Have you ever seen the inside of an ancient house? The Buitenmuseum: three museum houses next to each other, on one of the most beautiful and picturesque canals in The Hague. The house of the 17th century landscape painter Jan van Goyen and his son-in-law Jan Steen, and next to it the house of the painter Paulus Potter (known for “The Bull”).
Their paintings are displayed in museums all over the world, including the Mauritshuis and the Haags Historisch Museum. But this is the place of origin, here are the houses where they lived and worked and where their paintings originated. The Buitenmuseum: a museum outside the traditional museums.
Accompanied by a tour guide or with an individual audio tour, you will visit the houses of the three painters and the house of the palace builder Claes van Balckeneynde.
- Jan van Goyenhuis, Dunne Bierkade 16-16a. The 17th-century landscape painter Jan van Goyen lived here, and for a few years also his son-in-law Jan Steen. Van Goyen painted - amongst many other paintings - the enormous View of The Hague in 1650, of which the original is displayed in the Hague Historical Museum and a copy in one of the period rooms of his house at the Dunne Bierkade. Furthermore there is also a furnished painting studio and a box bed.
- Paulus Potterhuis, Dunne Bierkade 17. This is where Paulus Potter lived, who had his most productive period in this house and where he also completed his most renowned painting, “The Bull”, which is now displayed in the Mauritshuis. A copy of this painting can be found in the back room of his house, which also has beautiful ceiling murals, ornamental stucco ceilings and historic furniture.
- Van Balckeneynde Huis (anno 1639), at Dunne Bierkade 18. Claes van Balckeneynde, 'city carpenter' and builder of, among other things, the Catshuis and the royal palaces in The Hague, lived here. He also turned his own house into a city palace, with a natural stone facade built “in flight”, a beautiful blue drawing room, an impressive library room and a historic kitchen in the basement. Paintings, furniture and a large collection of books show the residents' history up to our time. The namesake of the house, Van Balckeneynde, was also Paulus Potter's father-in-law.
Behind these buildings is a historic garden complex with overlapping period gardens and a vegetable garden.
Walking Tours
At the Buitenmuseum you will also find various city walks through The Hague. For example, there are walks around the themes.
Tickets
Booking in advance is required.
Accessibility
People with a wheelchair or walker can visit the Paulus Potter House and the period gardens.
Directions to the Buitenmuseum
The Buitenmuseum is easy to reach by both car and public transport. Tram 1, 9, 15 and 16 stop at the tram stop "Bierkade". You can also take the tram 2, 3, 4 and 6 to tram stop “Grote Markt” or “Spui”. Paid street parking is available in the vicinity of the museum as well as the Q-Park Garage at Amsterdamse Veerkade and Grote Markt.
Combine with a cruise
The Buitenmuseum is located on the cruise route through the canals of the city centre of The Hague. You can moor at the quay opposite the museum.
The Buitenmuseum
The Buitenmuseum: three museum houses next to each other, on one of the most beautiful and picturesque canals in The Hague.
