Seated in the historical heart of The Hague, Escher in het Paleis is a place that has the ability to mesmerize both tourists and locals. In this former royal winter residence, artworks of the master illusion and graphic artist Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) are displayed.

Every year, tens of thousands of visitors throng to this centre to experience mind-boggling, unintelligible art like “hands coming out of a sheet”, “never-ending staircases”, and “water floating against the laws of gravity”. While all these art pieces were created in Escher’s later life, when he focused on phantasmagoria, the museum also houses his outstanding works that incorporate the theme of realism.

The works displayed here are unfathomable in reality, yet it’s still a wonder how the genius Escher excelled to create the complex pieces he has already come up with. But his success was no secret – it was his strong grasp of mathematics that helped him create these things. Every piece, every stroke that you see here is a result of carefully thought-out mathematical equations with extraordinary precision.

The museum’s third floor is solely dedicated to optical illusions and it boasts many interactive pieces that are bound to deceive you. In addition, you can also create your own optical illusion here with the help of interactive multimedia. With so much to see and do, Escher in het Paleis has got to be on your city excursion list.