Museum de Gevangenpoort

The Gevangenpoort was once the gatehouse of the counts' court. From the fifteenth century onwards it served as a prison, and it kept that job until 1828.

Inside you can see how unequal imprisonment was. Anyone with money rented a room with a fireplace, furniture and food brought in from outside, and could receive visitors. Anyone without ended up in a shared space with no daylight, living on whatever passers-by dropped through a hatch. What you could pay decided how hard your sentence turned out.

The instruments are still laid out in the torture chamber. Confessions were forced here, and the judge heard what had been said only afterwards.

In August 1672 Cornelis de Witt was held here, accused of plotting against the prince. A crowd dragged him and his brother Johan outside, to the execution ground across the street known as the Groene Zoodje.

The gate still looks out on that spot, with the Hofvijver just behind it.

Afterwards you can head into the city with one of our walks through The Hague.