Welcome International Friends!
Our Friends are indispensable to the Mauritshuis. For more than 30 years, the Friends (Vrienden) of the Mauritshuis have supported us with contributions for purchases and exhibitions. And you, our International Friends, have been with us for 10 years, equally vital to our success.
The support of our Friends has enabled us to add important works to our collection. In addition, Mauritshuis' Friends also contribute to the realisation of our exhibitions. We organise many lectures, excursions, openings and other activities as an expression of our gratitude.
History of the Friends Foundation
The Johan Maurits van Nassau Foundation was established in 1957. The aim of this foundation was to support the museum in expanding the collection and realising exhibitions and publications. The foundation also acquired paintings and presented them to the museum on permanent loan.
In 1982, a second foundation was established with the aim of active fund raising: the Foundation Friends of the Mauritshuis. The two foundations merged in 1986, and a major campaign was held to recruit volunteers, friends and donors. One of the primary objectives was still to support the museum in the purchase of paintings.
The volunteer organisation was founded in 1987. This organisation performed (and continues to provide) a wide range of services. This includes offering tours, and staffing the shop and information desk. The money generated by those activities are for the benefit of the foundation. The Mauritshuis volunteer organisation is one of the oldest in Dutch museums and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012.
In 2014, we expanded the ‘friend’ levels with 'De Companen'. We also set up an international group of friends with an English-language program. This was done to accommodate the wishes of the large international community in The Hague that wished to become more involved in the Mauritshuis.
Jubilee gift from our Friends
Because the museum celebrated is 200th birthday in 2022, the Friends of the Mauritshuis gifted us a unique present.
On 2 February 2023, with the support of the Friends, we added a new work of art to the collection of the Mauritshuis. Glass artist Bibi Smit designed an intricate and colourful light artwork, inspired by the many flower still lifes of our museum.
The artwork Whirl of life is nearly 6 meters high, in the form of a spiral and consists of 233 coloured glass elements. You can find it in the atrium, just before you go up to our exhibition room.
