Mauritshuis
The Hague · Netherlands · Founded 1822
Good for: Art Lovers · Dutch Golden Age Fans · First-Time Visitors to The Hague
1822
Opened as Museum
800+
Paintings in Collection
1.5–2 hours
Recommended Visit
Quick answer
Mauritshuis in The Hague, Netherlands — the Mauritshuis was built between 1633 and 1644 for Count John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen. Open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Monday: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Admission: €19.50 standard admission. Book timed-entry tickets ahead in peak season. World Museum Guide covers the highlights, getting there, and how long to allow (1.5–2 hours).
Verified 2026-06-30 against official sources.
About Mauritshuis
The Mauritshuis is an intimate art museum in a seventeenth-century mansion on Plein square, beside the Dutch parliament in The Hague. Built between 1633 and 1644 for Count Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen, it has housed the Dutch royal painting collection since 1822.
The museum's compact galleries hold some of the most famous paintings in the world, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, View of Delft, and Diana and Her Companions; Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp; and Fabritius's The Goldfinch.
A 2012–2014 expansion by Hans van Heeswijk added underground galleries and a new entrance without altering the historic facade. The result is a museum that feels both grand and wonderfully manageable — most visitors complete the highlights in under two hours.
The Hague's role as seat of government and international justice gives the Mauritshuis a distinguished setting. It pairs naturally with a visit to the Binnenhof parliament complex and the nearby Escher in the Palace museum.
1.5–2 hours highlights route
A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at Mauritshuis without museum fatigue. · 1.5–2 hours
- 1
Girl with a Pearl Earring
📍 Room 15, Vermeer Gallery
Vermeer's most famous painting — a tronie of an anonymous girl in exotic dress with a large pearl earring, known as the 'Mona Lisa of the North'.
- 2
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp
📍 Room 8, Rembrandt Gallery
Rembrandt's first major commission in Amsterdam, showing Dr Tulp demonstrating the flexor muscles of the arm to seven surgeons.
- 3
View of Delft
📍 Room 15, Vermeer Gallery
Vermeer's panoramic cityscape of Delft, considered one of the greatest landscape paintings in Western art.
- 4
The Goldfinch
📍 Room 10, Dutch Golden Age Gallery
A small trompe-l'oeil of a chained goldfinch, painted by Rembrandt's most talented pupil the year he died in the Delft gunpowder explosion.
Masterworks & must-see highlights
The works that define Mauritshuis — and why they matter.
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Johannes Vermeer · c. 1665
📍 Room 15, Vermeer Gallery
Vermeer's most famous painting — a tronie of an anonymous girl in exotic dress with a large pearl earring, known as the 'Mona Lisa of the North'.
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp
Rembrandt · 1632
📍 Room 8, Rembrandt Gallery
Rembrandt's first major commission in Amsterdam, showing Dr Tulp demonstrating the flexor muscles of the arm to seven surgeons.
View of Delft
Johannes Vermeer · c. 1660–1661
📍 Room 15, Vermeer Gallery
Vermeer's panoramic cityscape of Delft, considered one of the greatest landscape paintings in Western art.
The Goldfinch
Carel Fabritius · 1654
📍 Room 10, Dutch Golden Age Gallery
A small trompe-l'oeil of a chained goldfinch, painted by Rembrandt's most talented pupil the year he died in the Delft gunpowder explosion.
Collections & highlights
- • Vermeer — four paintings including Girl with a Pearl Earring
- • Rembrandt and Rembrandt school
- • Dutch Golden Age genre painting
- • Flemish Baroque — Rubens, Steen, Potter
- • Paulus Potter and Dutch animal painting
- • Miniatures and decorative arts
- • Prince William V Gallery (adjacent)
- • Temporary exhibitions in underground wing
Famous works in our collection guide
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit take?
Around 90 minutes is enough for the highlights.
How do I reach The Hague from Amsterdam?
Direct trains take 50 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal.
How long should I spend at Mauritshuis?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and café.
What is Mauritshuis best known for?
The Mauritshuis was built between 1633 and 1644 for Count John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen. It opened as a public picture gallery in 1822 with the royal collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings. Key highlights include Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer, View of Delft by Vermeer, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt.
How do I get tickets for Mauritshuis?
€19.50 standard admission Tickets are usually available on the day, but booking online saves queue time in peak season. Official site: https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/
Is Girl with a Pearl Earring always on display?
Yes — it is the museum's centrepiece and is on permanent display, though it may occasionally travel for major loan exhibitions.
How do I get from Amsterdam?
Direct trains from Amsterdam Centraal take about 50 minutes to Den Haag Centraal, then a 15-minute walk or short tram ride to the museum.
Is the museum small enough for a half-day in The Hague?
Yes — allow 90 minutes for the Mauritshuis, then visit the Binnenhof, Escher Museum, or Scheveningen beach in the same day.
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