Mauritshouse Museum in The Hague
From the delicate brushstrokes of Vermeer to the bold shadow works of Rembrandt, the Mauritshaus Museum in The Hague is a breathtaking art treasure. Packed to the brim with world-renowned artworks and centuries of history, the unique museum will take you on an unforgettable journey through time.
So come with us to the magical world of Dutch Golden Age art, at the spectacular Mauritshuis Museum:
Entrance ticket to the Mauritshaus Museum
The history of the museum:
Those of you who discovered the word house in the name of the museum are not mistaken, because, at the beginning, the museum was a residence of a rich count named Johann Mauritz van Nassau-Sagen, the governor of the Dutch colony in Brazil. The ancient house, commissioned by the rich count, was built between 1636 and 1641, and symbolized the splendor and majesty of the Dutch Golden Age.
In 1664, Mauritz moved to Germany, and the house passed from hand to hand for hundreds of years, and was used as residential estates and even as a hotel. In 1820, a fire broke out in the ancient building and it was severely damaged.
After the fire, the Dutch government decides to buy the building in order to house the "Royal Cabinet for Paintings" - a government collection of paintings by the greatest Dutch painters. So it was, and in 1824 the museum operates as a public museum. He got his name from the original owner of the house - Mauritz.
Over the years, the museum's collection has grown steadily, and today it is home to hundreds of paintings, including well-known iconic paintings, which we will expand on immediately. In the years 2012-2014, the museum was renovated, and this turned it into a large and innovative museum while maintaining its historical and cultural significance.
The museum's spectacular collection:
The Mauritshuis Museum boasts more than 800 works that serve as evidence of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of political and artistic prosperity. The museum's collection, carefully collected, consists of a wide variety of works of art - from still lifes and landscapes through portraits and unique genre paintings.
The 'pièce de résistance' of the museum's collection is undoubtedly a work of art "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Jan Vermeer. This amazing painting, painted by Vermeer in 1665, is known as the "Mona Lisa of the North", and it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to admire the delicate brush strokes and facial expressions of the girl in the oil painting on the canvas panel.
The beautiful painting attracts a lot of attention, and a number of movies and books have been inspired by it, including the novel "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by the American author Tracy Shabelle written in 1999, or the movie of the same name released in 2004 starring Scarlett Johansson. In 2007, a movie called "College Madness" was released, in which a group of college girls steal the precious painting and sell a copy of it in order to cover the debts of the college era.
Another work that you should not miss in the museum is"The anatomy lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp" (in the original language: De anatomische les van Dr. Nicolaes Tulp), an iconic work by the Dutch painter Rembrandt, who by the way was nicknamed "The Artist of the Jews", this is due to his love for the Jewish people and the fact that many Jewish characters appear in his various works.
The fascinating work provides an interesting and entertaining insight into the "advanced" medicine of the year 1632 in which it was painted, while displaying the artist's amazing control of light and shadow effects.
Apart from these two masterpieces by Rembrandt Vermeer, you can find hundreds of works by other prominent artists such as Jan Stein, a Dutch painter known for his entertaining and humorous works and Frans Helles, a Dutch portraitist. Do not miss the works of Jacob van Ruysdaal, who painted ancient baroque paintings, including a painting of the Jewish cemetery "Beit Chaim" which stands near the city of Amsterdam.
A pastoral collection in a pastoral location:
Much can be said about the museum's spectacular collections, but let the visit do its thing. What we do note is the pastoral location of the museum, in the heart of The Hague, in a pastoral landscape overlooking the blue Hofvijver lake. The museum offers a picturesque view that completes the experience and makes it no less than perfect.
The museum will take you on a visit to an architectural masterpiece from the 17th century, a building decorated with a red brick facade and elegant interiors.
So what not to miss when visiting the Mauritshaus Museum:
The famous works:
"Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer: A work often referred to as the 'Mona Lisa of the North', a magical painting of an innocent girl looking towards her viewers, wearing a pearl earring curling from her ears. This is undoubtedly the most famous work in the museum, and expect an enthusiastic crowd of fans to surround the work throughout the hours of the visit.
"The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicholas Tulp" by Rembrandt: A painting depicting a group of surgeons gathered around a small operating table, watching Dr. Topel demonstrate dissection of a patient's arm. The painting is considered famous and spectacular and it presents its viewers with the ancient world of medicine alongside a combination of amazing elements of light and shadow by the talented artist Rembrandt.
"The Goldfinch" by Carl Fabricius: A small and magical painting depicting a chained finch bird. The painting was painted by Fabricius, a talented Dutch artist who was a student of Rembrandt.
"The Bull" by Paulus Potter: A huge beautiful painting painted in 1647 by the Dutch Paulus Potter. In the painting you can see a bull, surrounded by other animals and a human figure.
The impressive structure:
The museum building is a work of art in itself. Its architecture and interiors offer a glimpse into the luxurious lifestyle of the Dutch elite in the 17th century. Don't miss a visit to the building's magnificent staircase, and admire the spectacular ceiling paintings.
Prince William V Gallery:
The Mauritshaus Museum is actually housed in two buildings, the central one being the Mauritshaus, the home of Maurice, and the other being the Willem V Gallery. The entrance ticket to the museum includes both buildings, both of which contain the museum's collections and which are a short walking distance from each other.
The Prince William V Gallery was established by the King of the Netherlands, Willem V in the 18th century, in order to house Oss, his extensive paintings. Willem wanted to create an art gallery that would be accessible to the public, an idea that was considered innovative and special at the time.
The gallery is located in the former palace of the Count of Holland. The magnificent building has been carefully restored and offers its visitors a glimpse into the opulence and splendor of the 18th century art world.
The museum's collection is a combined collection and contains paintings from the original collection of Prince Willem V alongside works from the Mauritshaus collection. All the works in the gallery were painted by Dutch and Flemish painters, including Stein, Potter and Anthony van Dyck.
Mauritshaus Museum - important information:
.: The Mauritshuis Museum is located in the center of The Hague, and is easily accessible by public transport. The museum can be reached by tram and bus lines that stop at the nearby Buitenhof/Hofweg station. Den Haag Centraal train station is a short walk from the museum, making visiting the museum accessible even for day-trippers from Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Those arriving by car can find several paid parking lots near the museum.
Museum address: Plein 29, The Hague.
Opening hours: The Mauritius Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. Mondays from 13:00 to 18:00.
The Prince Willem V Gallery is open Tuesday-Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00. The gallery is closed on Mondays.
There you can also find a nice brasserie restaurant called Brasserie Mauritshuis Offering pastoral views towards the beautiful lake next to the museum, and a souvenir shop.
It is recommended to order tickets in advance!
It is recommended to devote at least two hours to the museum.
In conclusion, the Mauritshuis Museum allows its visitors to explore the heart of the Dutch Golden Age through the eyes of the most revered artists. The museum's extensive collection, iconic works alongside its elegant setting provide an enriching and inspiring experience for art lovers. When visiting the city of The Hague, don't miss a visit to the Mauritshuis Museum, which will take you on a breathtaking journey between brushstrokes and spectacular architecture.
