The Hague shines - new Spiegelfestival graces Museum Quarter The Hague
10 January 2025
The Museum Quarter of The Hague ushers in the new year with a dazzling spectacle, where mirrors transform public space as part of the new Spiegelfestival. Artists and designers from home and abroad will bring a unique shine to the historic center around the Hofvijver with various reflective creations.
For more than six weeks, from Saturday, Jan. 18, through Sunday, March 2, the works will be on free display in public spaces, with a life-size mirror pavilion on Lange Voorhout as the eye-catcher. The Spiegelfestival not only graces the city, it invites visitors for a moment of reflection, connection and interaction.
Walking route
Works will be found throughout the Museum Quarter, on the Lange Voorhout, the Buitenhof, floating on the Hofvijver, on the Lange Vijverberg and in the Grote Marktstraat. All the works together form a walking route through the center, which can be found at denhaag.com.
“Expect the unexpected,” says Mary Hessing, curator of the Spiegelfestival on behalf of The Hague & Partners. “The Spiegelfestival offers a stunning walk past challenging art installations in the Museum Quarter and reflective decorations in the downtown area.”
Infinite Reflections
On the Lange Voorhout, on the Kneuterdijk side, a mirrored pavilion will rise, constructed from a circle of mirrored, stainless steel panels. It was created by Danish design firm Urgent.Agency and previously stood in Copenhagen.
The work, Reflections in Common, not only reflects the stately architecture in its surroundings, but also engages in a dialogue with passersby who can discover the natural elements inside.
Mirror Rain
At the Buitenhof, the green character of The Hague is highlighted. The monumental trees that stand here, dozens of lime trees, acacias and elms, will be wrapped with reflective fringes during the Spiegelfestival. These are inspired by the work White Rain, in which Hyman & Herrero (New York/Los Angeles) decorated the palm trees of Miami, Florida.
Stranded
The Royal Theatre is also being dressed up. The building, which dates from the 18th century, originally served as a city palace and became a theater in 1802.
The characteristic semicircular facade is now being festively decorated with two giant, mirrored bows by The Citydressers, known for a whole body of iconic bows in Amsterdam for venues such as Hoppe and The Collection.
Lines
At Lange Vijverberg will be an installation by Hague artist Marleen Sleeuwits in which she explores the limits of perspective. For Enter The Cube, a reflective artwork, she was inspired by American artist Sol LeWitt. He created the relief on the side wall of the Fotomuseum Den Haag, in which he plays with the lines of a cube.
In addition to the installation on Lange Vijverberg, Sleeuwits has the solo exhibition Enter the Cube at the Fotomuseum Den Haag (January 18 through May 5), which opens simultaneously with the Spiegelfestival.
Spiegelfestival
The Spiegelfestival, to be experienced from Jan. 18 through March 2, is part of BinnenhofBuiten, a project of The Hague & Partners in which events and art exhibitions in the Museumkwartier The Hague are being developed during the renovation of the Binnenhof.