MISSION AND VISION

Purpose

As a city museum of Leiden, we want to help build the open and creative character of our area by using art and history, to give space to stories large and small.

Vision

As a museum, we feel connected to our urban environment and are at the center of the world. We believe in the power of art, the special spatial experience in our museum building, the encounter with the real object and the rich stories our collection holds.

Mission

We believe it is important to preserve our premier collection of ancient and contemporary artworks and objects as best we can for future generations. From this collection we create a program that provides space for discovery, curiosity and reflection for the widest possible audience. In it we bring worlds together - different perspectives, people, times and stories. We focus on the themes of yesterday and tomorrow. In this way we contribute to an active and valuable dialogue of imagination, enriching and broadening the view.

Profile

Museum De Lakenhal is the visual arts, history and crafts museum of the city of Leiden. The museum is housed in the former Leiden Cloth Hall, a building that dates back to 1640. The collection includes highlights by old masters such as Lucas van Leyden, Rembrandt van Rijn and Jan Steen, alongside works by modern and contemporary artists such as Theo van Doesburg, Charley Toorop and Erwin Olaf. Leiden's illustrious past is covered in collection presentations such as The Siege and Relief of Leiden (1574) and Seven Centuries of Leiden Cloth.