Louwman Museum

Why go

The collection began with Pieter Louwman's purchase of a Dodge in 1934 and now spans early cars, later icons and the visual culture around driving. It is a strong choice in The Hague if you want to see how car design and public fascination with cars changed together.

What to look for

• The historic cars trace changing vehicle design across generations.
• Posters, paintings, sculptures and trophies show how motoring was presented beyond the road.
• The entrance gate's lion-topped brick pillars came from the former Wassenaar Zoo.

The full story

The Louwman collection started in 1934 when car importer Pieter Louwman bought a Dodge that was already about twenty years old. His family continued collecting, and the cars moved through museums in Leidschendam and Raamsdonksveer before the present building opened in The Hague in 2010. American architect Michael Graves designed the museum building, while Louis Baljon laid out the surrounding park. That setting gives the collection more room than a row of cars alone: its art and objects show how the automobile was sold, celebrated and remembered. The older vehicles also give a Dutch thread to the wider international story, including the marques Spyker and Eysink. Look at the entrance as well as the galleries; its old zoo gate connects this museum to another piece of local history.

Useful to know

• Leave time for the collection across three floors and the separate displays of automotive art.
• Check the museum's official calendar for your visit date, especially around holidays.
• If you also want to see Huis ten Bosch, pair the indoor museum with an exterior walk through nearby Haagse Bos.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.