The Mesdag Collection – Art Museum in The Hague

From a young age Hendrik Willem Mesdag showed great artistic potential, though it wasn’t until he inherited a fortune from his father in law, that Mesdag decided to give up his job to become a fulltime painter. He discovered the beauty of the sea, the sky and its mesmerizing atmosphere when he lived on Norderney, one of seven East Frisian Islands that are populated.

In 1869, Mesdag and his wife moved to The Hague, though he frequently rented a room in Scheveningen to be close to the sea. Mesdag’s biggest and most famous painting is the Panorama Mesdag, a 14 by 120 meter cylinder shaped panoramic painting of the view to North Sea across the dunes, The Hague and Scheveningen, which can be visited around the corner of the museum. Many of his other works can be found in the Mesdag Collection.

Together with his wife Sina, who also painted herself, Hendrik collected French Dutch and Japanese art. The French art consists mostly of works from the French Barbizon School, with works by Daubigny, Millet, Dupré, Roussau, Courbet, Corot, Troyon and Diaz. The Mesdag’s Barbizon collection is the largest of its kind outside of France.

The Dutch art on display belongs to the Hague School, whose artists were heavily influenced by the French Barbizon school. Highlights of this part of the collection include Anton Mauve’s Donkey Stand on the Beach at Scheveningen and Théophile de Bock’s Thunderstorm. The collection of Japanese art is decorative in nature and includes everything from samurai swords to Satsuma earthenware vases.

The Mesdag Collection museum is set up in what was the home of the Mesdag family, which was built in the 1870s by Mesdag and his brother in law Samuel van Houten. The museum consists of the house itself, the painting studio both Hendrik and Sina used, the art they created and collected and their garden. The garden is the prefect place for a picnic or a quiet stroll and has views across the Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice. 

Get your tickets now to explore the wonderful world of the Mesdag family and their incredible art collection. The museum can easily be reached from Rotterdam by public transport or car, with public transport stops less than 300 meters from the museum. Book your Mesdag Collection tickets now and prepare to wowed by this hidden gem museum.