The Netherlands is famous for having more museums than you would think possible in a country so small in size. There are some 400 museums countrywide, and Amsterdam, with 50 museums of its own, is one of the most exciting art cities in the world.
The Hague? Not so much.
Although scenic and chock-full of important architecture and history, The Hague is known, at least to visitors, more for being a seat of government and finance than a hotbed of fine art.
But in fact, there are several world-class museums in The Hague, one of the most prominent of which is the Gemeentemuseum, which boasts the most comprehensive collection of works by Piet Mondrian in the world.
Now through Jan. 24, an exhibition of works by Cezanne, Picasso and Mondrian at the Gemeentemuseum should help foster The Hague's reputation as an art city and shine a light on the more creative side of this often overlooked destination.
The collection is the first time the works of Cezanne, Picasso and Mondrian have been shown together in a Dutch museum since 1956, and the selection of those three artists was no accident.
Fans of Cezanne's work know that he is considered the father of modern art in general and cubism in particular, and Picasso was widely quoted during his life as having been heavily influenced by him. Mondrian's work, with its bold colors and geometric shapes, is considered to have been inspired by both artists.
The paintings are on loan from international collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Art Museum Basel in Basel, Switzerland.
This exhibition is part of the official program of Holland Art Cities 2009-2010, which showcases great works from 10 major museums in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.
In other cultural news, the Holland Dance Festival is set to transform The Hague into a stage from Oct. 28 to Nov. 15.
The festival, which is marking its 50th anniversary this year, will feature more than 60 performances throughout the city, along with workshops and a parade with 1,200-plus amateur dancers.
Big-name Dutch dancers, including Jiri Kylian and Hans van Manen, will be on hand, as will dancers from the dance academies of Rotterdam, Amsterdam and The Hague.
Visit www.gemeentemuseum.nl, www.hollandartcities.com and www.hollanddancefestival.com.