The History of Lange Voorhout 1
It’s no secret, of course, that the beautiful Lange Voorhout—where both our current and our new offices are located—has a rich history. But many of you may not yet know that Lange Voorhout 1 also has a history with a unique story behind it.
It all began around 1900 when Helene Kröller-Müller (of the now-famous Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo) moved from Rotterdam to The Hague with her family. Her husband, Anton Kröller, wanted to expand his trading and transportation company and knew that strong ties with politicians and diplomats would make that possible. He therefore established his headquarters in the building at Lange Voorhout 3, and his business flourished.
Helene Kröller-Müller's Passion
During that time, his wife Helene developed a passion for art by taking art appreciation courses and visiting art galleries and auctions. With the proceeds from their successful business, Helene was able to build a vast collection featuring works by great artists such as Van Gogh, Picasso, and Mondrian. In 1913, the couple purchased the building next to the headquarters of their trading and transportation company, located at Lange Voorhout 1. Helene then converted it into her first museum to house her growing art collection. It was open to the public on Mondays and Fridays.
Apart from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Kröller-Müller Museum has the largest collection of Van Goghs in the world. Without Helene Kröller-Müller (1869–1939), the art collection and the museum would never have come into being.
