About Museum de Gevangenpoort

Museum de Gevangenpoort is an icon in The Hague, beautifully situated on the Hofvijver. In the 13th century, this building was the imposing gateway to the Binnenhof. A few centuries later it became a prison and court building for the mighty Hof van Holland. Here suspected criminals awaited trial and defaulters were locked up. Today, the Prison Gate Museum tells the exciting story of crime and punishment in times gone by.

Discover how people used to be incarcerated, tried and punished:
Here you can see and experience how people were imprisoned, tried and punished in earlier times. Which cells were they trapped in? Was there a difference between poor and rich prisoners? Where did they get their verdict? And what punishments were given? You will hear all about it during a tour with our guide. Some important moments in Dutch history took place here, such as the murder of the De Witt brothers. You can also view the national collection of torture and punishment instruments in the museum.