Prince William V Gallery

Prince William V Gallery is what you would call a hidden gem in The Hague. Willem V, Prince of Orange-Nassau, specifically had this gallery built at the Buitenhof in 1774 to present his impressive art collection to the public. It was remarkable because it was the first time a high-ranking figure made his art collection accessible to ‘ordinary’ visitors. It became the very first museum in the Netherlands. At that time, it was customary to hang the walls full of paintings, from baseboard to ceiling. Symmetry was important, but above all, the experience of abundance. No spot was left empty.