Education at West
Marvel at contemporary art in the former American embassy!
West encourages investigative and critical thinking with its varied educational programme for the 2026-2027 school year!
West offers classes for primary and secondary education on many different levels. Our museum educators make challenging themes such as contemporary art and architecture accessible and relevant to the students. We do this by taking a closer look at a large variety of art, approaching everything from the students’ world view, and linking the themes of the classes to fun activities. Students indicate that they enjoy these classes because they are surprising and varied. Teachers appreciate our enthusiastic and knowledgeable educators.
Below you find practical information and a description of all of our classes. These classes are also available to book for extracurricular activities. For each class we link to our lesson notes which elaborate on the content of the classes. These are not available in English, but feel free to contact our educator who can provide more information in English and help you with any further questions!
Lesson goals
Our aim is to teach students the meaning of contemporary art and have them reflect on this. They will familiarise themselves in a playful and active manner with our exhibitions, during which they will be encouraged to share their observations and opinions. Through conversations with each other and our docents they will discover contemporary art. Furthermore, they will employ their own creativity during the accompanying activities, unique to each class. These activities are as well described in the lesson notes.
Accessibility
Unfortunately, the former American embassy is not wheelchair accessible. Therefore, we do not recommend booking a class if there are students in the group with difficulties walking.
We are able to adapt our classes to special education. We prefer to do this in collaboration with teachers. Please contact us to see how we can work together.
Our programme is available in Dutch and English with the exception of the Escape Rooms. Next to that, we also have experience in offering education to language classes.
You can always contact us for further information or with specific wishes for your visit. We are flexible and can adapt the classes where necessary!
INFORMATION & CONTACT DETAILS
For who
Primary education – group 5 to 8 – ages 9 to 12
Secondary education – 1st year to the 6th – ages 12 to 18
MBO Classes (Secondary vocational education) – please contact us .
When
Dates and times on request.
The classes take 60 to 75 minutes.
Guidance
For 1-15 students: at least one actively participating teacher.
For 15-30 students: at least two actively participating teachers or parents.
Costs
120 euros per group, with no extra costs for accompanying teachers or parents.
Wondere Wereldexpo: 550 euros per group
Escape Room: 150 euros per group.
Max number of students: 30
Should your group consist of 15 groups or less, please contact us. Then we can work out a different price together.
Any teachers or parents can accompany the group with no additional costs.
Location
West Den Haag
Former American Embassy
Lange Voorhout 102
2514 EJ Den Haag
www.westdenhaag.nl
Information and advice
Anne Willemsen
educatie@westdenhaag.nl
070.3925359
06.51760399
Our aim is to teach students the meaning of contemporary art and have them reflect on this. They will familiarise themselves in a playful and active manner with our exhibitions, during which they will be encouraged to share their observations and opinions. Through conversations with each other and our docents they will discover contemporary art. Furthermore, they will employ their own creativity during the accompanying activities, unique to each class. These activities are as well described in the lesson notes.
Accessibility
Unfortunately, the former American embassy is not wheelchair accessible. Therefore, we do not recommend booking a class if there are students in the group with difficulties walking.
We are able to adapt our classes to special education. We prefer to do this in collaboration with teachers. Please contact us to see how we can work together.
Our programme is available in Dutch and English with the exception of the Escape Rooms. Next to that, we also have experience in offering education to language classes.
You can always contact us for further information or with specific wishes for your visit. We are flexible and can adapt the classes where necessary!
INFORMATION & CONTACT DETAILS
For who
Primary education – group 5 to 8 – ages 9 to 12
Secondary education – 1st year to the 6th – ages 12 to 18
MBO Classes (Secondary vocational education) – please contact us .
When
Dates and times on request.
The classes take 60 to 75 minutes.
Guidance
For 1-15 students: at least one actively participating teacher.
For 15-30 students: at least two actively participating teachers or parents.
Costs
120 euros per group, with no extra costs for accompanying teachers or parents.
Wondere Wereldexpo: 550 euros per group
Escape Room: 150 euros per group.
Max number of students: 30
Should your group consist of 15 groups or less, please contact us. Then we can work out a different price together.
Any teachers or parents can accompany the group with no additional costs.
Location
West Den Haag
Former American Embassy
Lange Voorhout 102
2514 EJ Den Haag
www.westdenhaag.nl
Information and advice
Anne Willemsen
educatie@westdenhaag.nl
070.3925359
06.51760399
Programs
Primary Education
New! Art Compass: Start your own adventure
For: Group 5, 6, 7 and 8. Also suitable for special education.
It is not easy to navigate an exhibition. Museums do their best to provide additional explanations with texts and guided tours, but sometimes you want to walk your own path. That is why the students at West get to create their Art Compass! Our museum educators help the students fill out an exhibition guide, full of creative, engaging assignments that allow every student to approach our art from their own perspective. By the end of the visit, the students will have created their unique Art Compass, discovered what contemporary art is, and practiced analyzing artworks.
The lesson consists of an interactive guided tour during which the students will create their own exhibition booklet with assignments.
Click here for the lesson notes. (These are currently only available in Dutch, but you can contact our educator for further details.)
Wonderful World Expo
For: Group 5, 6, 7 and 8. Also suitable for special education..
You can often tell what a building's function is by looking at it. Schools, hospitals, or train stations all look different. But what do buildings designed for works of art look like?
This program is a unique collaboration between West and Architectuurlessen. Design buildings for a world exhibition, drawing inspiration from West's art in the old American Embassy. What shape will your art building take? At school, under the guidance of an architect, you will create scale models of these designs. Together, the designs form an artistic world expo right in the classroom!
This activity consists of a visit to West and a follow-up lesson at school, provided by Architectuurlessen. During the museum visit, we will view art and design the art buildings. We will schedule the follow-up lesson separately, in consultation.
The lesson at West lasts 90 minutes and the follow-up class will occupy an entire morning.
Klik hier voor de lesbrief met meer informatie. (These are currently only available in Dutch, but you can contact our educator for further details).
Please note: Due to the additional class by Architectuurlessen the cost of this lesson is 550 in total.
World Explorers
For: Group 5, 6, 7 and 8. Also suitable for special education.
Artists are always engaged with different worlds: they want to represent our world, share a fantasy world, or perhaps even improve our world with their art! When you visit an exhibition, you encounter all these different worlds, and you bring your own world of experience with you.
In conversation with our museum educators, you will view the art and navigate all these worlds together. During the follow-up assignment, students will create their own fantasy world in groups, thus practicing shaping a utopia. Students come up with the most creative ideas and reflect on themes such as climate, politics, and culture.
The class consists of an interactive tour and a workshop, during which the students will create their ideal world in small groups.
Click here for the lesson notes. (These are currently only available in Dutch, but you can contact our educator for further details.)
Programs
Secondary Education
Escape Room
For: Practical education, VMBO, HAVO and VWO.
Please note: This programme is currently not available in English!
Art Institution West is located in the former American Embassy; a mysterious building steeped in history. Here, West exhibits contemporary art, which is where the programme begins. We start with an introduction and a tour, before descending into a completely different world: the building's dark basement. There they get to glimpse behind the scenes.
In various corners of the basement, groups set to work to escape from the escape rooms. In doing so, they will learn more about the history of the embassy, architecture, and art. Teamwork is paramount! Only by working together will they solve the puzzles, open locks, and find their way back up.
The class consists of a short interactive tour, after which the students will be divided into groups and explore the escape room. Keep in mind that this is an education
Click here for the lesson notes and further details. (These are currently only available in Dutch, but you can contact our educator for further details.)
Art Experts: Made to Measure
For: HAVO and VWO from year 1 to 6.
Come discover contemporary art at West! We are located in the remarkable old United States Embassy building and present interesting and socially engaged exhibitions here. So there is plenty to do!
That is why we are happy to discuss the content of the lesson with you, depending on the themes the class is currently working on. Central to our sessions are our interactive tours, where students practice developing and substantiating their opinions, but together we will look at the content. Perhaps you would prefer to discuss the architecture and history of the embassy? Or the exhibition? Anything is possible!
The class consists of an interactive tour of the building and the exhibitions.
Click here for the lesson notes. (These are currently only available in Dutch, but you can contact our educator for further details.)
