As my kids get older, encouraging them to visit museums with me is often greeted with a questionable expression. So, when I told my kids that we were going to visit a 600-year-old prison museum, there was a spark of enthusiasm.
Museum Gevangenpoort or the Prison Gate Museum is a former 15th-century prison located in the centre of The Hague, overlooking the Hofvijver pond. It was originally built in the 13th century as one of the three entrance gates to the castle of the Counts of Holland, known today as the Binnenhof, now the Houses of Parliament, across the road. It became a Gaol (jail cells) and the Courthouse from 1420 until 1828.
If you are visiting just the museum, feel free to roam around the multi-storey small museum but armed with the FREE audio guide. Otherwise, you will not understand the significance of this medieval prison.
If you are joining the guided tour (book separately at an additional charge), please follow the black cat on the wall indicating a different route for your museum introduction. You would need 30 minutes at the very least to familiarise yourself with the backstory first.
Through the museum, rooms you can explore are Meat Cellar, Interrogation (Examination) Chamber, a Judge’s Chamber, Warden’s residence, Stock Attic Room, Hostage Attic and more. Check out artefacts such as handcuffs from 1700 – 1800, an executioner’s axe dated around 1600 and a wooden placard of shame (worn on the neck) from 19th-century. You can admire the pillory, hatchets, the flogging bench, the breaking rack, neck and handcuffs, the branding irons and other national instruments of punishment.
The guided tour is a storytelling journey on the grim justice system and how criminals were punished 600 years ago. You hear amazing anecdotes highlighting facts of way back then.
In the Ridderkamer or Knight’s Room, the Vrouwekamer or Women’s Chamber and the IJzerkamer or Iron Chamber, wealthy prisoners were kept very comfortable for a fee and could order meals from the warden, upon payment. Sometimes, these prisoners were released from prison on bail or on their word of honour, for a day out or till they have to appear for their trial. One famous inhabitant in the Knight’s Room was Cornelis de Witt.
The Cell Block is dark and dingy. Stepped inside a jail cell where prisoners were often cramped together in the dark for months at a time. One open lavatory to share. The tour guide switched off the light for us for the longest seconds!
Down in the Torture (Pain Cellar) Chamber, you can learn about the historical methods of torture on display, such as guillotine, executioner’s swords and axes, manacles, arm-leg-thumb screws, shin clamps, stretching pole, etc. If you are bringing kids, try explaining the usage of some of the tools and watch them squirm in horror. There was an old wall section surfaced with beautiful original Delft tiles, supposedly meant for easy cleaning purposes. Certainly makes sense!
Don’t miss the guillotine in the courtyard – not original and incomplete, for show only.
The floor plan of the Prison Gate Museum can be confusing and unclear. It is an old building with narrow corridors. The stairs are interconnected and uneven. The staff are always there to give you direction. Or are they watching us?
The Prison Gate Museum was primarily a place where you stay while awaiting interrogation, trial, verdict and punishment. Imprisonment during this period was actually rare. The most severe punishment was the death penalty by means of hanging, burning or beheading, in public. From 1870 onwards, the death penalty was no longer carried out in the Netherlands.
The Prison Gate was declared a national monument in 1853 and became a prison museum in 1882.
I highly recommend this visit. It was a chilling experience!
Note: Galerij Prins Willem V or Prince William V Gallery right next door is lovely!
Same museum entrance and same ticketing counter.
Website: https://www.gevangenpoort.nl/en/homepage (also in English)
Address: Buitenhof 33. 2513AH Den Haag.
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday, Sunday & Monday from 11 pm – 5 pm.
Entrance Fees: €15.00 for adults and €7.50 for kids age 4 – 18 years old. Free entry for Museumkaart holders.
Audio Guide: FREE in Dutch, English and German.
Guided Tours: €5.00 per participant on top of your regular ticket price. Duration of the tour is about 45 minutes. English language tours usually are on Saturday and Sunday set at 12 pm. Advance ticket booking is recommend to avoid disappointment at the door. Dutch language tours are available daily at 1 pm and 2 pm.
Getting There: https://www.gevangenpoort.nl/en/plan-your-visit/practical-information/address-and-route
>> Please note: it is not suitable to visit with a wheelchair, walker or buggy due to the many level differences and stairs.
