The Museum of the Mind is fascinated by the work of art inside your head. Because nothing is as diverse, unique, powerful and yet so fragile as the human mind. Through its art and cultural programs, the museum helps to bring mental health and neurodiversity into the open.
The Museum of the Mind, European Museum of the Year in 2022, is in a serious financial crisis and is in danger of having to close its doors this month. A new crowdfunding campaign is looking for sponsors – large and small – to prevent closure. Museum of the Mind makes an urgent appeal to the business community, fans and government to provide financial support to keep the doors open. You can donate once or annually via the museum’s website: https://museumvandegeest.nl/steun/.
Museum of the Mind has two locations; one in Haarlem and one in Amsterdam. In Haarlem you can discover more about your own mind and those of others in an interactive way. In Amsterdam you can see exhibitions with outsider art, in which artists show their imaginative inner world. All tickets can be purchased online in advance.
In this historical building, you will get to peek inside the minds of artists, writers and scientists. The museum invites you on an interactive voyage of discovery into your own mind, and those of others.
Museum of the Mind is a museum bursting with personal stories, surprising art and an expansive historical collection, straddling the boundaries between healthcare, art and science. A visit to the museum is an experience focused on the wonder and versatility of the mind. Come visit and allow yourself to wonder about what is normal. Are you normal?
The interactive (audio) tours are available in Dutch and English.
In Museum of the Mind | Haarlem you will also find the art experience Room to Breathe. This unique space invites you to experience art in a conscious and profound way that contributes to your mental health.
On the wall hangs Garden of Earthly Delights by Ria Mul, a work inspired by the famous painting by Hieronymus Bosch. As you explore this colorful work of art, you will be guided by the voice of mindfulness trainer Jolien Posthumus. The audio helps you explore the artwork and space around you using mindfulness and meditation techniques based on scientific research.
Museum of the Mind | Haarlem is situated in a unique medieval building: the former lepers-, plague and madhouse. For years the building lay outside the city walls of Haarlem, sheltering the ‘insane’ and people with contagious diseases such as plague and leprosy.
Go back in time and visit one of the very few remaining isolation chambers in Europe, dating from the 16th century. What does it feel like to be locked away in such a dark and confided space?
Museum of the Mind | Haarlem was rewarded with the European Museum of the Year Award 2022.
From 13 February 2026, Museum of the Mind | Haarlem presents a human and surprising perspective on ageing with the exhibition New Old! The Art of Growing Older. Through remarkable art photographs of both well-known and unknown older people, the museum showcases the diversity, vitality, and resilience of ageing. The exhibition challenges persistent myths about older people as vulnerable and burdensome, and invites visitors to take a fresh look at age.
The Netherlands is ageing rapidly. For the first time, there are more older people than young people living in the country. According to figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), approximately 3.76 million people are aged 65 or older, compared to about 3.72 million people under the age of 20. By 2030, 25% of the population will be over 65. One in three people aged 65 experiences some form of age discrimination, while three-quarters of those over 65 are vital and enterprising and continue to participate fully in society.
Step into the shoes of a real detective and uncover the secrets of the Dolhuys – the historic building that houses the Museum of the Mind | Haarlem – during an exciting and educational treasure hunt.
This interactive quest guides children through special locations in and around the museum: from the old isolation cell to mysterious prints on a wall, and from a pink elephant to a centuries-old leprosy artifact. By observing closely, listening carefully, and daring to explore, children will learn about the history of the building and the hidden stories within its walls.
In Amsterdam, at the monumental H’ART Museum building on the Amstel, we showcase themed exhibitions based on our extensive collection of Outsider Art.
Outsider Art is often made outside the regular art circuit and is rarely given a stage. The works depict the inner world of artists with their personal visions, obsessions and great affections without being concerned with what the world thinks of it. Out of a strong desire, emotions and fascinations are given shape with every thinkable material.
The museum’s growing collection of Outsider Art includes about 1700 works by 120 (inter)national artists. A selection of masterpieces can always be seen at this location.
For the first time in the Netherlands, the works of the popular British illustrator Louis Wain will be exhibited. Wain rose to fame in the late 19th century with his iconic cat paintings. Today, he is credited with playing a significant role in popularizing cats as pets. By the early 20th century, his work was so beloved in England that nearly every household had at least one of his posters on their walls!
Animal Therapy also features works by Marlene Dumas, Jan Hoek and several artist from the Museum van de Geest’s own collection including Ria Mul, Yoshihiro Watanabe, and Dodi Espinosa. Together, these pieces highlight the comfort, inspiration, and companionship that animals bring to our lives.
With Animal Therapy, art, care, and mental health are brought together in a unique exhibition. This showcase explores how animals play a supportive role in human well-being and how this special bond inspires artists to create powerful and emotional works of art. For many, animals are more than companions—they help us break down barriers and find balance. It’s no surprise that animals are increasingly being integrated into healthcare, where they play a crucial role in building resilience and restoring emotional equilibrium.
