Mauritshuis
Museum Small museum housing Dutch Golden Age paintings
In The Hague, the Mauritshuis concentrates Dutch Golden Age paintings-Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt portraits-within a compact, well-lit gallery space.
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The Mauritshuis is a small art museum in The Hague housed in a 17th-century mansion that specialises in Dutch Golden Age painting. Its collection includes internationally renowned works by Vermeer, Rembrandt and other masters.
Built in the mid-17th century as a private residence for John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen, the building was later repurposed to house state collections and opened as a public museum in the early 19th century; it has undergone recent restorations to upgrade gallery and visitor facilities. Over time the Mauritshuis collection has been augmented by purchases and donations that concentrated its strengths in Dutch Golden Age art.
The museum sits on the Buitenhof in the historic centre of The Hague, opposite the Royal Palace and within walking distance of government buildings and other cultural institutions.
- Famous works: The museum is home to iconic works such as Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and Rembrandt's "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp," making it a key stop for Dutch Golden Age painting.
What to See #
- Main galleries: Permanent galleries housing Dutch Golden Age paintings and smaller rooms configured for the museum's core collection of 17th-century works.
- Temporary exhibition spaces: A series of rooms for rotating temporary exhibitions and conservation displays adjacent to the historic 17th-century mansion building.
How to Get to Mauritshuis #
Mauritshuis is in the centre of The Hague beside the Binnenhof (Plein). It’s a short walk from The Hague Central railway station or from tram/bus stops on Plein; the museum is easy to reach on foot from central tram stops and from nearby rail stations (about 5 minutes’ walk from Plein/Binnenhof area).
Tips for Visiting Mauritshuis #
- Buy a timed-entry ticket online and aim for the first available slot after opening to see the Mauritshuis galleries-early visits make it easier to view highlights like Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring without shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
- Plan to combine Mauritshuis with a short walk around the Binnenhof and Buitenhof; the museum's compact layout rewards a focused visit, so schedule time for nearby outdoor photos and cafés rather than a rushed in-and-out.
- Check whether temporary exhibitions require a separate ticket and arrive slightly before your timeslot to pick up audio guides or printed guides-many visitors hurry through the permanent collection and miss curator highlights explained in the supplementary materials.
Best Time to Visit Mauritshuis #
For the Mauritshuis, go on a weekday morning outside the summer peak (June-August) to avoid the largest crowds.
Weather & Climate near Mauritshuis #
Mauritshuis's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 1°C to 22°C. Moderate rainfall (859 mm/year).
January
January is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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March
March is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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April
April is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. The wettest month with 99 mm of rain, mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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December
December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
