PRINCESSSEHOF - NATIONAL CERAMICS MUSEUM

This museum is housed in a beautiful 17th century palace, and was in the 18th century the residence of Maria Louise van Hessen-Kassel, widow of Willem Friso, Prince of Orange and Stathouder of Friesland. On the first floor, we are transported to the beautifully decorated dining room of the princess, where we can admire beautiful Chinese porcelain. The museum has been completely renovated and modernized by the architect Marten Atsma in collaboration with Wim Crouwel. The museum is spread over 3 buildings connected by ingenious transparent bridges. It presents a Japanese collection, but it is the Chinese ceramics that impresses the most. It is presented in a historical way, since the 3rd millennium BC. The European wing is important with Delft ceramics, but also Wedgwood.

The museum presents the largest collection of tiles in the world with examples from Spain, France, Italy, but especially Turkey and Iran. Dutch Art Nouveau and Art Deco are also featured. The rooms under the roof show us sublime collections, but also the wooden beams of the period. In one of the rooms, we can discover the important warehouse. In the basement, a space with a creative workshop is specially reserved for children. A tea room and a superb store are also present. The museum also hosts many temporary exhibitions. Note that the famous graphic designer M.C. Escher was born here in 1898.