What are you looking for?

Stijn Kemper Huis van het boek 1

On show: 'Apocalyps, vrees en hoop'

Starting 28 February 2026, Rijksmuseum Huis van het boek presents the exhibition ‘Apocalypse, Fear and Hope.’ For centuries—especially in times of crisis—writers and artists have tried to imagine the end of the world, but also what the world might look like after it ends. Drawing on centuries-old books from the museum’s collection alongside works by fifteen contemporary artists, the exhibition explores these visions of destruction, fear, and renewal.
Read more
2602 Studio Dewi Huis van het Boek Celine Hurka 14

A New Nature, residency Céline Hurka

National museum Huis van het boek presents the residency 'A New Nature' by typographer Céline Hurka from March 22 through October 25, 2026. In her work, Hurka explores a remarkable parallel: while plant species disappear due to climate change, floral and plant motifs have also vanished from contempotary typography and book design. Historical printed works featured abundant floral decoration, but contemporary typefaces almost completely lack this kind of ornamentation.
Read more

A warm welcome

National museum Huis van het boek is one of the best-kept secrets in The Hague. We are the oldest book museum in the world, housed in a beautiful monumental building just a stone's throw from the Malieveld. Our rare medieval manuscripts and early printed books are among the most important art treasures in the Netherlands. In our historical rooms, we bring history to life. We do this by displaying our centuries-old collection alongside innovative contemporary art. There is always something to do, whether you visit the exhibitions, participate in a workshop, or just come to read a book in our beautiful museum garden. We warmly welcome you!
More about us
Huis van het boek 13 01 2026 TBP 137 2

Free guided tours

Free guided tours of the exhibition “Myths and Possibilities”

Every two weeks our guides take you on a journey past enchanting medieval books and intriguing contemporary artworks. Together we explore works that push the boundaries of reality and create new worlds. Some offer appealing alternatives to our present one, such as Thomas More’s Utopia. Others claim a reality that never truly existed, like travel accounts that reinforced prejudices about distant places—for example, the 15th-century Liber chronicorum by Hartmann Schedel. The artworks by Laure Prouvost, Fiona Lutjenhuis, and Rens Krikhaar also open up new worlds, each with its own fascinating stories. Can—and do—we want to believe in these imagined realities? Or should we approach them with a critical eye?

Lees meer
Maryam

Zondag 15 maart 13.00- 16.00 uur

The Living Poets Society

The Living Poets Society | zondag 15 maart 13.00- 16.00 uur (gratis toegang) Hou jij van poëzie? Treed je wel vaker op met spoken word? Speel jij graag met woorden? Tijdens de Living Poets Society komen we samen en lezen we (vooraf) een bundel door een prominente schrijver. Deze nemen we onder de loep. We dragen gedichten uit de bundel aan elkaar voor, geven een nieuwe vorm aan de woorden die we hebben gelezen door zelf in reactie te schrijven.. We bespreken de bekentenissen, betekenissen, relaties en beeldspraken die voorkomen in de gedichten. Dit schept veel intimiteit, warmte en verbinding. The Living Poets Society is voor iedereen die zich schrijver, spreker en lezer noemt. Op zondag 15 maart staat de bundel ‘Hier ligt de waarheid in overdaad’ van Myriem El Kaddouri centraal. In deze bijeenkomst lezen en bespreken we geselecteerde stukken uit de bundel Hier ligt de waarheid in overdaad van Myriem El Kaddouri. Hosted by Maryam Abdelalim.