Prison Gate Museum

The Prison Gate Museum is the former prison of the Court of Holland. Beginning in 1428, and continuing throughout its 400 year history, it housed famous and not so famous criminals. It had a reputation as a place of misery, where prisoners were regularly punished in the torture chamber and locked up in dreary dark and frigid cells, awaiting questioning and trial.
Visitors to the medieval building can see the Museum’s collection of punishment and torture devices. Some rooms can be visited independently when visiting the Prison Gate Museum, but others, such as the cell complex, can only be seen when on a guided tour.  During the tour, visitors learn about life in prison, escapes, more famous residents and the brutal punishments. Because of the gruesome nature of the history, the Prison Gate Museum is not recommended for children under the age of 9.

Practical Info

On weekdays, tours run every hour starting at 10:45 a.m., and on weekends they start at 12:45 p.m. An English-language tour takes place every Sunday afternoon, as well as daily in the summer. No reservations are needed, and the museum is closed on Mondays.