Tauck After Hours: A Private Encounter with the Girl

On our recent Tauck river cruise through Belgium and Holland, we were granted rare, after-hours access to the Mauritshuis in The Hague—home to one of the world’s most iconic paintings: Girl with a Pearl Earring.

This exclusive evening offered not only quiet moments with legendary works of art, but also a sense of intimacy and connection that can only be experienced when the crowds have gone and the galleries fall silent.

Why The Hague Deserves a Closer Look

Though often overshadowed by nearby Amsterdam, The Hague offers visitors a refined mix of royal history, world diplomacy, and quiet sophistication.

As the seat of the Dutch Parliament and home to the International Court of Justice, it exudes gravitas—but there’s art and beauty tucked into every corner.

The Mauritshuis itself is a masterpiece.

Set beside a quiet canal in the heart of The Hague, this 17th-century mansion-turned-museum is as elegant as the paintings it houses.

The Setting: Elegance After Hours

After the museum had closed to the public, Tauck guests were welcomed into the grand foyer and salon for a private evening event. The setting was nothing short of regal—gilded chandeliers, carved wood paneling, and glowing portraits surrounded us as we enjoyed champagne and hors d’oeuvres in the warm company of fellow travelers.

The Girl with a Pearl Earring

One of the evening’s quietest yet most powerful moments came in front of Girl with a Pearl Earring. Painted by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer around 1665, this intimate portrait of a young girl in a turban has captivated viewers for centuries.

Often called the “Mona Lisa of the North,” the painting is known for its delicate use of light, the soft rendering of the girl’s features, and most famously, her enigmatic expression and the luminous pearl at her ear.

Standing just a few feet away, with no glass barrier and no crowd behind me, I was struck by her stillness and the subtle intensity of her gaze. The lighting in the room seemed to draw her forward from the canvas, giving the illusion of breath and presence.

It was a rare chance to contemplate the painting in silence—to feel, not just observe—and to appreciate the quiet genius of Vermeer in a way that simply isn’t possible during normal museum hours.

Rembrandt’s Drama and Detail

Later in the evening, our group gathered before one of the museum’s most powerful and theatrical paintings: Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. Painted in 1632 when the artist was just 26 years old, the work catapulted Rembrandt to fame. It depicts Dr. Tulp demonstrating the musculature of the arm to a group of physicians—an extraordinary blend of portraiture, anatomy, and storytelling.

Our private curator gave us insight into the context of the painting, its place in the evolution of medical science, and how Rembrandt’s dramatic use of light transformed what could have been a static moment into a deeply human narrative. Standing in front of this masterpiece in a small group, without any noise or distraction, allowed us to appreciate the minute details: the texture of flesh, the folds of black garments, and the emotion carried in each face.

It was a moving experience—part art history lesson, part meditation on life and mortality, and an experience that only Tauck could provide.

For more information or to book a Tauck river cruise, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.

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This article was written with the aid of Perplexity AI, Grok, or ChatGPT. Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an independent affiliate of Cadence and a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40

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