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The Louwman Museum houses the world’s oldest private collection of historic cars, coaches, and motorbikes

Located in The Hague, Netherlands, the Louwman Museum is a home of the world’s oldest private collection of historic cars, coaches, and motorbikes, brought together by two generations of the Louwman family.

The museum is housed in an 185,000-square-foot building with three floors and over 107, 600-square-foot of exhibition space. The designer behind the museum building was the American postmodernist architect Michael Graves. The layout of the park which surrounds the building was designed by the landscape architect, Louis Baljon.

Louwman Museum  Photo Credit
Louwman Museum  Photo Credit

 

One of the finest collections of classic cars in the world  Photo Credit
One of the finest collections of classic cars in the world  Photo Credit

 

Alfa Romeo and Bugatti Hall Photo Credit
Alfa Romeo and Bugatti Hall Photo Credit

 

875 Thirion Modèle No.2 Horse-drawn Fire engine  Photo Credit
875 Thirion Modèle No.2 Horse-drawn Fire engine  Photo Credit

 

1884 Dutch Farmers wagon   Photo Credit
1884 Dutch Farmers wagon   Photo Credit

 

1899 Worth Dog Cart   Photo Credit
1899 Worth Dog Cart   Photo Credit

It all started in 1923, when Pieter W. Louwman, the father of the current owner, Evert Louwman, and his former business partner A. Parqui established their company, called Louwman & Parqui, in The Hague.

A year later, Mr. Louwman purchased the first car – a Dodge Model 30 tourer, which is still a proud part of the collection.

Thomas Tilling omnibus   Photo Credit
Thomas Tilling omnibus   Photo Credit

 

1900 Dyon-Bouton Quadricycle   Photo Credit
1900 Dyon-Bouton Quadricycle   Photo Credit

 

1908 Chase Highwheeler Delivery Van    Photo Credit
1908 Chase Highwheeler Delivery Van    Photo Credit

 

1895 Panhard & Levassor Phaeton    Photo Credit
1895 Panhard & Levassor Phaeton    Photo Credit

 

BPK 202, winner at Le Mans in 1935   Photo Credit
BPK 202, winner at Le Mans in 1935   Photo Credit

 

1946 Desoto Custom Series S-11C    Photo Credit
1946 Desoto Custom Series S-11C    Photo Credit

 

1920 Stutz Bearcat    Photo Credit
1920 Stutz Bearcat    Photo Credit

 

1967 Amphicar   Photo Credit
1967 Amphicar   Photo Credit

 

1931 Voisin C23 Myra Saloon   Photo Credit
1931 Voisin C23 Myra Saloon   Photo Credit

 

 

1920 Sygnet ‘The Baby Swan Car’  Photo Credit
1920 Sygnet ‘The Baby Swan Car’  Photo Credit

 

1946 Rapid Swiss Volkswagen  Photo Credit
1946 Rapid Swiss Volkswagen  Photo Credit

 

1941 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Spider Corsa Sperimentale “Balena“  Photo Credit
1941 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Spider Corsa Sperimentale “Balena“  Photo Credit

 

1957 Ferrari 625 New Zealand Tasman  Photo Credit
1957 Ferrari 625 New Zealand Tasman  Photo Credit

 

1903 Spyker 60 H.P. Photo Credit
1903 Spyker 60 H.P. Photo Credit

 

1958 Lloyd LT 600  Photo Credit
1958 Lloyd LT 600  Photo Credit

 

1937 Talbot Lago T150 SS Teardrop Coupé Figoni & Falaschi  Photo Credit
1937 Talbot Lago T150 SS Teardrop Coupé Figoni & Falaschi  Photo Credit

Over the years, the company expanded rapidly, and the number of cars has grown. Today, the collection includes over two hundred and fifty antique and classic automobiles.

In 2010, the museum opened to the public, and it is one of the most beautiful of its kind in the world.

1956 Maserati A6G 2000 Frua Spider   Photo Credit
1956 Maserati A6G 2000 Frua Spider   Photo Credit

 

Aston Martin DB5   Photo Credit
Aston Martin DB5   Photo Credit

The Louwman Museum has a large hall, the Great Hall, a reception hall, workshops for conservation and repair of cars, and several rooms for business meetings.

Read another story from us: The famous Hermitage Museum keeps 74 cats to keep its basements mice-free

The museum features a variety of classic cars, from cars of the Dutch brand Spyker and the only remaining Eysink to 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood, formerly owned by Elvis Presley and Aston Martin DB5 which was used in the James Bond movie Goldfinger.

David Goran

David Goran is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News