Mauritshuis, The Hague

The Mauritshuis is an aristocratic palace built between 1633 and 1644 in The Hague, Netherlands, and has been a museum housing the Royal Picture Gallery since 1822. The collection of North and South Netherlandish masterpieces from the 17th century is unique in the world. One of the most famous paintings on display is The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Jan Vermeer.

Its namesake, Johann Moritz von Nassau-Siegen (Dutch: Maurits), had the building constructed from 1633 as his residence directly next to the Binnenhof. It was completed by the time he returned as governor of the Dutch colony in Brazil (1636-1644). The palace was designed by the most renowned Dutch architects of the time, Jacob van Campen and his assistant Pieter Post. It is one of the most important examples of the Dutch classicist style with influences from the Italian Renaissance and has been declared a Rijksmonument.

Rembrandt van Rijn: The Anatomy of Dr. Tulp (1632) © Mauritshuis

The collection consists of around 800 paintings, 50 miniatures, 20 sculptures as well as drawings and prints. The works on display offer an excellent overview of North and South Netherlandish painting from the 15th to 18th centuries. Among them are masterpieces from the Golden Age. For example, the Mauritshuis has one of the largest and most important collections in the world, with 10 paintings by Rembrandt.

Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder: Flower vase in a window recess (1618)
Jan Brueghel the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens: Depiction of Paradise with the Fall of Man (1615)
Adriaen Coorte: Still Life with Wild Strawberries (1705)
Frans Hals: Laughing Boy (1627)
Hans Holbein the Younger: Portrait of Robert Cheseman (1533)
Paulus Potter: The Bull (1647)
Carel Fabritius: The Goldfinch (1654)
Frans van Mieris the Elder: Brothel Scene (1658)
Rembrandt van Rijn: Susanna (1636)
Rembrandt van Rijn: The Anatomy of Dr. Tulp (1632)
Rembrandt workshop: Copy of the Self-Portrait with Halsberge (ca. 1629)
Jacob van Ruisdael: View of Harlem with Pale Fields (1670-1675)
Jan Steen: "As the old sing, so the young chirp" (1665)
Jan Vermeer: The Girl with the Pearl Earring (1665)
Jan Vermeer: View of Delft (1660/61)
Jan Vermeer: Diana with her companions (1655/56)
Rogier van der Weyden: The Lamentation of Christ (1438)

www.mauritshuis.nl