The Gevangenpoort in The Hague is something you pass by when visiting downtown The Hague. But have you ever been inside it? No! Then you should do so soon, because it is definitely worthwhile. After all, the Gevangenpoort has a fascinating and especially bloody history. And recently the museum has been completely renovated making the experience a lot more interactive!

The Prison Gate

The Hague is a city where you can enjoy shopping and culture. This city also has a rich, but also lurid history. If you are in The Hague, it is definitely worth visiting the Gevangenpoort. This medieval prison is a place where criminals were held captive, tortured and sometimes even killed.

The history of the Gevangenpoort

This centuries-old gate was built in 1370, but it only officially became a prison in 1420. Especially people who had committed serious crimes were locked up here. The Gevangenpoort directly overlooks the Buitenhof and the Hofvijver. Behind the gate you will find “De Plaats.” This square also used to be called “Het Groene Zoodje.” This was in fact an execution site, which, because of all the blood that flowed there, was so fertile that even grass grew there.

Suspects were taken to the Prison Gate while awaiting trial. To obtain confessions, there was sometimes considerable torture. Consequently, pre-trial detention was no fun; sometimes as many as 15 prisoners were placed in 1 cell measuring 3 by 3 meters. There was no heating and because there was no glass in front of the windows in those days, it could get freezing cold inside. There was also no lighting so it was pitch black at night. In each cell there was a so-called “poop box” for the prisoners to relieve themselves on. The dirt was dumped in the Hofvijver, where the horses were also washed. Drinking water for the prisoners came straight from that same Court Pond. So even if your life was spared, you were not sure of your life there.

The punishments

After the verdict of the accused, a number of punishments were possible. For example, you could easily get off with a fine, but corporal punishment, scandal punishment (where you were literally made to look like a fool), banishment and the death penalty were also imposed. When a suspect had to be tortured, it was done in the presence of so-called “Sharp Judges.” These were present during the torture to see if the executioner was working according to protocol.

Torture mainly consisted of the tightening of thumb and shovel screws, branding, limb stretching, finger and tongue amputations, not to mention eye spooning (yes, it’s as bad as it sounds). Finally, there was the rack, where the suspect was first beaten four times on arms and legs with a club and finally given a final mercy blow to the heart (with a huge hammer).

Ironically, next to that rack was a kind of collection box into which spectators were to put money. After all, torture was popular entertainment number one. Well, there was no Netflix back then, of course. That money was intended for the prisoner’s widow or was distributed among the poor. So one man’s death was literally another man’s bread.

Famous prisoners in the Prison Gate

In 1618, Council Pensionary Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (pictured) and legal scholar and also writer Hugo de Groot were arrested on suspicion of high treason against Prince Maurice. Johan was sentenced to death on May 13, 1619, and was beheaded at the Binnenhof. Hugo de Groot received a life sentence and was later transferred from the Prison Gate to Slot Loevestein. He later escaped from there spectacularly in a book chest. The Regent Cornelis de Witt was also a famous prisoner of the Gevangenpoort and immediately this is also a jet black page in the history of The Hague.

Cornelis de Wit

Just a little history of the Netherlands from around 1672. At that time the Netherlands was a Republic and was ruled by Regents. There were two movements: the Staatsgezinden (pro Republic) on the one hand, and the Orangists (pro Princes) on the other. Cornelis, and his brother Johan, were State supporters and both Regents. A day before Prince William III was appointed Stadholder, Cornelis received a visit from the shady Willem Tichelaar. Two weeks after this visit, this Willem accused Cornelis of plotting to assassinate Willem III. Willem explained that Cornelis had asked him to brew a poison mixture for the prince because, as a surgeon, he had the knowledge to do so. So Cornelis was lifted from his bed in Dordrecht and taken to the Prison Gate.

The verdict

The year 1672 will go down in Dutch history as a year of disaster. The Republic was at war with both England and France and there was a lot of discontent among the people. On August 8, 1672, a rumor emerged that Regent Cornelis had been released. An angry crowd gathered in front of the Prison Gate. The judges were terrified and placed him at the window. Because Cornelis continued to deny, the “Sharp Law” was applied. Cornelis was tortured for over 3.5 hours, including with the shear bolts, but a confession never came. The verdict on August 20, 1672 was “Banishment and Discharge from Function” without any further explanation.

Lynched by the angry mob

After the judge’s ruling, Johan de Wit fetched his brother from the Prison Gate. Johan was Raadpensionaris of Holland and thus the most influential person. The angry mob had gotten wind of the release and when Johan and Cornelis came out, Johan was immediately shot in the neck. Cornelis was knocked down and when he lifted his head his brain was smashed with a rifle butt. His body was then shot several times and worked with knives.

Both bodies were hung upside down on “Het Groene Zoodje,” and the brothers’ fingers and toes were cut off and taken by bystanders as souvenirs. But that was not all. The genitals of the gentlemen were also cut off and eaten on the spot (!) as well as the flesh of the buttocks. Then they were cut open and the intestines taken out.

Finally, the hearts of both were removed. Several months later, on his deathbed, the executioner, Jan Christiaensz wrote a letter of apology to Cornelis’ widow. After all, he was convinced of his innocence.

The Prison Gate today

From 1420 to 1828, the Gevangenpoort served as a prison, and since 1882 it has been a museum. Because the Hofvijver and Binnenhof are so close by, it is definitely worth a visit. Only a guided tour gets you into the torture chambers and cell blocks, so that’s a must. For the money you do not have to leave it as for € 15.00 you already have a ticket. The museum is just not suitable for children under 8 years old. My only regret is that I was unfortunately unable to take a nice ghost photo.

This blog was created on my own initiative.

Want to read more about exciting haunted museums in the Netherlands, among other things? Then download our e-book for free!