A date with a book of hours

Books of hours were not showpieces but daily companions. In the late Middle Ages, the faithful carried them everywhere, leafing through them in prayer every single day. That personal bond has never disappeared – you just can't feel it through museum glass. That is exactly what 'Date met een getijdenboek' sets out to change.

What happens during your date?

Together with a staff member of Huis van het Boek, you examine an original late-medieval book of hours outside its display case. You can turn the pages, study the miniatures up close, and feel the texture of a book that has survived centuries. The staff member shares stories about the object, its origin, and the hands that held it before yours. It is a calm, intimate encounter – with only a limited number of participants per time slot.

'Hou vast' at Huis van het Boek in The Hague

The activity connects to the exhibition 'Hou vast', which presents highlights from the museum's permanent collection of books of hours, showing how these objects once served as deeply personal belongings. The date adds a hands-on dimension to that story. To register, send an email to online@rijksmuseummeermanno; your spot is only guaranteed once you receive a confirmation. Please indicate your preferred time slot in your message.