Hague

The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam. As the country’s administrative capital, The Hague is home to numerous ministries and embassies, along with the headquarters of several international organizations, including the International Court of Justice.

Museums, parks, beaches and fascinating building architecture make The Hague the second most popular city in the Netherlands.

What can you see in The Hague?

The Mauritshuis is an art museum located in the city center near the Binnenhof and has the largest number of masterpieces per square meter in the Netherlands.

The museum houses a renowned collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, which offers an amazing overview of Dutch and Flemish paintings between 1400 and 1800, with works by great painters such as Vermeer, Rembrandt or Van Dyck. The Mauritshuis is constantly acquiring new works and periodically also exhibits some temporary exhibitions. The museum is open daily, and the price of a ticket is €15.5/person.

The Vredespaleis (Peace Palace) is an imposing building built between 1907-1913 in a mixture of Gothic and Neoclassical styles and houses the International Court of Justice. The interior of the building and the gardens can only be visited with a guide, on certain weekends, the price of a ticket being €11/person. Reservations are made exclusively online, on the official website.

The Binnenhof is a 13th-century complex of buildings built around a huge courtyard and serves as a meeting place for several political groups in the Netherlands, including the Ministry of General Affairs.

At the eastern end of the courtyard is the Ridderzaal (Hall of the Knights) – a spectacular historic building still used for royal receptions or conferences and speeches by monarchs. Originally built as a banquet hall, it later served as a market, promenade, drill hall, playground and even a hospital before being restored in 1904.

The courtyard outside the Ridderzaal building is surrounded by arcades and in the center is a neo-Gothic fountain dating from the 1600s.

Madurodam is a miniature theme park featuring the main tourist attractions of the Netherlands.

All buildings, highways, people, cars, train stations, tulip fields and cheese markets are created at 1:25 scale. The price of a ticket is €19.5/person (€17.5/person if you purchase it online).

You can take a short virtual tour of the theme park by visiting our YouTube channel.

Paleis Noordeinde is a modest palace that enjoys a wonderful location on one of The Hague’s shopping streets. In 1815, the palace was completely restored and used as a residence for King William I. Currently, King Willem-Alexander and his staff have their offices in the palace’s elegant rooms.

The Scheveningen area is a popular destination during the summer months for both locals and tourists. Known for its wide sandy beach and refreshing North Sea air, Holland’s most famous seaside resort offers unique attractions with countless options to spend your free time.

Adrenaline lovers can choose between a ride 8 meters above the sea, at a speed of over 70 km/h or bungee-jumping – a jump from a height of 60 meters.

Right next to the Scheveningen coast is a beautiful monumental building that houses a luxurious 5-star hotel, the Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus. The building has a rich history, dating back to 1818. Due to the therapeutic effect of sea water, people were drawn to the sea to prevent rheumatism, nervous diseases or obesity.

Following the famous seaside resorts of Belgium and France, the popularity of Scheveningen beach increased in the 19th century. The Kurhaus therefore became an elegant venue where guests could dine, treat themselves and be entertained at the same time. If you arrive in Scheveningen, you can take a guided tour of the building, where the history of the hotel is presented (guided tour price: €52.5/person).

Did you know that a third of the Chinese people living in the Netherlands are in The Hague? Their presence being so large in this city, an entire neighborhood is dedicated to the Asian community, being located in the center of the city.

Both entrances to Chinatown are marked by a typical Chinese gate, measuring about 3 meters high. Inside the neighborhood there are numerous Asian restaurants, acupuncture and massage centers, supermarkets or clothing or furniture stores.

De Passage is the only covered shopping arcade built in the second part of the 19th century in the Netherlands. It is now part of the UNESCO heritage and houses 20 shops, cafes and restaurants.

The Hague can be considered an elegant and relaxed alternative to Amsterdam, where you can enjoy the city visit without too much fuss or without being “in the way” of products that promote the city at every turn.

(The Hague – June 2019)