The House opens its doors for Heritage Day
Saturday 9th September 2017, the House of Representatvies opens its doors for Heritage Day (Open Monumentendag). Visitors are welcome to see the Old Library and the Chamber of the House.
Old Library
The official reporters of the Parliamentary Reporting Office record the proceedings and debates in parliament verbatim. Volumes of these verbatim reports (Handelingen) are stored in the library of what was the Department of Justice until the late 1970s.
When this Department was built at the end of the 19th century, there was no electricity. Combustible substances, such as candles and gas lamps, had to be kept away from the more than 100,000 volumes. To allow as much light in as possible, the roof was therefore constructed as a leaded glass dome. Although the library is four storeys high, daylight can filter down to the floor thanks to the open cast-iron staircases and balustrades.
Open Monumentendag
During Open Monumentendag – every second weekend of September – thousands of historical buildings and sites (about 4.000) are open to the public free of charge. The House opens some historic sections of its premises:
- The Central Passageway
- The public gallery of the Chamber
- The Chamber
Entrance: Lange Poten 4, no entrance fee
Opening hours: 10 am - 5 pm
Unfortunately, other monuments within the premises of the House, such as the Old Chamber and the King's Gallery, are not open to the public on Heritage Day.