VOICED : Girl with Pearl Earring goes home to revamped Dutch museum

The Girl with a Pearl Earring has returned to the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague after a world tour. The painting, often called the Mona Lisa of the North, is a key attraction at the museum, which showcases the best of the Dutch Golden Age. The museum has undergone a significant renovation, doubling its floor space to accommodate more visitors. The renovation combined historical and modern architecture, inspired by the Louvre. The museum aims to attract over 1,000 visitors daily, with King Wilhelm Alexander attending the opening ceremony.

Why is 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' referred to as the 'Mona Lisa of the North'?

What inspired the design of the new Mauritshuis Museum?