Art museums in Friesland

The 18th-century city palace of Maria Louise van Hessen-Kassel, Princess of Orange Nassau, ancestor to King Willem-Alexander, is located at the heart of Leeuwarden’s historic city centre. This building houses the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics. In 1898 Maurits Cornelis Escher, affectionate

The Fries Museum is dedicated to Friesland and its inhabitants. In the museum the story of the countryside and the eleven cities is told, the dealing with water and the search for the typical Frisian. The collection includes contemporary art, archaeological finds, old costumes, the sword of freedom

Museum Belvédère is a museum of modern and contemporary art. The collection mainly consists of 20th century and contemporary works by artists from Northern Netherlands. The museum focusses on the relationship of art with the surrounding nature. The collection includes works by the Dutch painters Jan

The Jopie Huisman Museum is housed in a modern building designed specifically for the collection that is exhibited inside of it. The museum is dedicated to the work and life of the self-taught Dutch painter and draftsman Jopie Huisman (1922-2000). His work is a homage to the simple Frisian peasant l

Museum Joure is housed in ten buildings, including six national monuments. The ten buildings are surrounded by quays and a museum garden. One of the buildings once was the first factory of Dutch coffee manufacturer Douwe Egberts. The building features a coffee, tea and tobacco collection. On the 19t

Museum Drachten illustrates the cultural history of Drachten and exhibits art from the 20th century to the present. The art collection consists of works by artists and movements that are associated with Friesland. The collection includes works by Theo van Doesburg, Thijs Rinsema and Kurt Schwitters.

The Sudergemaal (pumping station) from 1924 was one of the first electric pumping stations in Friesland. The museum pumping station shows how, after the peat extraction, the remaining marshy land could be cultivated. Art exhibitions are regularly organised in the pumping station with works by artist

Museum Martena is located in the most beautiful city castle of Franeker (1506). In the museum, use all your senses to take in the story of the city. Drink a cup of tea in the garden room, feel the luxurious dress of Saepke van Vervou, taste the spices in the show kitchen or admire the many talents o

The Hannemahuis is housed in a monumental patrician house. The regional museum exhibits objects that are related to the history and art history of Harlingen. The collection includes paintings, furniture, photographs, historical documents, maritime objects, silverware and tiles and pottery from Harli

The Pier Pander Museum is located in the Prinsentuin. The museum is dedicated to the Frisian sculptor Pier Pander. The building that houses the museum consists of the museum and a temple. It illustrates the life and life work of Pier Pander. The temple features the marble sculptures Alba, Feeling, T

Museum Tromp's Huys is housed in the oldest building of Vlieland that was built just after 1575. From 1896 it was the residence of the married couple Akersloot. The museum collection consists mainly of paintings, prints, etchings and drawings by Betzy Akersloot-Berg, the former resident. Besides tha

The Ruurd Wiersma Hûs Museum is housed in the former house of Ruurd Wiersma (1904-1980). Ruurd Wiersma was a Dutch painter whose painting style was known as naïve art. The walls and ceiling are completely painted. Each wall depicts one of the four seasons. The bedstead doors, the coal bucket and his

The Nobilis Center for Printmaking is a foundation that focuses on printmaking from the second half of the 20th century with an emphasis on figurative art.