The Torentje

The little tower you see reflected in the Hofvijver is called the Torentje, which simply means "the small tower," and it has been standing here since the early 14th century. First mentioned in 1354, it began its life as a summer retreat for the Counts of Holland, connected by a drawbridge to their private garden on the spot where the Mauritshuis now stands.

Over the centuries, the building quietly reinvented itself. A second floor was added in 1479, complete with arrow slits and battlements. The windows and spire followed in 1547, giving it the silhouette you recognize today. After that, it served as an inn, a wine cellar, and a caretaker's home before finding its political footing in 1798, when the secretary-general of the Ministry of the Interior moved in.

By 1982, under Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers, the Torentje became the official office of the Dutch prime minister. Security was tightened after 2002, and a fence was added around the building. Then in July 2024, the City of The Hague told former Prime Minister Dick Schoof he could no longer use it due to fire safety concerns.

Seven centuries of history, and in the end it was a fire inspector who had the last word.