Located adjacent to the Hofvijver pond in The Hague is the Mauritshuis. It is an art museum that houses some of the most valuable paintings back from the Dutch Golden Age – circa 17th century. Although at present this impressive two-storey building is a museum, it was initially built as the official residence of Count Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, the governor of Dutch Brazil, and count and prince of Nassau-Siegen.

Built in a classical Dutch style, with its interior furniture crafted out of pure tropical wood, the Mauritshuis was a pinnacle of grandeur in its heyday and was used by State Generals after the passing of Count Johan. However, in 1704, a fire razed the building, sparing only its outer walls. The Mauritshuis was then reconstructed, retaining much of its original splendour, and transformed into an art museum. With its silken walls and glimmering chandeliers, the Mauritshuis is more reminiscent of a luxurious estate than an art museum. Yet, there may be no other suitable place to house the prestigious paintings it possesses.

Now, the Mauritshuis is home to the works of many famous Dutch artists, including Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, and much more. With over 200 artworks in its collection, the museum offers visitors a diverse range of exhibitions to gain more insight into the context and processes in the creation behind some of the major paintings in the museum. Surely, you can’t afford to miss these Golden Age paintings at this extremely beautiful museum?