The Big 5 of The Hague

Five masters, four museums, one city. The Hague is a living museum full of stories that connect us.

Here, you will encounter great masters whose artworks attract visitors from all over the world. Artworks that have shaped the art world and our perception of the city. From world-famous paintings to magical optical illusions. And with the world's largest collection of works by Mondrian, Kunstmuseum Den Haag is one of the Big 5 destinations. Step into the world of the Big 5 and prepare to be amazed.

Five great masters

The works of the great masters teach you to look at light, emotion, structure, detail and perspective. Even without any prior knowledge, you will be surprised or amazed and discover more and more.

Piet Mondrian's love of jazz can be heard in the rhythms of lines and planes. Kunstmuseum Den Haag houses the largest collection of works by Mondrian in the world, with nearly 300 paintings and works on paper that together radiate energy. The highlight is his final work: Victory Boogie Woogie.

At the Mauritshuis, you will find three of Johannes Vermeer's rare paintings, including the world-famous Girl with a Pearl Earring. Her gaze, her smile and that iconic pearl keep you caught in an endless loop of wonder. Walk into the next gallery and Rembrandt van Rijn looks you straight in the eye. He was the selfie king of the 17th century and painted more than 90 self-portraits. Eleven of these are on display in The Hague.

And then there is M.C. Escher, who made the world tilt and reflect. At Escher in The Palace, you enter a universe of 120 prints where mathematics and imagination merge, and where you keep discovering more.

Finally, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, the painter of the sea. His Panorama Mesdag is a 360-degree experience that places you right in the middle of the dunes of Scheveningen. The largest painting in the Netherlands and the oldest panorama in the world still displayed in its original location – a unique piece of heritage to be proud of.