The museum building served as the royal residence for the Princess of Orange, Maria Louise, who was the ancestor of all modern Dutch monarchs.
Graphic artist M.C. Escher was born in the Princessehof building in 1898; a permanent exhibition commemorates his birthplace.
The collection contains significant examples of the 'Kraak' porcelain, which was highly valued in the Dutch Golden Age.
The Princessehof possesses one of the largest collections of Chinese porcelain in the Netherlands.
The museum garden features a collection of historic plants and a layout reflecting 18th-century palace design.
The institution focuses on the dialogue between historical ceramic techniques and contemporary industrial design.
Ceramics Museum Princessehof is housed in the former 18th-century city palace of Maria Louise of Hesse-Kassel, the Princess of Orange. The museum holds one of the most comprehensive collections of ceramics in the Netherlands, ranging from Asian porcelain to contemporary European pottery. It features significant displays of 17th-century Chinese porcelain and Art Nouveau ceramics. The palace itself preserves original period rooms, including an 18th-century garden room. M.C. Escher, the world-famous graphic artist, was born in this building in 1898. The museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions that juxtapose historical artifacts with modern ceramic art. It serves as a center for ceramic research and artistic innovation.
The restored 18th-century garden room with its ornate wall paintings and historical fireplace.
Check the permanent Escher room first, as it offers historical context for the building before exploring the ceramics.
Visit the garden room to see preserved 18th-century wall paintings and interior architecture.
Look for the museum's rotating exhibitions on the upper floors, which often feature experimental ceramic installations.
Do not overlook the period rooms on the ground floor, as many visitors focus exclusively on the display cases in the upper galleries.
Closed on Mondays.
