Mauritshuis
The Hague · Netherlands · Founded 1822
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. Allow 1.5–2 hours and book a timed ticket ahead.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Mauritshuis at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Monday: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Admission | €19.50 standard admission |
| Booking | Book a timed ticket in advance — peak slots sell out |
| Time needed | 1.5–2 hours |
| Best time to visit | Monday afternoon or Tuesday at 10 AM opening — Vermeer rooms are quietest early. |
| Getting there | Train: Den Haag Centraal — 15-minute walk or tram 1 to Buitenhof; Den Haag HS — 10-minute walk |
| Address | Plein 29, 2511 CS Den Haag, Netherlands |
| Official website | mauritshuis.nl |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Mauritshuis known for?
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.
Best for: Art Lovers · Dutch Golden Age Fans · First-Time Visitors to The Hague
How long do you need at Mauritshuis?
Allow 1.5–2 hours. A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at Mauritshuis without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 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.
What are the must-see works at Mauritshuis?
4 highlights that define the collection: Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp, View of Delft and more.
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 and 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 with their own guide
Tips for visiting Mauritshuis
- 1.
Best time to visit
Monday afternoon or Tuesday at 10 AM opening — Vermeer rooms are quietest early.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
Busy year-round; Girl with a Pearl Earring always draws a crowd.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
Around €19.50 standard admission; online booking strongly recommended.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
Museum café; restaurants on Plein and in the Buitenhof area.
- 5.
Accessibility
Fully accessible via the 2014 underground entrance with lifts.
How do you get to Mauritshuis?
- train Den Haag Centraal — 15-minute walk or tram 1 to Buitenhof; Den Haag HS — 10-minute walk
- tram Trams 1, 9, and 16 to Buitenhof stop, beside the museum
- walk Central The Hague location on Plein, next to the Binnenhof parliament
Address: Plein 29, 2511 CS Den Haag, Netherlands
Mauritshuis: 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 1.5–2 hours for the highlights of Mauritshuis. Our 4-stop route — Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp, View of Delft and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the 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?
Admission: €19.50 standard admission. Book a timed-entry ticket on the official website before you go — popular slots sell out 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.
What are Mauritshuis's opening hours?
Mauritshuis is open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Monday: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is Mauritshuis free to visit?
No — standard admission is €19.50 standard admission.