This year, all young people up to the age of 18 can visit the Panorama Mesdag museum for free. The Municipality of The Hague is making €537,000 available for this purpose annually for the next three years. Free entry already applied to children aged 0–12; now, young people aged 13–18 can also admire the Panorama free of charge.
Museum Panorama Mesdag has been a national museum since January 1, 2026, and consequently receives support from the central government. The Municipality of The Hague has – as agreed with the central government – decided to use funds previously allocated to the museum within the Multi-Year Policy Plan for Art and Culture 2025–2028 to make the museum more accessible to young people.
Alderman for Culture, Saskia Bruines: “With this step, more young people can view both the unique Panorama of Scheveningen and the special museum collection of the artist couple Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Sientje Mesdag-van Houten. Everyone who lives in The Hague or visits the city should definitely see the Panorama at least once. I am pleased that this contribution ensures that the special collection of Museum Panorama Mesdag can also inspire the new generation!”
Museum Director Minke Schat: “The unique Panorama is the centerpiece of our museum and the oldest worldwide still in its original historical setting – not without reason also called the ‘Night Watch of The Hague’. Thanks to the generous gesture of the municipality, we can welcome even more young people and introduce them to art, heritage, and the history of our city in an accessible way.”
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Caption: Alderman Saskia Bruines (left) and museum director Minke Schat (right) on the cherry picker at the Panorama of Scheveningen. Photo: Freek van den Bergh / Museum Panorama Mesdag