Haags Openbaar Vervoer Museum

About the museum

The Haags Openbaar Vervoer Museum tells the past, present and future of public transport in The Hague and its surroundings. It is housed in a tram depot that was in service for the transport company HTM from 1906 to 1983. After the depot was decommissioned in 1983, the historic cars were parked here, which had previously stood in the Lijsterbesstraat depot and had been maintained by a group of volunteers since the 1960s.

In 1988 it was decided to convert the Frans Halsstraat depot into a museum; on 23 June 1989 the HOVM was officially opened. The building is owned by the City of The Hague, which had it renovated in 2008 and in 2013/2014, also to make it usable as an event venue; in the process it regained the original colours determined by paint analysis.

The collection comprises around 30 trams, all of which have run in The Hague. Most of them show the Hague tram between 1905 and 1993, joined by four tourist trams with a historic look and, since 2023, the cars of the Tramweg Stichting. There is also a large photo archive and a collection of documents and objects from which changing exhibitions draw. More than 100 volunteers restore and drive the trams and run the museum.

Highlights

• Around 30 Hague trams from 1905 to 1993
• Sunday rides with historic trams (included in the combination ticket)
• The Haags Bus Museum joins in every fourth Sunday from April to October
• Listed depot of 1906 as the museum building
• Photo archive and documents on Hague public transport

Permanent exhibition

• Historische Straßenbahnsammlung des HOVM – Around 30 Hague trams from 1905 to 1993 with explanations of the construction, use and history of the individual cars, supplemented by photos and documents.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Haags Openbaar Vervoer Museum

Admission & discounts

Holders of the Ooievaarspas receive a 50% discount if they buy the tickets at the museum on the day of the visit (not online). Card payment at the museum, no cash. Admission is free on Open Monumentendag weekend.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is accessible with a wheelchair, rollator and pushchair and has an accessible toilet. A wheelchair fits into the historic trams only if it can be folded; there is no level boarding. Assistance dogs are allowed in the museum and on the tram, other animals are not.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

Children aged 4 and over pay admission; children ride on the combination ticket and the family ticket. Pushchairs are welcome in the museum but fit into the trams only when folded.

Getting there & parking

Postal address of the museum: Ter Borchstraat 7, 2525 XG The Hague.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The website lists a "Winkel" (shop) in its menu.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The listed depot including the museum rooms can be rented as the event venue "Remise Den Haag"; historic trams can additionally be rented for private rides (tramhuren.nl).

Plan your visit