Lots of artists lived and worked there and in the early the 20th century, the Bergen School, a Dutch painting movement, was established.
Kranenburgh is dedicated to famous Bergen artists such as Leo Gestel and Charley Toorop.
The museum is housed in a typical Bergen villa that was built in 1882 as the mayor's official residence. The poet and artist Lucebert later had his studio there. In addition to art from the Bergen School, Kranenburgh houses work by contemporary artists, sculptors, photographers, architects, poets and composers.