Dutch History in ‘Power – 800 Years of the Binnenhof’
*Please note: both the Binnenhof and The Hague Historical Museum are currently undergoing renovation.
Where once the marksmen of the St. Sebastian’s Guild assembled, now stands The Hague Historical Museum. Situated on the Korte Vijverberg, overlooking the Hofvijver and the Binnenhof, the museum offers a window into the rich history of the political heart of the Netherlands.
To coincide with the renovation of the Binnenhof, the museum opened the exhibition Power – 800 Years of the Binnenhof in 2021. A highly fitting location, given that the museum quite literally neighbours the Binnenhof complex. The exhibition is divided across four rooms, each exploring a different theme: the buildings themselves, the political struggles, the allure of power, and the pageantry that comes with it.
Lighting design and consultancy firm 50LUX was commissioned to create the lighting design for this historical exhibition. They were brought on board early by Perspekt from Haarlem, a regular partner of theirs. 50LUX specialises in exhibition lighting. Frank Hulsebosch of 50LUX explains: “We approach each exhibition from both an artistic and practical angle. We start by looking at the content and layout of the exhibition – that gives us the first sparks of inspiration.
Then we discuss the goals and expectations with the designers and clients, particularly regarding the desired mood and visual impact. From there, we dive into the collection itself – it’s essential to know what limitations we’re working with. For example, we need to know the maximum lux levels permitted for individual items to create a well-balanced lighting plan.”
In parallel with this conceptual process, they also consider the technical side: “We assess what’s possible with the materials at hand. Our philosophy is always to get the job done using the resources available. We review the designers’ drawings to ensure everything can be lit from the existing lighting rails, and whether we have enough fixtures in stock.”
For Power – 800 Years of the Binnenhof, it soon became clear that the existing lighting setup wouldn’t meet the necessary standards or functionality. The current halogen spotlights – over 30 years old and well past their prime – had to be replaced. The exhibition required both large and small zoom spots: powerful (2,000lm) spots for the high-ceilinged main halls, and small spots for delicate objects, restricted to 50 lux. “As so often happens,” says Frank, “there was a budget issue – not enough to replace all the halogen spots with new LED fixtures. Thankfully, the FriendsLottery stepped in to help!”
The team opted for CLS fixtures, supplied by Lichtpunt in Groningen, chosen for their excellent price-to-quality ratio. Frank elaborates: “We know the market well and are familiar with what different manufacturers offer. The good quality at a fair price was decisive. Their product range included both the large and small spots we needed, and we ended up selecting from the Jade and Focus Series. The Jade Zoom, for instance, is ideal for highlighting collection items thanks to its adjustable beam angle. We can fine-tune the Focus with great precision. The Focus HP Track does the same job for small, fragile objects. For the general circulation areas, we used the Jade Expo. A zoom lens isn’t necessary in those zones, so this budget-friendly model was a logical choice – as mentioned, budget is always a consideration.”
All fixtures were mounted on existing and newly added 3-phase track systems. Frank explains: “The amount of track and where it’s located is always a factor. For Power – 800 Years of the Binnenhof, we were able to reconfigure the existing tracks, adjust positions, and add new sections. This was possible because it’s a permanent installation. We always try to make use of what’s already there. Track lighting is flexible and efficient.” For control, they primarily used Local Dim, as adjusting brightness with the fixture’s own potentiometer proved the fastest and most convenient method for the designers. Some spots were also connected via Wireless DMX, particularly those synchronised with video presentations.
Power – 800 Years of the Binnenhof is not the only exhibition that 50LUX has had the opportunity to light, and their choice of fixtures has been adapted accordingly: “For rotating exhibitions, versatile fixtures are essential. Fixtures with a zoom lens provide the flexibility we need – both the Jade and the Focus series offer this. We also make extensive use of the available accessories for the Jade Zoom. Filters and barndoors make this fixture even more adaptable. The Local Dim function allows for quick and easy control, which is a real advantage.”
Following Power – 800 Years of the Binnenhof, 50LUX contributed to several temporary exhibitions, during which they built a strong working relationship with the museum staff. As a result, they were already on the museum’s radar when the exhibition Small, Smaller, Grandest: The Doll’s Houses of Lady Lita de Ranitz was being developed by Studio Marleen Bos. Once the studio recommended them, the decision was quickly made – and 50LUX was once again entrusted with the lighting design.
Although various CLS fixture series were already in place at the museum, additional lighting was required for this particular exhibition. Frank explains: “It’s helpful for the museum if all the lighting equipment comes from the same manufacturer – it makes maintenance and servicing much more straightforward. The specialised fixtures we needed were available in CLS’s range, so it was a logical decision to continue the successful collaboration.”
They opted for the surface-mounted CLS Focus Micro, controlled via Local Dim, to light the historic doll’s houses displayed in the wall showcases. The lighting had to be incredibly precise in order to highlight the intricate, miniature details to full effect. The compact size of the Focus Micro was the deciding factor, as it allowed the fixtures to be neatly integrated and precisely aimed, thanks to the zoom lens and included snoots. However, installation proved a challenge due to the tight spaces, the delicate positioning required, and the fragility of the collection. “But that’s exactly the kind of challenge we enjoy,” says Frank.
They’re proud of what they’ve achieved here – having pushed the project to its full potential – and they still head to work each day with a smile. That says it all!
© Power – 800 Years of the Binnenhof (The Hague Historical Museum)
Design: Perspekt Studios
Audio-visual: Moetwil en Van Dijk
Production: Perspekt Studios
Lighting Design: 50LUX NL – Frank Hulsebosch
CLS Distributor: Lichtpunt
Fixtures Used: Jade Expo Local Dim / W-DMX, Jade Zoom Local Dim, Focus HP 230V | 3000K
Funded by: FriendsLottery
Photography: Gerrit Schreurs
