City Investigates Interest in a Museum Facility in De Warenar
For many years, the Warenar has been the trusted cultural gathering place for the residents of Wassenaar. With its theater, cultural activities, and community functions, the building plays an important role in the village. To ensure that the Warenar can continue to fulfill this role in the future, the building will be renovated and made more sustainable in the coming years.
In earlier planning efforts, a museum function was identified as a possible use for part of the Warenar. With this survey, the municipality is assessing whether there is sufficient interest in a museum function. The municipality also wants to gain insight into potential initiatives and determine whether a museum function in the Warenar is practically and financially feasible.
Exploring Options for a Museum Function
De Warenar Cultural Center is located in a historic building at a central location at Kerkstraat 75 in Wassenaar. It is a place where art, culture, social interaction, and community activities come together.
The municipality is currently investigating whether a museum function would fit within the existing cultural and social functions of the Warenar. If a museum function is established, it must have a clear connection to Wassenaar. Examples include history, heritage, art, nature, culture, or unique local stories. The concept may be innovative and appeal to a broad audience.
The available space
Under the current renovation plans, approximately 230 m² on the attic floor is available for potential use as a museum. This space can be flexibly configured, for example with display cases, movable partitions, and rotating exhibitions.
Independent Operation
The municipality does not provide a (recurring) budget for the establishment or operation of a museum. If desired, works from the municipal art collection are available on loan for exhibition. Interested parties must therefore have a realistic and financially feasible plan.
This means that an initiator:
- is responsible for financing the facility and any additional investments;
- independently operates the museum;
- is able to cover the applicable rent and operating costs;
- can demonstrate that the museum can operate financially independently, for example, by presenting a business case.
As part of this exploratory study, the municipality would therefore like to receive information about possible ways to organize and finance the museum.
Planning
Plans for the renovation of the Warenar are currently being finalized. Work is expected to take place between the second half of 2027 and early 2029. To determine whether the final design should incorporate a museum function, the municipality wants to gauge interest from community organizations, foundations, cultural institutions, and other interested parties.
Interested?
Are you interested in a position at the Warenar Museum? Or do you have ideas, experience, or initiatives that could contribute to this? If so, we invite you to share them with us. The municipality would appreciate receiving a brief response in which you, if applicable, address the following:
- your interest in a museum position at De Warenar;
- a general description of a possible concept and its relationship to Wassenaar;
- the organization or partnership behind the initiative.
Please send your response by Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the latest, to warenar@wassenaar.nl.
What happens to the comments?
The responses will be used as input for further planning regarding the renovation and a potential museum function for the Warenar. This market survey is intended solely to gauge interest and identify possibilities. No selection will be made, and no rights may be derived from this survey of interest.
If the municipality decides at a later date to initiate a process to establish a museum, this will be communicated separately.
