Museum of modern and contemporary art on the Landgoed Oranjewoud estate near Heerenveen, focusing on painting from the northern Netherlands, including Jan Mankes.
October 17, 2026 – January 17, 2027
Top works from the Hans and Cora de Vries Collection meet highlights of the museum's collection, including works by Karel Appel, Willem de Kooning, Jan Schoonhoven and Gerrit Benner.
October 17, 2026 – January 17, 2027
Three cabinet presentations in the east wing: photography by the pioneer Max Ali Cohen, Curaçao paintings by Frieda Hunziker and two series of paintings by Zoltin Peeter Prize winner Roel Sloot.
September 6, 2026 – November 15, 2026
Solo exhibition of the Dutch-American painter at the Afslag BLV satellite venue in Heerenveen, exploring color as an independent, changeable material.
The idea for Museum Belvédère goes back to three friends who in the 1960s dreamed of a museum of modern art of their own in Friesland: the painters Boele Bregman and Sjoerd de Vries and Thom Mercuur, who would later become its director. It took about four decades for the plan to become reality – in November 2004 Queen Beatrix opened the province's first museum of modern and contemporary art.
The understated building by Heerenveen architect Eerde Schippers (Inbo) stands on the Landgoed Oranjewoud, the former country estate of the House of Orange-Nassau. With its dark basalt facade it blends in among the trees and spans the Prinsenwijk crosswise, a waterway laid out as a Grand Canal by Daniël Marot in the 18th century; the glass-walled museum café sits above the water between the two wings. In 2006 the building was named BNA Building of the Year. The surrounding museum park was designed by landscape architect Michael van Gessel as a contemporary take on the Baroque garden.
The collection focuses on painters from the northern Netherlands such as Jan Mankes, Thijs Rinsema, Gerrit Benner, Tames Oud and Willem van Althuis, as well as kindred artists from the Netherlands and abroad. Additions include the private collection of Hans and Cora de Vries and, in 2026, a donation of more than a hundred works by Gerrit Benner. Han Steenbruggen has been the museum's artistic director since 2008. Because visitor numbers – 75,000 in 2025 – far exceed the 15,000 originally expected, an expansion of both wings is planned under the title "De Voltooiing", with construction set to begin in 2027. In the center of Heerenveen the museum also runs a satellite venue for young art, Afslag BLV.
| Adults | €17 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7.50CJP cardholders and students with a student ID |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Young people up to and including age 17 are admitted free. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount mentioned. |
| Students & apprentices | €7.50With a student ID. |
| Groups | –Guided tours can be booked for groups of up to 10 people (see additional tickets). |
| Guided tour (about 45 min., max. 10 people, per group) | €65Plus admission; request two weeks in advance |
| Guided tour of the museum park by Staatsbosbeheer (per group, max. 20 people) | €75Just over an hour |
| Art Noord art fair (October 1–4, 2026) | €20With Museumkaart, Rembrandtkaart or ICOM €5, CJP/students €10, free up to age 17; valid for all four days of the fair |
Free with the Museumkaart, an ICOM card, a VriendenLoterij VIP card and for Friends of the museum; with the Rembrandtkaart only the permanent collection is free. Online booking possible but not required; the ticket is valid all day from 10:00. School classes €1.50 (municipality of Heerenveen) or €3 per student, plus a museum educator (€70 per 15 students).
Visitors with limited mobility can park close to the museum instead of at the start of the museum park (GPS: Woudsterweg). Wheelchair users ring the bell at the side door on the left of the building (on weekends, announce your arrival at the ticket desk or by phone); the door will be opened and a wheelchair provided on request.
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
Children and young people up to age 17 are admitted free. The museum does not list any dedicated family programs; the museum park is great for walks.
Veensluis · 20-min walk
From Heerenveen train station, take Qbuzz bus 20 (toward Drachten via Gorredijk) to the Veensluis stop in De Knipe, then walk about 20 minutes along the Woudsterweg. Alternatively, rent an OV-fiets bike at Heerenveen station.
Parking available
Large parking lot at Thom Mercuurplein at the end of the Oranje Nassaulaan (drive through the Skoatterwâld residential area to the end). Separate accessible parking space near the museum via the Woudsterweg.
By car via the A32, exit 11 (Oranjewoud), then follow the ANWB signs. GPS: Oranje Nassaulaan 70, Oranjewoud (52.95737 N, 5.95977 E).
Get directionsMuseum café above the Grand Canal with coffee, cake and lunch, picnic tables and a waterside terrace (operated separately, contact info@horecabelvedere.nl); picnic baskets available to order. Museum shop, also online.
Up to 80 guests.
Museum café and temporary exhibition hall (up to 80 people) for conferences, workshops and symposia – all day on Mondays, otherwise after 17:00. Official wedding venue of the municipality of Heerenveen: weddings in the museum café (up to 80 people) Tue–Sat 9:00–11:00 and Mon 9:00–17:00; room rental €275 per half day or €350 per day.
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours of the collection or current exhibition for up to 10 people; request two weeks in advance. School visits always with museum educators from Ateliers Majeur. Hotel package with Parkhotel Tjaarda and the "Hap & Stap in Oranjewoud" package with a walk and lunch. |
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