A short walk from Den Haag Centraal station, the Literatuurmuseum and Kinderboekenmuseum share a building with the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the national library of the Netherlands. The two museums operate under one roof: one traces Dutch-language literature, and the other turns children’s books into rooms that kids can climb through, touch and play in. Families come for the playful hands-on design. Adult readers come for the manuscripts, letters and writers’ stories.
On the children’s side, beloved Dutch picture-book characters such as Dikkie Dik, Kikker, Jip en Janneke and Nijntje (Miffy) appear in walk-in settings built at kid height. Children can dress up, solve word puzzles, play with rhymes and settle into cushioned reading corners stocked with books. Exhibits change regularly and usually target specific age bands, so toddlers and older primary-school kids each get their own spaces. Upstairs, the Literatuurmuseum covers Dutch and Flemish writing from medieval texts to contemporary authors. Its displays draw on original material held in the national collection.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Weekday mornings during school terms are the quietest. Dutch school holidays and rainy weekends bring heavy family traffic. Book timed tickets online in advance, and check the museum’s website for current hours and exhibitions, as opening days can shift outside holiday periods. Most labels are in Dutch, though the visual, tactile design works for non-Dutch speakers. Plan on two to three hours if you want to see both museums. The Malieveld, the Binnenhof and Mauritshuis, and the Haagse Bos park are all within easy walking distance.
