The museum was founded in 1996 by
Caroline de Westenholz, stepdaughter of
Albert Vogel jr. (1924–1982), a biographer of Couperus, and housed in his former art gallery. The museum, which was located at Javastraat 17, was within walking distance of a number of addresses where
Louis Couperus lived, including: • Mauritskade, where Couperus was born in 1863. • Nassauplein 4, which served as the residence of the Couperus family from 1878 to 1893. It was here that Couperus wrote the poems that would form part of his debut anthology ''''. •
Surinamestraat 20, where Couperus wrote his debut novel,
Eline Vere. Later, this was the home of writer, lawyer, and politician
Conrad Theodor van Deventer. It was intended to move the Louis Couperus Museum to this place, but because the Foundation Couperushuis Surinamestraat could not raise enough funds to buy the house, it is still for sale. Permission to place a commemorative plaque on the house was not granted. == The museum ==