The museum will undergo renovation in the coming years. The building will be renovated, extended and made more accessible. The permanent presentations and the public programme will also be renewed. In 2027, the museum will be ready for the future. With special stories about The Hague for a local and national audience.
On 20 June 2024, the Hague city council gave its final approval to the plans for the renovation and expansion of the Hague Historical Museum. DP6 architectuurstudio's design can be implemented in the coming years. During the renovation, museum staff will work together with the city to renew the content programme.
Below, we explain what's in store for the coming years.
"The renovation and expansion is a great investment in the museum's future. We want to be a museum that not only tells the story of The Hague, but is also a welcoming and accessible city museum, for everyone. Thanks to this renovation, the museum will soon be ready for the future." - Tjeerd Vrij, director The Hague Historical Museum.
Renovation and sustainability
The museum is located in the Sebastiaansdoelen, a 17th-century national monument owned by the municipality. For years, it has been struggling with lack of space and outdated facilities. The interior is dilapidated and routing through the building unclear. The renovation includes essential improvements in safety, technology and climate. The planned renovation will make the building more accessible and attractive to a wide audience. The building will be made as sustainable as possible, including a heat pump, better insulation and solar panels on the roof. Moreover, the building will get rid of gas and become much more energy efficient.
Crowd puller for the city centre
As an important part of the Museum Quarter of The Hague, the Hague Historical Museum plays a crucial role in raising the profile of this cultural heart of the city. The modernisation of the building gives the museum a solid foundation to both be a museum for the entire city and highlight The Hague's national role.
The new museum: more spacious and welcoming
In 2027, we will welcome visitors through a new entrance on Tournooiveld: the old staff entrance will soon become the main entrance, with Toernooiveld serving as the forecourt. Through this entrance, visitors will be in the new reception hall, in the middle of the museum complex, within a few steps. The hall acts as an inner courtyard from which the entire museum can be accessed and where all kinds of events can take place. All facilities are grouped around this hall: the shop, cloakroom, toilets and the auditorium. This reception hall provides space for information and ticket sales. Visitors meet here, have a cup of coffee or browse through a catalogue, and groups are received here. In the evening, meetings or concerts are possible here.
Renovation and new building
The monumental 17th-century mansion will soon be fully renovated, and will once again have plenty of character thanks to the historic staircase and stately rooms of the former Sebastiaansdoelen. The old courtyard can be recognised in the new reception hall. Behind it, new buildings will be built on the site of an old warehouse. This will create more space for exhibitions and activities.
Tour
From the new reception hall, visitors will take a logical route through the museum: the eye-catcher is the striking spiral staircase connecting all floors and the old and new buildings.
The tour of the renewed presentations in the museum will start in the city palace, where the masterpieces from the city collection will be on display, such as Jan van Goyen's famous View of The Hague. In the halls, there is room for a new presentation on The Hague's past and present. Here, visitors will discover what makes this city so unique and what is typically The Hague. Another unique masterpiece from the city collection can then be discovered in the new building: the Great Doll's House by Lita de Ranitz.
The route continues one floor up with an impressive presentation on 800 years of Binnenhof as the centre of Dutch power. Also on the floors are three new exhibition rooms for presentations and exhibitions that further deepen the story of The Hague. The attic floor contains a large space for educational activities and the reception of school groups.
Connection with the city
The revamped museum is much more connected to the city than anno 2024. This starts at the new entrance and in the centrally located reception hall, where regular activities take place. There are vistas at various places in the museum and through the windows there is a view of the Hofvijver and the Binnenhof. The building has been made more accessible and fully accessible. In addition, there is more space in the museum to attract a diverse audience to the museum with appealing events and gatherings.
Where are we in the process?
Plans for the refurbishment and expansion began in 2020. This year, the Final Design was completed. In autumn 2024, the removal of the collection and staff will start, then contractor Royal Woudenberg will start implementing the renovation plans. The museum will also start developing the new interior and the permanent and temporary exhibitions in the autumn. According to the current schedule, the renovated Hague Historical Museum will reopen its doors in spring 2027.
In the meantime
During the renovation, the Hague Historical Museum will remain active in the city. With activities such as walks and guided tours, an education programme in schools and meetings in which the people of The Hague are invited to contribute ideas about the museum's renewed presentations and public programme. Top items from the collection will also remain visible to the public at special locations in the city.
Funding
The City of The Hague is investing €17.7 million in the renovation and expansion of the museum building. The Haags Historisch Museum Foundation will be responsible for furnishing the renovated building, the permanent and temporary presentations and the programme. The museum will partly finance the costs itself and partly with contributions from funds, companies and individuals.
