Escher Museum in The Hague

Relativity, mystery and impossible realities at the Escher Museum in The Hague

When you get to The Hague, your guidebook will probably convince you to first visit the Parliament (Binnenhof), impressive and touristy with a fountain polished in gold in the courtyard.

You will also be told to take a walk in the port and on the beaches of the North Sea (no swimming likely because of the chilly temperatures. While at the beach, if you grab a bite to eat while at the beach, look out for seagulls. You don’t want to be on You Tube as part of the funny videos of seagulls steeling the food from people’s hands?).

However, what you might probably not see at first hand in your guidebook and what most people will not tell you to visit is the Escher Museum (the address is Lange Voorhout 74, rather close to the Binnenhof). M.C. Escher was a Dutch mathematician and graphic artist who was passionate about drawing things you could not see in real life, everything through a 3-dimensional perspective leading to intriguing optical illusions. For instance, he drew a castle in which the soldiers appear to be climbing infinitely or landscapes in a globe. You will for sure recognize many of his drawing as you would have seen them before in books, or in articles of optic illusion.

Make sure that once there, you take the entire tour (Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.). At the last floor, there is an interesting room, creating an effect similar to that of Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. For 5 euros, you will take a picture of a valuable optic illusion where you will appear gigantic and your partner smaller than in reality.

Admission: € 7.50 for adults