Seaside Sculpture and Classic Cars: Beelden aan Zee and Louwman, The Hague

This guide is for international residents of The Hague, with or without children, who want a good museum day out that goes beyond the usual city-centre stops. It covers what is on at Museum Beelden aan Zee in Scheveningen and at the Louwman Museum, which parts suit adults and which suit children, and where to find tickets, opening hours and travel details.

• Beelden aan Zee: sculpture in the dunes
• What is on at Beelden aan Zee
• Louwman Museum: the story of the car
• Going with children
• More Hague museums for your weekends
• FAQ

Beelden aan Zee: sculpture in the dunes

Museum Beelden aan Zee shows only modern and contemporary sculpture. The work ranges from figurative to abstract and from very small pieces to monumental ones. The museum sits in the Scheveningen dunes, below the historic Pavilion Von Wied, and looks out over the sea. Architect Wim Quist designed it in sand-coloured concrete, glass, natural stone and wood, and the building almost disappears into the dunes around it. Plenty of visitors come for the architecture as much as for the art.

It suits a slow afternoon. The museum says each season brings something different: big cloudscapes in spring, sunny terraces in summer, warm dune colours in autumn and a quieter mood in winter. If you are new to the Dutch winter and the grey days are getting to you, a walk through the dunes followed by an hour inside is a good way to break up the week. As well as the temporary exhibitions, the museum shows a changing selection from its collection and runs tours, workshops and other activities.

The homepage does not list ticket prices or opening hours. Its “Plan your visit” section covers tickets, public transport, travel by car, parking and accessibility, so check there before you set off. The only price on the homepage is for the museum shop catalogue, which costs €35.

What is on at Beelden aan Zee

The museum is running three exhibitions at the same time. That makes this a good moment to go if you have been putting it off.

• Rui Chafes X Alberto Giacometti. Gris, Vide, Cris III, from 27 June 2026 to 10 January 2027. This international exhibition puts the work of Portuguese artist Rui Chafes next to that of the Swiss modernist Alberto Giacometti. It is the obvious pick for adults who already know Giacometti and want to see him in a new context.
• Jakob Grosse-Ophoff: Myself and Other Planets, from 31 October 2026 to 11 April 2027, in the Zuidzaal. Grosse-Ophoff (Oldenburg, 1991) trained as a mechanical engineer and taught himself to sculpt. His kinetic sculptures show comic, poetic and everyday moments that most people will recognise. This is his first solo museum exhibition.
• Telcs and his pupil Brinkgreve: Master and Student, from 27 June 2026 to 1 October 2027. The homepage gives no further description, so look at the exhibition page for details.

For an evening out without the children, the museum is working with the beach pavilion Hito on a film and dining package linked to the Chafes and Giacometti exhibition. It is listed on the agenda for 11 November 2026 and 18 November 2026. The homepage does not give the price or explain how to book, so check the agenda on the museum’s site.

Louwman Museum: the story of the car

The Louwman Museum covers the history of the automobile, with mobility, art and design at the centre. The collections tell stories of progress, design and innovation through cars, art, architecture and exhibitions. Look out for cars with a royal history, designers who shaped well-known models, and artworks that capture the spirit of mobility. The stories run through the whole museum, so you do not need to be a car enthusiast to enjoy it.

You can book a guided tour, or use the audio tours, which are free. When you need a break, there is the Museum Square, and the museum shop sells books, miniatures and gifts in the building and online. The museum also hires out its spaces for conferences, parties and dinners. That is worth knowing if you are organising a work event and want somewhere colleagues from abroad will remember.

The museum’s news section announces an upcoming exhibition, The Bulls of Lamborghini. Check the museum’s site for the exact dates. The news section also has a feature on 60 years of the Toyota Corolla. The homepage does not give the address, ticket prices or opening hours. All of these are in the “Plan your visit” section, along with directions.

Going with children

If you are going with children, the Louwman is the easier choice of the two. Its site lists activities aimed at them, including a treasure hunt (also called a scavenger hunt) and a shadow game. With the free audio tours and a break on the Museum Square, it is easy to fill a family morning without anyone getting bored.

Beelden aan Zee does not list specific children’s activities on its homepage, although it mentions workshops and a varied programme. The moving, playful sculptures by Jakob Grosse-Ophoff may well hold a child’s attention. The museum does not present the exhibition as one for children, though, so use your own judgement. The Chafes and Giacometti exhibition is mostly for adults. If you are visiting with young children, check the activities section of the museum’s site for workshops before you go.

The city’s tourism site, DenHaag.com, suggests three more family options: the Children’s Book Museum, the Wonderkamers in the Kunstmuseum, and Beeld & Geluid Den Haag, where children learn about media and journalism. The same site also has a list of the best museums for children in The Hague.

More Hague museums for your weekends

Once you have seen the sculpture museum and the car collection, these museums are the next ones to try. All of them are described on DenHaag.com.

• Mauritshuis: a well-known collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer.
• Kunstmuseum Den Haag: a building designed by Hendrik Berlage, which holds the largest collection of Mondriaans.
• Museum Panorama Mesdag: the largest painting in the Netherlands, a 360º panorama of Scheveningen.
• Escher in the Palace: a permanent exhibition about the artist M.C. Escher.

DenHaag.com also has a page on what to do in The Hague when it rains, plus an augmented reality tour through the Museum Quarter. Both are handy for planning weekends during your first year in the city.

FAQ

Where do I find ticket prices and opening hours?

Neither museum gives prices or opening hours on its homepage. Beelden aan Zee and the Louwman Museum each have a “Plan your visit” section on their official sites, with current details on tickets, opening hours, transport and parking.

How long is the Giacometti exhibition on at Beelden aan Zee?

Rui Chafes X Alberto Giacometti. Gris, Vide, Cris III runs from 27 June 2026 to 10 January 2027. The film and dining package with beach pavilion Hito, linked to this exhibition, is listed for 11 November 2026 and 18 November 2026.

Is the Louwman Museum a good choice for children?

Yes. The museum offers activities for children, including a treasure hunt and a shadow game, and the audio tours are free. The Museum Square is a good place for a break during your visit.

When is the Lamborghini exhibition at the Louwman?

The Bulls of Lamborghini is announced in the news section of the Louwman Museum’s website. Check the museum’s official site for the exact dates and for opening hours before you plan your visit.

Official sources: beeldenaanzee.nl · louwmanmuseum.nl · denhaag.com

Last checked: 5 November 2026 against the pages linked above. Prices, opening hours and programmes change; the venue’s own site always has the current details.