Literatuurmuseum / Kinderboekenmuseum
Museum of Dutch literature and children's books in The Hague with writers' archives, a permanent exhibition and hands-on exhibitions.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Literatuurmuseum goes back to the Nederlands Letterkundig Museum, founded in 1954. It collects everything connected with the lives and works of Dutch-language authors and illustrators: manuscripts, letters, personal archives, portraits, children's book illustrations and everyday objects. It does not collect books themselves, leaving that to the neighbouring Koninklijke Bibliotheek. More than 100,000 collection items are described in the online database.
The Kinderboekenmuseum has belonged to the same organisation since the 1990s; together the two museums form the Stichting Nederlands Literatuurmuseum en Literatuurarchief. The museum is located in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek building next to The Hague Central Station, with the entrance on the first floor. The foundation is also represented on the boards of several literary prizes, including the P.C. Hooft Prize.
At the heart of the permanent presentation is "De Galerij", in which archive items tell stories on themes ranging from religion and migration to the Second World War; as part of the Canon van Nederland, the museum also shows individual key pieces. For children there are hands-on exhibitions about books and characters. As the building must be vacated in a few years, the museum is to move to Utrecht at the end of 2027.
Highlights
- De Galerij: permanent exhibition on Dutch literary history with archive objects
- Pink carnival costume of Louis Couperus
- Audio recordings of Marga Minco and J. C. Bloem reading from their own works
- Papiria: adventure exhibition for children aged 7 to 13
- "ABC met de dieren mee": play and climbing route for 0- to 6-year-olds
- Archive with over 100,000 described collection items
Permanent exhibitions
- De Galerij – Permanent exhibition that uses manuscripts, audio recordings and objects from the archive to tell how literature is interwoven with society and personal life.
- Papiria – Adventure exhibition for children aged 7 to 13 in an imaginative land of literature, with games, a reading meadow and a workshop on inventing your own stories.
- ABC met de dieren mee – Playful route for 0- to 6-year-olds along the alphabet, where children meet well-known children's book animals and discover letters and rhymes along the way.
- Founded
- 1954
- Operated by
- Stichting Nederlands Literatuurmuseum en Literatuurarchief
- Director
- Valérie Drost
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €14 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €10.50Students and CJP holders |
| Children & teens | €14free up to age 1 · Children up to and including age 1 free, full price from age 2 |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Companion of a visitor with a disability free (also holders of the Autipas) |
| Students & apprentices | €10.50 |
| Groups (9+ people) | –Groups of more than 8 people must reserve (groepsbezoek@literatuurmuseum.nl) |
| Families | €48Family ticket for 4 people |
| Vakantiepas (child) | €6.50 |
| Vakantiepas (adult) | €6.50 |
Free with the Museumkaart, Ooievaarspas, Rotterdampas, ICOM card and for Friends of the Museum; a time-slot ticket must be reserved online in these cases too. Payment in the museum by debit card or cash only, no credit cards.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- 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
Lifts and accessible toilets available, wheelchair available in the building; not all parts of the exhibitions are accessible by wheelchair. Prams and buggies are permitted. Dogs other than assistance dogs are not allowed.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 1 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €48 · Family ticket for 4 people |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Family museum with "Papiria" (ages 7–13, including a workshop on writing your own stories), the climbing and play route "ABC met de dieren mee" (ages 0–6) and "Back Street" for 14- to 20-year-olds. Three changing tables and a nursing room; family ticket for 4 people €48.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Den Haag Centraal · 2-min walk
The museum is right next to Den Haag Centraal (about 2 minutes on foot) and is easily reached by tram as well as city and regional buses. From the station take the Anna van Buerenplein exit, cross the square, pass the entrance of the Tweede Kamer through the passage to the main entrance of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek building; the museum is on the first floor.
By car
Paid parking
No car park of its own. Parkhaus Centraal Station/New Babylon (Qpark) directly next to the museum, visitors can reserve online at a discount; pay-and-display parking applies in the surrounding area.
By car via the A12 from the direction of Utrecht, exit 2 (P-Centrum). Because of the neighbouring Tweede Kamer, the entrance may be harder to access on special occasions; alternatively the museum can be reached via the entrance of the Nationaal Archief (Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 20).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Lockers
Museum café on the ground floor (Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–4.30 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 9.30 a.m.–4.30 p.m., card payment only, no American Express), bringing your own food is permitted there; no food or drink in the exhibitions. Museum shop at the entrance with (children's) books and gifts. Free lockers one floor down at the main entrance.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours for groups of 10 or more: €80 (max. 20 people) plus admission, enquiries via groepsbezoek@literatuurmuseum.nl or +31 70 333 96 31. The time slot counts as the entry time and can be changed once; tickets are not refunded. Programmes for schools, childcare, MBO (secondary vocational education) and universities. |
