Kunstmuseum Kids’ Activities and The Hague Children’s Library

This guide is for international residents of The Hague, whether you have just arrived with young children or have lived here for a while and want a good plan for a grey afternoon. You will find out what the Kunstmuseum Den Haag offers children and families, how the children’s section of Bibliotheek Den Haag works, and where to check the details each venue keeps up to date.

• What the Kunstmuseum offers families
• Planning a museum visit with children
• Children’s books at Bibliotheek Den Haag
• What the library offers parents and teachers
• Making the most of both
• FAQ

What the Kunstmuseum offers families

The Kunstmuseum Den Haag has a dedicated Kids & family page that brings together everything aimed at younger visitors. The point is that children get something of their own to do, so they are not just trailing behind adults through quiet galleries. The museum lists five activities:

• Audio Tour for kids: an interactive tour that lets children go on their own adventure through the museum.
• Chambers of Wonder: a museum game you play together as you move from room to room. A visitor quoted on the museum’s page describes wandering through it like a labyrinth, tablet in hand.
• Activity sheets: known in Dutch as a Doe-blad, these help children explore more of the collection at their own pace.
• Open Studio for Children: a studio session aimed at children. The museum’s activity page explains what each session involves.
• Open Family Atelier: an atelier the museum organises for young and old together, so parents and grandparents can take part too.

The museum calls the overall offer an experience for art lovers of all ages. In practice, the audio tour and activity sheets are built for children, while the Family Atelier and Chambers of Wonder work best when adults join in rather than wait on a bench.

Planning a museum visit with children

The family page does not list ticket prices, opening hours or session times, so check the Kunstmuseum’s own site for the current details before you go. This matters most for the Open Studio and the Open Family Atelier, which run as organised activities rather than something you can join at any moment.

On cost, one visitor quoted on the family page says kids get in for free. That is a visitor’s comment, not a ticketing rule, so look at the museum’s ticket information to see what applies to your family on the day.

Choosing which activity to start with depends on your child. Children who like games and moving around usually go for Chambers of Wonder, since it is designed to be played together and takes you through a series of rooms. Quieter children, or those who like to draw and look closely, often do better with an activity sheet. Older children who want some independence may like the audio tour, which gives them their own route while you stay nearby.

The family page is available in English, which helps if your Dutch is still a work in progress. The page does not say which languages the audio tour or activity sheets come in, so ask at the front desk when you arrive.

Children’s books at Bibliotheek Den Haag

The Jeugd & Jongeren (Youth) section of Bibliotheek Den Haag sorts its offer into three age groups: 0 to 6 years, 6 to 12 years, and young people aged 12 to 18. Each group has its own page, so you can go straight to what fits your child.

The library frames this section around a few everyday needs: finding a story to read aloud or read alone, and finding books for a leeslijst or a spreekbeurt. If your children are new to Dutch schools, a leeslijst is a reading list set by the school, and a spreekbeurt is a short talk a pupil gives to the class on a chosen topic. Both come up often in primary and secondary school, and the library is where most Dutch families go for them.

One useful thing to know is the labelling system. Every library book carries a sticker with a letter, starting with A, then B and onwards. The letter shows which age the book suits. The library’s advice is to choose a book your child enjoys that is neither too easy nor too hard, and the letters help you narrow that down without reading every blurb. The library also has an explainer page on how the system works, linked from the youth section.

What the library offers parents and teachers

The library is not only for children. Its main menu includes e-books, audiobooks, music, Comics Plus, online courses, reading clubs and a learning section. For a parent still settling into the country, audiobooks and online courses can be a practical way in, and reading clubs are one way to meet people outside work and the school gate.

The site has a Translate option in the top menu, which helps when you are still finding your way around Dutch pages. Membership runs through the Word lid (become a member) link. The page does not state membership costs, so check the library’s own site for current rates. Opening hours per branch are on the Bibliotheken en openingstijden page.

If you work in education, there is a separate offer for people in childcare, primary and secondary schools, and MBO (vocational education). It includes lesson materials, theme collections, exchange visits, inspiration sessions and Open Boek courses, many of them available through the library’s education webshop. This is useful for international teachers who have just started at a Dutch school and need materials quickly.

Making the most of both

The museum and the library work well together. A museum visit gives children something to look at and make; the library gives them stories to take home afterwards. Children who enjoyed a particular artwork or room can look for books on the same subject at their age level, using the letter labels to pick the right reading level.

To stay on top of what is coming up, use the library’s Agenda for scheduled activities and sign up for its newsletter. The library is also on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. For the Kunstmuseum, the family page links to each activity, which is the most reliable place to check dates and how to join.

A practical tip from experience: plan one fixed activity per outing, not three. Children new to a country are already taking in a lot, and one good session at the museum or an unhurried browse in the library usually beats a packed day.

FAQ

Are the Kunstmuseum’s children’s activities suitable if we do not speak Dutch?

The museum publishes its Kids & family page in English, and activities such as Chambers of Wonder are designed to be played together, which makes them easier to follow without much language. The page does not say which languages the audio tour or activity sheets come in, so ask at the front desk.

Do children pay to enter the Kunstmuseum?

A visitor quoted on the museum’s family page says kids get in for free, but the page itself does not give ticket prices. Check the Kunstmuseum’s ticket information for the current rules before you visit.

How do I find the right library book for my child’s age?

Every book at Bibliotheek Den Haag has a sticker with a letter, starting at A, then B and onwards, which shows the age it suits. The youth section is also split into 0 to 6, 6 to 12 and 12 to 18, so you can browse the right group straight away.

When can we join the Open Family Atelier or Open Studio?

The family page lists both activities but does not give dates or times. Open the activity links on the Kunstmuseum’s site for the current schedule and any booking details.

Official sources: kunstmuseum.nl · bibliotheekdenhaag.nl

Last checked: 31 October 2026 against the pages linked above. Prices, opening hours and programmes change; the venue’s own site always has the current details.