BIRDS Mauritshuis, The Hague, 12 February to 7 June 2026

Carel Fabritius’s The Goldfinch has long been a highlight of the superb collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings at the Mauritshuis in The Hague. Now it is taking centre stage in the museum’s next exhibition, BIRDS, which is guest-curated by the British historian and broadcaster Simon Schama. Featuring artworks by Holbein, Leonardo, Rembrandt, Picasso, Matisse, Brancusi, Tracey Emin and more, alongside manuscripts, films and natural history exhibits, the show traces humanity’s relationship with birds as symbols of love, beauty and freedom, but also in their roles as pets, food and trophies.