Mauritshuis, Former hunting lodge in Willemstad, Netherlands
Mauritshuis is a former hunting lodge in Willemstad featuring Dutch Renaissance architecture with distinctive stepped gables and a two-story structure overlooking the Hollands Diep waterway. The brick building displays symmetrical window arrangements and decorative details typical of its period.
Prince Maurits of Orange commissioned this retreat in 1623, hiring master carpenter Willem Arentssen van Salen from The Hague for its construction. The building was created during an era when such country estates served as important retreats for the Orange family.
The building houses exhibitions by the historical society featuring collections about past living conditions and rotating displays in the Governors Room.
The building is open to visitors from Tuesday to Friday, with visiting hours varying between seasons to accommodate different daylight patterns. During summer months visits run from 10:00 to 17:00, while winter season operates with shorter daily hours.
The attic of Mauritshuis served as a national postal pigeon station during World War I while part of the building functioned as a military hospital. This dual purpose during wartime shows how the building adapted to serve important communication and medical needs.
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