Prison Gate

The Gevangenpoort, the Prison Gate, stands in the old centre of The Hague, a short walk from the Binnenhof, the seat of Dutch government. It began as a gate in the medieval town defences, built in the fourteenth century, and from the fifteenth century it was used as a prison. For several hundred years it held people awaiting trial, as well as debtors and those serving sentences, and it served as the principal jail of the town and the court of Holland. Today the building is a museum that tells the story of crime and punishment in the Netherlands.

The most famous event linked to the gate took place in 1672, known in Dutch history as the disaster year. During a time of crisis, when the Republic was attacked by France and its allies, the brothers Johan and Cornelis de Witt, leading statesmen of the country, were turned on by their political enemies. Cornelis was held in the Gevangenpoort on charges of plotting against the stadtholder, and was tortured, and Johan came to visit him. A mob gathered outside, broke in and lynched both men, a shocking event that has been remembered ever since. The prison cell where Cornelis was held can be seen.

The museum takes visitors through the building with an audio guide or a guided tour. Cells for prisoners of different classes, from wealthy gentlemen who could pay for better conditions to ordinary criminals, show how rank affected treatment. The interrogation room and the instruments of torture, which were used to extract confessions before the practice was abolished, are on display, along with items relating to punishments, executions and the legal system. Stories of individual prisoners, including famous escapes, bring the history to life, and the exhibitions explain the development of justice over the centuries. The subject is grim, and parents should consider the age of children.

The gate is in the middle of The Hague's historic centre, with the Binnenhof, the Mauritshuis and the Buitenhof nearby. The museum suits history lovers, families with older children and anyone interested in the history of law. A visit takes about an hour, and guided tours are offered at set times, some in English. Check the opening times and ticket information before going, since they vary through the year, and note that the stairs are steep and narrow.