History

Maison Kühne, also known as Modehuis Kühne or Kühne en Zonen, was a leading fashion house in The Hague from approximately 1839 to 1973. It started on Hoogstraat and moved in 1909 to an elegant building on Kneuterdijk, on the corner with De Plaats. The house gained great renown as a royal purveyor; for example, in 1936 it created Princess Juliana's wedding dress and the dresses of her bridesmaids. Maison Kühne was known for its high-quality couture, particularly mink and ermine fur coats, and dresses with fur accents. The clothing was made using patterns that the house obtained through licenses from major Parisian fashion houses such as Dior, Givenchy, and Chanel. Everything was custom-made for a wealthy Hague clientele. In its peak years, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, an exclusive gown sometimes cost more than 10,000 guilders.

The fashion house employed dozens of skilled craftsmen: from fur seamstresses and cutters to milliners and alteration specialists. The ateliers were known for their craftsmanship and disciplined work environment, although working conditions were sometimes difficult—as evidenced by stories from employees who developed eczema from working with fur. Despite its fame, Kühne lost ground in the 1970s; the demand for classic haute couture declined sharply due to changing fashion and a younger generation that preferred ready-to-wear clothing. In 1973, the house definitively closed its doors. What remains is a rich legacy in Dutch fashion history, remembered by the iconic building on De Plaats, personal stories of former employees, and Maison Kühne's status as a symbol of a bygone era of exclusive Hague elegance.