During World War II, the Oranjehotel — the nickname for the Scheveningen prison — served as a political prison. Opponents of the Nazi regime were imprisoned, interrogated, and sentenced here. But political imprisonment is not limited to one time or place. All over the world, there are places that, like the Oranjehotel, symbolize the existence of lawlessness and dictatorial regimes.
The exhibition “Freedom Under Pressure – Political Prisoners, Then and Now” offers an impression of several political prisons around the world. It puts the Oranjehotel into a broader context and highlights how former political prisons commemorate the past — from Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin to the State Police headquarters in São Paulo.
This exhibition is part of the 80 Years of Freedom commemorations — a year in which we celebrate the end of World War II and the continued existence of democracy in the Netherlands. The exhibition is made possible with financial support from vfonds and will run until December 2025.
More exhibitions in The Hague on 80 Years of Freedom
To mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, the Mauritshuis, RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History, Museum Beelden aan Zee, and NM Oranjehotel are each presenting special exhibitions on the theme of freedom.