must-visit in The HagueMuseum
Mauritshuis
📍 Plein 29, 2511 CS Den Haag, Netherlands
4.8/ 5.0
★★★★★
Introduction
The Mauritshuis, housed in a 17th-century mansion in the heart of The Hague, is a small museum of superlative quality. It holds the crown jewels of Dutch Golden Age painting: Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, and Vermeer's View of Delft and The Little Street. The mansion itself is a treat — honey-stone facades, classical loggias and carved period rooms evoke aristocratic life of the era. Compact galleries mean you can see every masterpiece properly within an hour or two.
✨ Highlights
1
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Vermeer's Mona Lisa of the North — the museum's soul.
2
The Anatomy Lesson
Rembrandt's crowning group portrait, a masterclass in light and narrative.
3
View of Delft
Vermeer's hometown panorama, often called the most beautiful cityscape ever painted.
4
The Goldfinch
Carel Fabritius's tiny masterpiece, exquisite up close.
5
The Mansion
Carved period rooms and stairwells are exhibits in themselves.
🛈 Practical Info
→Duration：1.5-2 hours; the galleries are compact.
→Getting There：15 minutes' walk from Den Haag Centraal, or tram to Buitenhof.
→Tickets：Buy online to skip queues, especially in high season.
→The Star：The Girl hangs in the central gallery — wait your turn for the perfect spot.
→Nearby：The Binnenhof parliament and Hofvijver lake are next door.
💡 Tips
• Head straight to the Girl at opening time to beat the crowds.
• The free audio guide's commentary on the Girl is excellent.
• Evening openings often feature special events — check the site.
• No tripods; no flash on phones.
• Pair with the Escher in Het Paleis museum for an art day in The Hague.
FAQ
Any practical tips for visiting Mauritshuis?
Head straight to the Girl at opening time to beat the crowds. The free audio guide's commentary on the Girl is excellent.
Information on this page is compiled from public sources. Opening hours, ticket prices and other details may change — please verify with official sources before your visit.
