THE HAGUE.- The Mauritshuis in The Hague is taking a significant step toward its future. Beginning December 1, the museum will officially expand into a historic building at Korte Vijverberg 4, located just 75 steps from its iconic home by the Hofvijver. The acquisition marks a rare opportunity in the tightly preserved city center — and one that promises to reshape how the museum serves its growing audience.

The early-20th-century building, designed in 1917 by architect Eduard Cuypers, adds 800 square meters of usable space to the institution. For the Mauritshuis, this means room to dream bigger. A central part of the plan is the creation of a new Mauritshuis Education Centre, an initiative the museum has hoped to realize for years. Unlike the current single classroom-style studio — which has become too small and outdated — the new Centre will offer multiple spaces designed for children, teens, adults, and community programs.

The expansion also opens the door to hosting more events and receptions in the building’s stately historic rooms, generating vital income at a time when demand for venue space has reached the museum’s current limits. Additional office areas will help accommodate a growing team, a response to increasing visitor numbers and expanding programming.

Since its major renovation in 2012–2014, the Mauritshuis has seen steady growth in attendance. In 2025, the museum expects to welcome close to 500,000 visitors — the maximum its current footprint can reasonably support. The rising interest in educational programming has also put mounting pressure on the facilities, particularly for adult learning, which currently has no dedicated space.

The new building also brings good news for exhibition lovers. By relocating the existing Art Workshop, the museum will be able to expand its exhibition space from 175 to 240 square meters in the coming years, allowing for more ambitious presentations and greater flexibility in programming.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity,” said Mauritshuis director Martine Gosselink. “Properties of this kind almost never become available in the historic center of The Hague. With this building, a long-held museum dream — opening a fully developed education centre — is finally coming true.”

The acquisition was made possible by the museum’s support foundation, the Johan Maurits Compagnie, which purchased the building. The Mauritshuis plans to have Korte Vijverberg 4 fully operational by 2028 and will soon begin seeking new partners and benefactors to help bring its expanded vision to life.