Centrum in Den Haag, South Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Gevangenpoort
⎯⎯⎯
Captivity Gate

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 8, 2023

1. Gevangenpoort / Captivity Gate Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Dit gebouw was oorspronkelijk een van de toegangspoorten tot het Grafelijk Slot. Deze Voorpoort van den Hove stamt uit de 14de eeuw. Het is van circa 1420 tot 1828 gebruikt als gevangenis, waar bekende Nederlanders, zoals Cornelis de Witt, gevangen hebben gezeten. In 1853 werd het gebouw op de lijst van Historische Monumenten geplaatst waarna het in 1882 de bestemming van Rijksmuseum kreeg. De verzameling bevat onder andere strafen folterwerktuigen.

This building was originally one of the gatehouses of the the Castle of the Counts of Holland and dates from the 14th century. It was used as a prison from about 1420 to 1828 and various prominent figures in Dutch history were incarcerated here. One of them was Cornelis de Witt, a leader of the republican faction in the 17th century. In 1853 the building was designated an historic monument and became a national museum in 1882. Its collection includes a number of instruments of torture and implements used for administering corporal punishment.

Erected by The ANWB.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1420.

Location. 52° 4.778′ N, 4° 18.62′ E. Marker is in Den Haag, Zuid-Holland (South Holland). It is in Centrum. It is on Buitenhof,

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on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Buitenhof 33, Den Haag, Zuid-Holland 2513 AH, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Benelux Low Countries,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire

and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Diplomatieke Missie van Oekraïne / Diplomatic Mission of Ukraine (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Johan de Witt-Huis / Johan de Witt House (about 120 meters away); Gysbert Karel van Hogendorp (about 120 meters away); Lange Voorhout 1 (about 180 meters away); Lange Voorhout 3 (about 180 meters away); Koning Willem II / King William II (about 210 meters away); Paleis Kneuterdijk / Palace Kneuterdijk (about 210 meters away); General Headquarters of Supreme Commander General Winkelman (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Den Haag.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Gevangenpoort (Wikipedia).

On its use as a prison: From 1420 until 1828, the prison was used for housing people
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 8, 2023

2. Gevangenpoort / Captivity Gate Marker - wide view, looking north
The marker is visible here just to the left of the gateway.
who had committed serious crimes while they awaited sentencing.

Its most famous prisoner was Cornelis de Witt, who was held on the charge of plotting the murder of the stadtholder. He was lynched together with his brother Johan on 20 August 1672 on the square in front of the building called groene zoodje after the grass mat used for the scaffold. When public executions went out of fashion the area was used to build the "Witte Society", a literature club that still exists today, but had to move when the street was built in 1923.

In 1882, the Gevangenpoort became a prison museum. The "gate" function was lost in 1923 when the houses adjoining the Hofvijver were taken down to build the street that now allows busy traffic, including trams.

(Submitted on May 25, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.)

Gevangenpoort (Prison Gate) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.G. Happel, ‘s Gravenhage, circa 1910

3. Gevangenpoort (Prison Gate)

Taken from roughly the same perspective as that in Photo 2, with the notable difference of the presence of the buildings on the right, which were removed in order to put a road through in the 1920’s.

<i>De Gevangenpoort te Den Haag</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Johannes Adrianus van der Drift (Via Wikimedia Commons), circa 1825

4. De Gevangenpoort te Den Haag

The same perspective as Photos 2 and 3, but painted two centuries ago.

Gevangenpoort / Captivity Gate and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 8, 2023

5. Gevangenpoort / Captivity Gate and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 140 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 25, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.

Gevangenpoort⎯⎯⎯Captivity Gate

Gevangenpoort
⎯⎯⎯
Captivity Gate