Museum Bredius, Hague

Museum Bredius, located on the Lange Vijverberg in The Hague, is a testament to the rich cultural heritage and the personal legacy of Abraham Bredius. This unique museum, named after Bredius, a renowned art historian and Rembrandt expert, is housed in a striking 18th-century Herenhuis. The building itself, designed by architect Pieter de Swart in 1755, is part of a trio of houses that have historically housed notable individuals.

The Bredius collection was initially housed in his Amsterdam residence until 1985. The Bredius Society, formed by the museum's supporters, successfully took the collection on tour, eventually gathering enough funds to reopen in a permanent location. Unable to return to the original house, the collection found its new home in The Hague in 1990, thanks to a generous donation that facilitated the restoration of the current location in the original Louis XV style.

The museum's collection is a veritable treasure trove of over 150 artists, showcasing works from Aelbert Cuyp, Anthony van Dyck, Melchior de Hondecoeter, Adriaen van Ostade, Quiringh van Brekelenkam, and notably, Rembrandt. Bredius was selective, focusing on academically significant pieces such as the sole landscape by seascape painter Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen and a unique, altered work by Jan Steen.

Apart from paintings and etchings, Museum Bredius boasts an impressive collection of silverware, featuring 70 pieces by Amsterdam silversmiths spanning from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Complementing this are the porcelain collections, which include Chinese blue and German pieces, providing a contrast to the historical themes present in Delftware.