Highlighting without visible interventions — this was the challenge for the Museum Quarter in The Hague, an area in the city centre where various museum functions, prestigious offices for national and international users, and high-end residential spaces are combined within beautiful, historic buildings. To increase the area’s visibility and extend visitor stays, a vision was developed that includes several physical and spatial interventions. A key component of this vision is the creation of a lighting plan to enhance the evening experience and encourage longer, more pleasant visits. From the start, all stakeholders understood that any spatial intervention or addition in an area with such significant historical, cultural, architectural, and landscape value must be carried out with great care and consideration.
Urban Context and History
To understand the foundation of this project, it is important to consider the urban context and history of the area. The Hague is internationally known as the ‘City of Peace and Justice,’ home to the Peace Palace — the second main seat of the United Nations — and several international courts, as well as the political heart of the Netherlands, housing the Dutch National Parliament (Senate and House of Representatives).
In the 13th century, the Counts of Holland built the ‘Ridderzaal’, the reception hall of a castle in the dunes. Over the centuries, this complex expanded and evolved into the Binnenhof, the administrative centre of the Netherlands. This medieval court attracted not only nobility but also craftsmen, merchants, and sailors, giving rise to the village of ‘Die Haghe,’ now known as The Hague.
The nobility and upper class soon settled northwest of the Hofvijver, particularly around the Lange Voorhout. In the 16th century, emperor Charles V ordered four rows of linden trees (Tilia) to be planted, giving the Lange Voorhout its stately appearance. This tree structure and the charm of the leafy canopy have always been appreciated and preserved, making the Lange Voorhout a beloved and distinguished location in The Hague’s city centre.
The cultural, historical, and architectural values that have defined the area for centuries were taken as the starting point
During the so-called ‘Golden Age’ (17th century), the Lange Voorhout became a meeting place for The Hague’s elite. It was a place to stroll and socialise, and the area became a social hub. Many smaller buildings were demolished and replaced with grand residences. As a result, the area still retains a historic character, with prominent buildings such as large townhouses, small city palaces, and the Kloosterkerk.
Today, alongside offices, diplomatic organisations, and residences, the area is home to many cultural institutions — theatres and the Royal Opera, galleries, and several museums such as Escher in the Palace, the Mauritshuis, and the Hague Historical Museum. Because this area offers a compelling mix of art, culture, and history, it has for several years been referred to by the municipality and local stakeholders as the Museum Quarter.
Assignment
To more clearly define the Museum Quarter, strengthen its identity as a cultural district, and raise its profile among residents and visitors of The Hague, several initiatives have been undertaken in recent years. These include intensified organisational collaboration and expanded programming of art and culture in public spaces. Physical interventions have also been made in the public realm. More benches have been installed to encourage people to linger, and a route has been marked using paving elements that resemble modern interpretations of wax seals, enhancing wayfinding. Integrated QR codes provide virtual information about buildings and the area.
To extend the duration of visits and offer residents and visitors a comfortable experience during evening hours, the municipality initiated the development of a lighting plan for the area. Responding to this challenge, the Department of Economy, in collaboration with the Department of Urban Planning, led efforts to enhance the district’s appeal, opting for a unique approach. Initially, the assignment focused on illuminating only a few monumental buildings. Naturally, the cultural, historical, and architectural values that have defined the area for centuries were taken as the starting point. It was also stipulated that no additional lighting objects or fixtures could be added to the stately public space of the Lange Voorhout; tranquillity and clarity in the public realm were paramount.
In consultation with the design firm Studio DL and their vision for the project, a holistic approach to lighting the area was adopted, resulting in a city district that is illuminated in a fitting, understated, and cohesive manner.
Vision and Lighting Plan
The potential of light is not always fully utilised in public space design. Often approached from a technical or functional perspective, lighting in The Hague’s Museum Quarter — the area around the Hofvijver and Lange Voorhout — was treated differently. Here, lighting was added as a full-fledged design layer to the existing urban fabric. The goal was to highlight the character of the historic buildings and the valuable public space, thereby enhancing the overall museum-like atmosphere.
The lighting plan was developed from concept to detail by design firm Studio DL in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague. In addition to urban and architectural considerations, ecological aspects were also carefully addressed. To avoid disturbing wildlife, low lighting levels and warm colour temperatures were used.
A special lighting module was therefore developed and integrated into the existing classic fixtures and lamp posts
The lighting plan consists of three ‘layers’:
1. A uniform lighting veil on façades, intended to create a cohesive spatial experience — a base level. To achieve this, the brightness of some overly lit buildings and areas was significantly reduced, resulting in a more balanced lighting image. This made all buildings more visible and allowed the facades to collectively serve as a visual frame for the public space.
2. Selective illumination of monumental buildings: Since nearly all buildings in the area are architectural gems with heritage value, the urban structure and composition were analysed to highlight buildings that enhance the understanding and strength of the urban fabric — at corners, along sightlines, and as visual anchors. For example, the Palace centrally located on the axis of the Lange Voorhout. Some buildings, like the Kloosterkerk, are even lit from within, allowing their majestic stained-glass windows to contribute to the cityscape.
3. Illumination of defining public space elements, such as statues, trees, and the old water pump. Each object was carefully studied to determine how best to highlight it without disrupting or dominating the overall lighting image. Special attention was given to the trees. By day, they already present a monumental image, but at night, their softly lit canopies evoke the vaults of a Gothic cathedral.
Bottom: Bespoke illumination of the Kloosterkerk
Technology
To preserve the quality of the existing public space, it was decided that no additional objects or poles would be added. A special lighting module was therefore developed and integrated into the existing classic fixtures and lamp posts. This allowed the public lighting to be upgraded with modern, sustainable, dimmable LED technology while maintaining the historical appearance of the fixtures and keeping the number of lamp posts unchanged.
The LED modules were designed to deliver highly focused light beams within the constraints of the classic fixtures. This results in a subtle lighting effect that illuminates only where needed, without glare or light pollution — a technically refined solution that blends discreetly into the streetscape while clearly enhancing the quality and experience of the public space.
Through extensive testing — both digitally and on-site with various fixture types in temporary setups — the final implementation and desired lighting levels were determined. This process helped convince stakeholders and the municipal quality committee of the intervention’s added value. The project’s success would not have been possible without the co-operation of residents and property owners, whose involvement was essential in realising this lighting scheme for their neighbourhood.
By dimming the lighting to a subtle level, the lighting plan avoids the look of standard street lighting and instead evokes the illusion of a bright moonlit night. Without conspicuous visible interventions, the plan successfully highlights the area’s character and ‘sense of place.’
The lighting plan for the Museum Quarter was featured in the 2024 Yearbook of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design in the Netherlands. The jury praised the project, stating: “With utmost precision and a keen sense of space and atmosphere, existing elements and structures have been enhanced, adding a valuable layer to the already elegant cityscape.”
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