Things to do in The Hague, South Holland Province: The Best Museums

The Oranjehotel was the nickname for the Scheveningen prison during the Second World War. Here, the Germans detained over 25000 people for interrogation and prosecution. Often, the reason was that they were involved with the resistance. During a visit to the Oranjehotel, you will get to hear the impressive stories of the prisoners. It makes you realise just how vulnerable freedom really is.

Discover Holland's highlights and heritage in this world famous miniature and Holland theme park. You will discover Holland’s most iconic landmarks and history through a story of magnificent miniatures and indoor attractions. The stunning park filled with flowers is a beauty for the eye and shows 338 miniatures. From little Amsterdam to Dutch national architecture built on a scale of 1:25 with miniature trains, boats and cars moving around. Madurodam will make you discover Holland's rich history with remarkable stories like the Dutch ability to transform water into land. And did you know New York was Dutch in former days? Come find out in our attraction Nieuw-Amsterdam! Madurodam is very family friendly with two large playgrounds and plenty of fun interactive installations. You will get the full Holland experience in one place and many Instagram worthy picture possibilities. Visit us! We are open 365 days a year and offer information in 11 languages. See you soon in Madurodam.

The monumental Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, designed by the architect H.P. Berlage in 1935, is perfect for wandering around in. It houses a varied collection and many changing exhibitions. You will find the world’s biggest collection of works by Piet Mondrian, the highlight being his last abstract work Victory Boogie Woogie, along with some of the finest works by artists of the Hague School, paintings by Picasso, Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Monet, Toorop and many contemporary artists. Gemeentemuseum Den Haag also houses one of the biggest and best collections of Delftware.

The Mauritshuis is home to the very best of Dutch Golden Age painting. The compact, yet world-renowned collection, is situated in the heart of The Hague, right next to the government centre. Masterpieces such as Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt, The Goldfinch by Fabritius and The Bull by Potter are on permanent display in the intimate rooms of this seventeenth-century monument.

A magnificent experience in time and space.

Escher at the Palace is dedicated to the work of Holland’s most famous graphic artist M.C. Escher. Nearly all his prints are exhibited, among them Belvedere, Drawing Hands, Waterfall and Ascending and Descending. Here you can see how Escher changed fishes into birds, made water flow upstream and his less known, but very attractive early Italian landscapes. On our main- and first floor you can see how his work progressed from depicting the real world to his constructed worlds. Optical illusion is a key word in his work.An optical illusion depicts something which is in fact impossible. M.C. Escher was a master in this field. An optical illusion literally means doing puzzles with your eyes. The visitor will be able to unravel some of Escher’s mysteries like the Impossible Penrose Triangle by constructing one himself. The extra presentation “In the Eye of Escher” shows various themes in which Escher was involved, like reflection, perception and perspective.

The Louwman Museum is home to the world's oldest private collection of motor cars, compiled by two generations of the Louwman family. The museum dates back to 1934 and now comprises over two hundred and fifty antique and classic motor cars. Experts regard the collection as one of the most beautiful in the World. The museum exudes passion. Each car has its own story to tell, its own contribution to history. The motor car is a mirror of culture. The collection is housed in a purpose-built museum in The Hague, the city where P.W. Louwman established his Dodge and Chrysler import company. The building, designed by American architect Michael Graves, blends in sympathetically with its historic surroundings. The landscape gardens, designed by Lodewijk Baljon, complement the architecture of the building.

Located on Prinsegracht 8 in The Hague, the Humanity House is a place to see, hear and experience the human story behind disasters and conflicts, both physically and online. The Humanity House is a museum that lets you experience what it’s like to live through a disaster or conflict and explores related themes in temporary exhibitions. The Humanity House also provides a platform, a place of encounter for people, organisations and agencies that deal with humanitarian themes. Moreover, our education programmes explain global problems to children and young adults. The Humanity House organises these activities with its seven staff members and museum team with eleven employees, and in collaboration with various partners.