For four months this coming winter, from Nov. 6, 2026 to Feb. 28, 2027, the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem hosts an extraordinary Hals-Rembrandt Exhibition with nineteen paintings by Frans Hals and Rembrandt van Rijn in the same rooms, eleven by Hals and eight by Rembrandt. Nobody has done this before.
Wondering why these two together? The pairing makes sense once you’re standing in front of them. Both painted people so they look alive, both worked with a loose, visible brushstroke, and both went well beyond wealthy magistrates to paint children, drinkers, actors and musicians.
But they didn’t work the same way. Rembrandt built his portraits up in layers, working his way toward the person. Hals painted fast, and his portraits land like snapshots. I’m super excited to see them side by side and spot the differences.
They didn’t work in the same city either. Frans Hals always stayed in Haarlem, while Rembrandt spent his working life in Amsterdam. And so far, nobody has proved that either one directly influenced the other. But both were famous in their own lifetimes, so they almost certainly knew each other’s work.
What To Look For at the Hals-Rembrandt Exhibition
The Rijksmuseum lent five paintings to the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem. Rembrandt’s Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild from 1662 will be a highlight, as will two others:
Rembrandt’s Haesje Jacobsdr van Cleyburg from 1634 sits beside Hals’s Cornelia Voogt from 1631.
And Rembrandt’s Johannes Wtenbogaert from 1633 hangs next to Hals’s Portrait of a Man, which Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is restoring specifically for this show.
The Mauritshuis is sending Rembrandt’s The Laughing Man, paired with Hals’s Laughing Boy with a Flute, on loan from Schwerin in Germany.
The Six Collection is lending The Girl in a Picture Frame from 1641. These two I am the most excited about. They captivate me. And this was not an easy pairing with all those museums involved.
Frans Hals, Vissersjongen (KMSKA Antwerp). Rembrandt, Lachende man (Mauritshuis). Rembrandt, Titus aan de lezenaar (Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen).
How And When To Book Your Tickets
I expect this exhibition to be very popular. Book as soon as you know you’re going and get a time slot, since they are required. This is not a walk-in activity you can decide to do at the last minute, and a first-ever pairing of these two will sell out on weekends.
Tickets are ā¬18.50. Getting to Haarlem is a short 15-minute train ride from Central Station. Then it’s a 20-minute walk to the museum.
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Frequently Asked Questions on the Show
Do I need to book a time slot for the Hals-Rembrandt exhibition?
Yes, there’s no way around it. I recommend getting an early slot if you don’t mind getting up early. I also recommend booking the moment you know your travel dates. A first-ever pairing of these two artists is sure to sell out on certain days.
How much are tickets to Hals-Rembrandt?
Tickets for the museum are ā¬18.50 and can be purchased here.
Can I see the museum’s other Frans Hals paintings with the same visit?
Yes, the museum owns fourteen Hals paintings, the largest collection anywhere in the world. Six of them are in the exhibition. The rest, including the big militia pieces he’s most famous for, hang elsewhere in the museum. Your ticket will be valid for the entire museum, not just the special exhibition.
Is it worth the trip if I’m already going to the Rijksmuseum?
I say yes, and I’d argue the Hals-Rembrandt exhibit in Haarlem is the best choice of the two if you only have time for one. The Rijksmuseum has more art of course, but you can see these works any time. This exhibition is unique with nineteen paintings side-by-side that are normally scattered around.
How much time should I plan?
Nineteen paintings sounds like a quick visit. But it isn’t. The point of the exhibition is comparing two painters face to face, and that doesn’t happen every day, so take your time taking them in. I would say schedule an hour for the exhibition, then another hour for the museum. Also, don’t forget: Haarlem is a wonderful destination in itself and worth more of your time.
What else should I do in Haarlem while I’m there?
The Bavo Church on the Grote Markt is a must visit. It’s gorgeous, and Frans Hals is buried there. Standing at his grave the same afternoon you’ve seen nineteen of his paintings is a strange and good way to close the day. Corrie ten Boom is also worth your time, and an alternative to Anne Frank, but here too, you need to get your (free) tickets far in advance. More tips in my post on Haarlem here.
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Are You Going?
If you’re going, please let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear it. And after you’ve been, let me know how it was.
Further Reading
ā¤· If you want to spend more time in Haarlem here is my post on “Things to do in Haarlem”
ā¤· And here is my post on how to get from Amsterdam to Haarlem
ā¤· If you have more time for Rembrandt, here is my post on Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum
