What to do and see in Scheveningen, The Netherlands: The Best Places and Tips

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.

Museum Beelden aan Zee focuses exclusively on contemporary sculpture. The museum was founded in 1994 and now holds nearly one thousand sculptures and several hundreds of medals. This is the only Dutch museum which specializes in exhibiting sculpture. The collection holds work from sculptors as diverse as Armando, Stephan Balkenhol, Iris Le Rütte, Tony Cragg, Per Kirkeby, Giacomo Manzú, Kiki Smith, Igor Mitoraj, Jan Meefout , Berlinde De Bruyckere, Shinkichi Tajiri and Cornelis Zitman.

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.

A magnificent experience in time and space.

In the completely renovated school building from 1877 one can learn about the history of the fishing village, the seaside resort and the fascinating forms of life which can be found beneath sea level. the centuries old tradition of the fishing industry as well as the seaside resort life form the image of Scheveningen. The permanent exhibit provides an overview of the fishing industry and daily life in years gone by. A unique collection of paintings, including several by Mesdag, provides a beautiful record of the past. The full size reconstruction (and moving) of the cabin of a fishing boat revives the life onboard. Period rooms show the different lifestyles of various classes: the fisher folk, the middle class and the well-to-do shipping cmpany owners. And, of course, the traditional costume of Scheveningen in on display. Special attention is given to the jewelry worn with the costume. Unique is the exhibit featuring the story of the seaside resort dating from the beginning of the 19th century. The Sea Room takes the visitor into the underwater World. Hundreds of beautifully coloured shells, crabs in many shapes and colours, octopi from the deap sea, millions of years old fossils and many other sea creatures aron on display here. A complete coral reef and its inhabitants also constitutes a part of the presentation. Regularly there are temporarily Exhibitions. For more information see our web site.

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 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.