Kunstmuseum The Hague is an art museum in the Statenkwartier district, housed in a 1935 art deco building by H.P. Berlage, his last major work. The collection covers modern and contemporary art, from 19th-century Dutch painting onward and works from other countries, and it holds the largest collection of Piet Mondrian paintings in the world. Expect Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and Kandinsky alongside the De Stijl section, plus the Strandbeest kinetic sculptures in the courtyard. Allow three to four hours for a full visit.
From Gemeentemuseum to Kunstmuseum
The building opened in 1935, shortly after the death of the architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage, and it was his last major work. Until 2019 the museum was known as the Gemeentemuseum. The name was changed to attract more foreign visitors, partly because the Dutch 'g' in the old name was hard to pronounce.
A 2010 exhibition marked 75 years since the building opened and presented Berlage and his work.
The building and its setting
The art deco building is made of stacked, sand-coloured blocks, and its halls are daylit. Inside, small cabinets in the Berlage building hold more intimate displays, and period rooms are furnished with Delft Blue. The courtyard holds the Strandbeest kinetic sculptures.
The museum sits in the Statenkwartier, a residential district where the houses are built in a style meant to recall traditional Dutch almshouses.
What is in the collection
The museum holds well over 150,000 objects. Its modern and contemporary collection covers Dutch art since the 19th century, along with works from other countries of the same period. Other collections include pottery and glass, fashion, decorative art and musical instruments from around the world.
The Mondrian holdings are the largest in the world, with roughly 300 of his works, including the unfinished Victory Boogie Woogie. Paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Picasso and Kandinsky hang among them. The De Stijl section presents the movement's ideas in its own rooms.
The silver collection and the Delft Blue are also notable. The Hague School sea painters are shown with realistic detail, and the cloud-filled skies typical of the Hague School are on display.
Photography and temporary shows
A photography section has hosted exhibitions by Man Ray, Anton Corbijn and Erwin Olaf, and it works with the print room of Leiden University Library. Temporary shows change the programme, and past exhibitions have included a Balenciaga show.
Planning the visit
Plan three to four hours for the main collection. The tram route to Scheveningen passes the museum, and the route also passes the Peace Palace and Museum Escher.
Entry is paid, and timed tickets booked online are recommended. A restaurant and a cafe are inside the building, and a paid parking lot is available nearby.
The entrance, elevator, restroom and parking lot are wheelchair accessible, and there is a changing table. The museum is good for children and hosts live performances and private events.
Häufige Fragen
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, admission is charged. Booking a timed ticket online in advance is recommended.
How long do you need?
Plan three to four hours for the main collection.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance, elevator, restroom and parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
How do you get there by tram?
The tram route to Scheveningen passes the museum.
Is there a restaurant or cafe?
Yes, both a restaurant and a cafe are inside the building.
