Museum Voorlinden — Attraction in Wassenaar

Museum Voorlinden in Wassenaar continues to captivate visitors with its dynamic blend of contemporary art exhibitions and serene natural surroundings. As of March 2025, the museum presents an array of thought-provoking exhibitions that seamlessly intertwine diverse artistic expressions.

Simone Post – Sweet Memories 5 April – 31 August 2025 Prepare to be transported into a whimsical world crafted entirely from sweets. Designer Simone Post has created an immersive installation where confections are transformed into art, evoking nostalgia and delight. This multisensory experience invites visitors to explore the boundaries between art and indulgence.

I ❤️ New Work 5 April – 7 September 2025 This collection exhibition serves as an invitation to fall in love with artworks yet to be discovered. Showcasing recent acquisitions and pieces making their debut, “I ❤️ New Work” celebrates the museum’s commitment to contemporary art and offers fresh perspectives to its audience.

The Life of Things 25 January – 2 November 2025 Delving into our complex relationship with objects, this exhibition features works by artists such as Ibrahim Mahama, Anouk Kruithof, Hans Op de Beeck, Ai Weiwei, Oliver Beer, Evelyn Taocheng Wang, and Edmund de Waal. “The Life of Things” prompts reflection on how we create, collect, cherish, and discard items, revealing insights about ourselves in the process.

Stéphane Thidet – untitled (Le refuge) 22 March – 31 August 2025 In this evocative installation, Stéphane Thidet challenges the notion of shelter. A cabin, typically a place of refuge, becomes a site where rain pours down inside, blurring the lines between comfort and exposure. This piece invites contemplation on the unpredictability of nature and the human quest for safety.

Jacco Olivier – Revolution 19 March – 31 August 2025 Jacco Olivier animates static painting with “Revolution,” a hypnotic panorama teeming with floating stars, spinning planets, and spiraling galaxies. This animated work offers a mesmerizing journey through a cosmic landscape, blending art and motion seamlessly.

Highlights – Permanent Collection In addition to its rotating exhibitions, Museum Voorlinden houses permanent highlights that have become visitor favorites. Notable works include: • Leandro Erlich’s “Swimming Pool”: An installation that creates the illusion of a real swimming pool, allowing visitors to experience the space both from above and below the water’s surface.  • Ron Mueck’s “Couple under an Umbrella”: A hyper-realistic sculpture depicting an elderly couple, inviting introspection on human relationships and aging. • Richard Serra’s “Open Ended”: A monumental corten steel sculpture forming a labyrinthine path, encouraging exploration and interaction.

These enduring pieces exemplify the museum’s dedication to showcasing art that engages and inspires.

Final Thoughts Museum Voorlinden offers a harmonious blend of contemporary exhibitions and timeless works, set within a tranquil landscape. Each visit promises new discoveries and a deeper appreciation for the interplay between art, nature, and human experience.

Rating: ★★★★★ Highlights: Innovative exhibitions, immersive installations, serene surroundings. Perfect for: Art enthusiasts, families, and those seeking a reflective cultural experience. Location: Museum...

Voorlinden is a private museum located in Wassenaar, near The Hague in the Netherlands. It was founded by businessman and art collector Joop van Caldenborgh in 2016. The museum is situated on a beautiful estate in the dunes, providing a picturesque setting for the display of modern and contemporary art.

The museum building itself is designed to enhance the art viewing experience. It is an oblong-shaped structure made of variegated dune sand-colored natural stones and transparent glass walls, allowing the surrounding nature to blend with the interior.

The building features an elegant white-steel colonnade and a unique roof structure. The interior is divided into three sections, corresponding to the museum's program of collection presentations, changing exhibitions, and permanent in-situ works. The exhibition rooms are illuminated by natural daylight, which enters the building through ingeniously cut tubes, creating a gradual and dynamic lighting effect. To ensure optimal illumination on less sunny days and evenings, a velum and transparent glass roof with integrated LED lighting is used.

Museum Voorlinden houses several permanent artworks. Some of these are incorporated into the building itself, such as the Skyspace by James Turrell and the corten steel sculpture Open Ended by Richard Serra. The museum also features works by Maurizio Cattelan, including a permanent installation, as well as the illusionistic Swimming Pool by Leandro Erlich.

Additionally, semi-permanent displays include the hyper-realistic Couple under an Umbrella by Ron Mueck and glass sculptures by Roni Horn. Each artwork is presented in its own separate gallery, allowing visitors to fully appreciate them.

The Voorlinden Estate has a rich history dating back to Roman times. The name Voorlinden originated in 1584, and during the 17th century, several country estates were established around The Hague, including Voorlinden. In the early 19th century, a park was designed in landscape style by J.D. Zocher and his son. Later, architect R.J. Johnston built the current country house based on the English stately house style, commissioned by Esquire Ir. Hugo Loudon. Landscape architect Leonard Springer redesigned the landscape during the same period, incorporating indigenous and exotic tree species. For the opening of Museum Voorlinden, landscape and garden architect Piet Oudolf was tasked with designing the area surrounding the new building, resulting in a unique blend of 19th-century, 20th-century, and 21st-century landscapes.

Visitors to the estate can enjoy the freely accessible woods, dune meadow, and dune areas by following designated footpaths. However, due to the presence of wildlife and birds, dogs are required to be kept on a leash.

Museum Voorlinden Buurtweg 90 2244 AG...

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting a gorgeous museum, where I explored the extraordinary Ron Mueck exhibition. His sculptures are absolutely impressive—massive in scale, yet so meticulously detailed that every feature, down to the hairs on the man’s arms, appeared strikingly real. What makes Mueck's work so unique is how deeply it is rooted in real-life situations, capturing human emotion and physicality with a haunting realism.

In the auditorium, there was an intriguing film that offered a glimpse into Mueck's creative process. The film had no narration—just the ambient sounds of his tools and the birds outside. It was almost meditative, drawing you into the stillness of his work environment.

Another captivating part of the exhibition was Cloudwalker, a mesmerizing film projected onto the entire wall of the room. It portrayed a man walking on clouds while suspended from a hot air balloon. The silence was profound, with no narration—only the soft sounds of gas inflating the balloon. As he slowly descended, he occasionally played his mouth harmonica, adding to the haunting atmosphere. The scene unfolded over a stunning mountainous landscape, reminiscent of the French countryside. The sense of height and the surreal nature of the film made it truly mind-blowing. This museum visit was more than just a viewing—it was an immersive experience that left me in awe of Mueck's incredible artistry. I highly recommend this...