The new Louwman Museum in The Hague, Netherlands, has been opened by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix. On display are more than 230 antique and classic cars, plus a large collection of automotive art, including paintings, sculptures and posters, which has never been on public display before.

Connoisseurs consider the collection, that of Dutch car importer Evert Louwman, as one of the finest in the world. The purpose-built museum, designed by American architect Michael Graves and with landscaping by Dutch specialist Lodewijk Balyon, aims to provide a clear illustration of the development of the automobile since the very first one was built in 1886.

Almost all the vehicles, many of which are rare examples, are preserved in their original - often unrestored - state and sit alongside a range of other wheeled transport. These include bubble cars, steam and electric cars and historic racing cars. The cars are displayed across three floors and more than 10,000sq m (107,639sq ft) of exhibition space, with pride of place being given to the first vehicle in the collection - a 1914 Dodge.