ABSTRACT
From the moment Haarlem's art collection moved from the town hall to its current premises in 1913, the Frans Hals Museum has been a renowned centre of knowledge on the artist whose name it bears. This is, first of all, because of the richness of its holdings, which include the eight group portraits painted for Haarlem institutions, making the museum the best possible place to study Hals's artistic development throughout his career; but secondly, because many of its staff – from curators and conservators to directors – have been involved in the study of the master and his work.
