The building

Architects
The building was designed by renowned American architect Michael Graves. It blends in sympathetically with its historic surroundings. The landscape gardens, designed by Lodewijk Baljon, complement the architecture of the building.

Design
The museum building is essentially oblong-shaped and the design is reminiscent of the demolished Reigersbergen country estate that used to stand in this spot. It is located adjacent to the N44 road. The impressive front of the building, the square and the pond are easily recognisable as you enter The Hague.
The total floorspace is about 16,000 square metres. Much attention has been paid to detail. The universal aspect of the building, the special features, such as the pavilion at the rear, that is perfectly aligned with the Grand Canal which runs through the neighbouring Marlot district.

The forecourt faces Leidsestraatweg and is separated by a wide water feature. The striking front façade, the forecourt and the water feature create a recognisable entrance to the city.

The building has a gross floor area of about 16,000 m2. Great attention was paid to the building’s detailing. The carefully designed facades have an all-sided orientation with accents such as a pavilion as an eye-catcher in the axis of Grand Canal van Marlot.

A sustainable future
Even at the design stage, the guiding principle was to make the museum as sustainable as possible. And it still is. For instance, we keep it at temperature inside by means of heat and cold storage in the ground. The energy needed for lighting is largely generated by the more than 1,000 solar panels on the roof.