Photographing classic cars: Louwman Museum
Wednesday 12 December 2018, 20:56 by Michelle Peeters | 7,681 views | 2 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
The Louwman Museum in The Hague, near Marlot Estate, houses the oldest private collection of automobiles, assembled by two generations of the Louwman family.
The collection was started in 1934 and now includes more than 250 antique and classic cars, including a Citroën 2cv 4×4 Sahara from 1962.
Taking photographs and filming
Taking photographs and filming is permitted in all exhibition rooms for private use, except in the rooms with posters, paintings and prints. Flash and tripods are allowed.
You can take some great photographs here of a unique collection of beautifully displayed cars, mainly classic cars.
New building
The stately new Louwman Museum building stands right beside one of the main roads into The Hague. Around 230 vehicles can be seen there, ranging from horse-drawn carriages and Formula One cars to ultra-modern hybrid cars.
The cars are generally in their original condition and have not been restored.
The collection is arranged both chronologically and thematically. Cars from the same period are displayed together. The tour of the museum starts on the second floor and takes you back to the age of horse and carriage.
Horse and carriage
You walk through a long, dark corridor and are gradually taken through the development from horse and carriage to the first vehicles that could move under their own power.
The charming signs are amusing. At the time, they warned passers-by about strange carriages that could move without a horse.
Around 1900, the vehicles look less like motorised carriages and the first cars become recognisable. A few decades later, the car had become a true status symbol. The cars are large and luxurious.
Cars were raced from a very early stage, as shown by the "Napier 100-HP" from 1903. This antique sports car has an eleven-litre engine, which nevertheless produces only 100 horsepower. Its top speed is 132 kilometres per hour.
A car for everyone
A special room displays "affordable cars". These are mostly charming classic cars that used special techniques, or not, to keep costs down.
One side of the room is devoted to affordable cars from before the Second World War. The other side shows small cars from the 1950s and 1960s. These include the BMW Isetta and Messerschmitt KR200.
For learning and entertainment
A car museum does not just give a "scientific" view of the history of the car. It also shows strange and exotic vehicles. This is especially true of the collection of beach and amphibious vehicles.
Star attractions
And when it comes to star attractions, the Louwman Museum gives plenty of space to special cars belonging to famous people. In The Hague, you can see the "Cadillac Fleetwood" (1976) owned by Elvis Presley, completely adapted to the singer's wishes.
The "Aston Martin DB5" (1964) belonging to James Bond was used in the film Goldfinger and still has rotating number plates, built-in machine guns and, of course, an ejector seat.
The actor and daredevil Steve McQueen (1930 - 1980) is represented by two cars: the impressive Baja Buggy, custom-built by General Motors for the Baja rally, and the elegant Jaguar XKSS, one of only 16 examples sold.
Art
A room devoted entirely to car-related art is unique for a car museum. It contains antique adverts that were once seen on every street corner, but are now completely unique.
The many paintings from the 1920s are also well worth seeing. At the time, photography was not yet able to capture a moving car. The only way to share the dynamics of a car with others was through painting.
Goodwood Revival
A brief detour to the Goodwood Revival festival, where many of Louwman's cars take part in historic rallies.
This annual weekend in September attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the estate of the same name in southern England. At the famous race circuit, an almost overflowing programme is held, with all kinds of races featuring classic and antique racing cars, sports cars, saloons and anything else with wheels and an engine.
Twenty years ago, Lord March, the owner of the estate, asked the public to dress smartly for this event, preferably with a jacket and tie, and ideally a cap or hat as well. He asked the ladies to come in beautiful outfits and/or dresses, festive hats and fine shoes. And that is exactly what the British do, in great numbers!
A visit to Goodwood Revival is an annual obligation for everyone interested in classic cars. The best of the best races on the famous track, and the public also arrive in their finest or favourite 'old car' for this unique event. Sometimes you simply do not know what you are looking at!
Anyone with serious money arrives at the circuit by plane or helicopter, because Goodwood is also an old airfield. Old aircraft from the Second World War, such as Spitfires and Lancasters, also take to the air. Very impressive!
Want to know more about automotive photography?
If you want to learn more about automotive photography, you can take the excellent car photography course by Belgian photographer Frederik Herregods at Photofacts Academy. Frederik specialises in commercial and automotive photography.
Dit artikel is voor het laatst bijgewerkt op 12 december 2018.
De eerste publicatiedatum is zondag 5 november 2017, 14:41.
About the author
Michelle Peeters is fotografe en oprichter van DeuxBleus Fotografie. Michelle herkent het bijzondere in het gewone en het gewone in het bijzondere. Ze heeft zich nooit willen specialiseren en is daardoor van alle markten thuis.
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2 comments
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martinphili wrote on Sunday 5 November 2017 at 20:58
| reply
I think Louwmans can compete with the best car museums from all over the world. The collection consists of a whole lot of important automobiles. Even without a camera, you can spend an intensive day there.
Translated from Dutch.
And Goodwood is yet another chapter altogether.
Both the car photographer and the people photographer can indulge themselves there. -
Koos wrote on Tuesday 7 November 2017 at 14:55 | replyWonderful museum, also for photography. Feel free to set aside the whole day for it, although you might still run out of time.
Translated from Dutch.
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