Exhibition
In the former staff quarters, a permanent exhibition tells the story of prison life and the prison system, as well as the German occupation, resistance, and the disruption within families. What choices do people make when lawlessness, oppression, and persecution have a grip on society?
Animated Film
An animated film portrays daily life and shows 24 hours in the Oranjehotel. Impressive stories of prisoners are illustrated with documents, photographs, interviews, films, and objects. Additionally, in a (free) audio tour, you can hear personal stories based on letters, diaries, and memoirs.
Cell 601
At the heart of the prison complex lies Cell 601, one of the death cells on the D-wing. Condemned prisoners spent their final night here. Since the end of the war, Cell 601, along with its original furnishings, has been preserved in its original state. The walls bear the original inscriptions made by the prisoners.
Oranjehotel Junior
What is it like to be locked up because of your actions, opinions, or background? In Oranjehotel Junior, you will hear and experience how the freedom of prisoners at the Oranjehotel was taken away. Oranjehotel Junior is designed for young people, but adults are, of course, welcome. After the introductory film, you enter one of the cells, close the door, take a seat at the table, and press the start button. Each story lasts 9 minutes. Choose a few or do all eight.
Temporary Exhibition: Freedom under Pressure. Political Prisoners, Then and Now
During World War II, the Oranjehotel, the nickname for the Scheveningen prison, functioned as a political prison. Opponents of the Nazi regime were locked up, interrogated, and sentenced here. However, political imprisonment is a phenomenon that has existed throughout history and in all parts of the world. Across the globe, there are places that, like the Oranjehotel, symbolize the existence of lawlessness and dictatorial regimes. In the exhibition “Freedom under Pressure. Political Prisoners, Then and Now,” the museum gives an impression of several political prisons worldwide. The exhibition places the Oranjehotel in context and highlights how former political prisons commemorate the past. From Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin to the headquarters of the State Police in São Paulo.
Until 2009, the cell block was in use as a prison and was never accessible to the public. The complex was left empty, and demolition was even a threat. After years of restoration and renovation, the Oranjehotel was officially opened as a memorial center and museum by King Willem-Alexander in September 2019.