Civic Guard Gallery

Save
  • Address
    Kalverstraat 92, Centrum
  • Show map Close map
  • Phone
    523 18 22
  • Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sat & Sun 11:00 - 17:00

Let us know if these details are incorrect

Lonely Planet review

A captivating subgenre of Dutch painting, the enormous tableaux, here are exclusively of medieval guards in group portraits. Divisions such as voetboog (large crossbow) and kloveniers (hackbut) protected the city and played a large part in deposing the Spanish government. Technically, every man had to serve in these guard units, although participation in the portraits was voluntary, as each member paid his own way.

The size of the paintings was determined by the wall space in the guardhouses where the portraits were to be hung. Together with the Rijksmuseum's collection, this display is the largest of its kind and definitely not to be missed.