586 EL Den Haag, Netherlands
The Museum Beelden aan Zee is a museum dedicated to displaying sculptures, located in the picturesque suburb of Scheveningen.
The museum is known as the hidden gem in Scheveningen dunes, frequently referred to by the name “Sculptures by the Sea.”
The Melkmarkt is a private museum that houses modern international and national sculptures. The museum’s collection of artworks includes works from sculptors of the late 20th Century.
The museum is in a spacious building that houses numerous sculptures from the current exhibition as well as other sculptures in its beautiful sculpture garden.
Sculptures made of a variety of materials are included in the museum’s collection.
It’s another great place to start or end a day trip. Since the museum is in Scheveningen, it is conveniently close to several of the district’s most popular attractions, including The Pier and the Holland Casino.
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17. Muzee Scheveningen
Address: Neptunusstraat 90-92, 2586 GT Den Haag, Netherlands
The museum, Muzei Scheveningen, in this fascinating district of the Hague located by the sea, and features exhibits on the history of the local fishing villages and displays on marine animals.
The Muzee Scheveningen is one of the top attractions in The Hague and one of the finest museums and locations for children to enjoy.
The history of fishing and life in the town, as well as sea life and marine biology, are highlighted in its exhibit.
The museum also runs regular exhibitions on city nature and culture. The aquarium, a large collection of seashells, and coral reefs may all be seen in the museum, as well as a variety of educational programs for children and adults.
At the museum, youngsters can engage in a variety of fun activities, including a scavenger hunt and special events that the museum hosts.
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Final Thoughts: Museums in the Hague, Netherlands
The best museums in the Hague, Netherlands offer a wide variety of attractions and exhibits. Whether you’re looking for an educational experience or just want to see some cool stuff with your family, there’s something for everyone.
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FAQ
Which museums or attractions are best for kids at the Hague?
Some of the best museums in the Hague (or attractions) that best suit children and their interests (though this might change depending on age and tastes) include windmills, historical buildings, and animals like penguins or monkeys. The best museum to find all of this under one roof is Madurodam.
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Best museums in the Hague for history lovers?
The Historical Voorlinden Museum (which also houses the largest private art collection in the Netherlands), The Royal Military Museum Oranjehotel, and the National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum).
Visitors might also want to explore a few out-of-the-way treasures such as Witte Huis, a 17th Century house that is now a museum.
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How many museums are there in the Hague?
There are more than fifty museums that make The Hague one of Europe’s best-served towns for history buffs, science geeks, and art lovers.
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