The Hague, Netherlands: travel guide
The Dutch seat of government, with Vermeer, royal gardens and a beach
The seat of the Dutch government and parliament, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court — The Hague (Den Haag) is the Netherlands' political capital.
About The Hague
The Hague is where the Dutch government sits, though the official capital remains Amsterdam. The Binnenhof, the cluster of historic buildings at the heart of national politics, stands beside a pond, and a number of international courts are based in the city.
Things to do in The Hague include seeing Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring at the Mauritshuis, visiting the Peace Palace and the miniature town of Madurodam, and taking a tram to Scheveningen, where there is a wide sandy beach and a pier. The city has a more relaxed, stately feel than Amsterdam.
The Hague suits art lovers and travellers who like both a city and the sea. Late spring to early autumn is the most comfortable time to visit.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Amsterdam
- Nearest airport
- RTM
Last updated
Top places to visit in The Hague
Scheveningen Beach
North Sea beach resort · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Scheveningen is the most popular seaside resort in the Netherlands — a broad 4-kilometre stretch of North Sea beach immediately west of The Hague, backed by a lively boulevard (the Strandweg) lined with restaurants, bars and the iconic…
Mauritshuis
royal painting gallery · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Mauritshuis is a small but extraordinarily high-quality royal painting gallery occupying a 17th-century patrician mansion beside the Hofvijver pond — home to the greatest concentration of Dutch and Flemish Golden Age masterpieces…
Binnenhof
parliament complex · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Binnenhof is the political heart of the Netherlands — a medieval castle complex on the banks of the Hofvijver that has housed the Dutch parliament and government without interruption for 700 years. The complex encompasses the…
Madurodam
miniature park · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Madurodam is a remarkable miniature park opened in 1952 as a memorial to George Maduro, a Dutch resistance hero who died in Dachau, presenting the entire Netherlands in 1:25 scale across five hectares. Hundreds of meticulously crafted…
Peace Palace
international court · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Peace Palace is one of the world's most important buildings — the seat of the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, housed in a magnificent neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance building funded by Andrew…
Binnenhof Parliament Tour
parliament · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Binnenhof — the Dutch parliament complex, one of the oldest parliament buildings in continuous use (since 13th century), with the spectacular Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights) and the historic court.
Scheveningen Pier
seaside-pier · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Scheveningen Pier — the spectacular 19th-century pier extending into the North Sea, with the famous Ferris wheel, the bungy jump, the restaurants, and the panoramic views.
Escher in Het Paleis
escher-museum · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry €15 (≈ ₹1,550)
Escher in Het Paleis — the museum dedicated to MC Escher in the spectacular historic Lange Voorhout Palace (the former winter residence of the Queen Mother), with the famous Escher illusions and prints.
Panorama Mesdag
panorama-painting · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry €18 (≈ ₹1,870)
Panorama Mesdag — the spectacular 14m-high, 120m-circumference panorama painting from 1881 by Hendrik Mesdag, showing Scheveningen beach, the world's oldest surviving panorama in its original location.
The Hague Hofvijver Lake
reflecting-lake · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Hofvijver — The Hague's central historic lake reflecting the Binnenhof (the Dutch parliament), with the spectacular swans, the panoramic photo spot, and the most iconic Hague view.
The Hague Christmas Market
christmas-market · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Hague Christmas Market — the spectacular market on the Lange Voorhout boulevard, with the historic palaces as backdrop, the wooden chalets, the Dutch Christmas traditions, and the magical atmosphere.
The Hague Beach Bonfire
bonfire-tradition · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Scheveningen-Duindorp New Year Bonfires — the spectacular competing 30m-high bonfires built on Scheveningen and Duindorp beaches every New Year's Eve, one of Europe's most spectacular pyrotechnic traditions.
Things to do
- Mauritshuis Highlights Guided Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from EUR 23 per person
- Guided Peace Palace Tour Cultural · 1.3 h · from EUR 12 per person
- Madurodam Miniature Netherlands Tour Sightseeing · 2 h · from EUR 18 per person
- Political Tour of Binnenhof Cultural · 1.5 h · from EUR 10 per person
- Scheveningen Surf Lesson Water · 2 h · from EUR 33 per person
Day trips and tours
- Delft & Vermeer Day Trip from The Hague 8 h · from EUR 63
- Peace Palace & International Law Guided Tour 3 h · from EUR 34
Where to stay in The Hague
- Centrum & Hofkwartier about EUR 130 per night
The diplomatic and historic heart of The Hague — the Binnenhof parliament, Mauritshuis museum and Grote Kerk are all walkable, as are the Passage shopping arcade and Plein square. Formal, well-connected and home to most…
- Scheveningen Beach about EUR 118 per night
The Netherlands' most popular beach resort — a direct tram ride (lines 1/9/11, 25 min) from The Hague centre. Hotels range from grand seafront properties to budget pensions. The Pier, Kurhaus hotel, Sea Life aquarium…
- Statenkwartier about EUR 165 per night
The most elegant residential quarter of The Hague — tree-lined boulevards, independent restaurants and the prestigious Peace Palace. Quiet, upscale and close to the Mauritshuis for a refined base that feels genuinely…
Hotels
- Hotel Des Indes The Hague 5-star · EUR 320 to EUR 1,400 per night
- The Social Hub The Hague 4-star · EUR 85 to EUR 185 per night
- Park Hotel Den Haag 4-star · EUR 105 to EUR 210 per night
- Stayokay Den Haag 2-star · EUR 20 to EUR 72 per night
Where to eat
- Haagse Markt — Moroccan Stalls Moroccan, Turkish, Street Food · about EUR 9 per person
- Catch by Simonis Seafood, Dutch, French · about EUR 58 per person
- Garoeda Indonesian · about EUR 45 per person
- The Raffles Steakhouse, Dutch, European · about EUR 75 per person
- Brasserie Zuid Dutch, French, Brasserie · about EUR 35 per person
- Restaurant Savelberg French, Dutch, Modern European · about EUR 165 per person
Getting to The Hague
Nearest airport: Rotterdam (RTM), about 16 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
How visitors arrive in The Hague
- Fly to Schiphol, train to Den Haag Centraal By air from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) · common
Most air visitors use Schiphol, taking a direct train to Den Haag Centraal; Rotterdam The Hague Airport is the small alternative. Source: thehague.com
- RET bus 33 to Meijersplein then Metro E By air from Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) · possible
Public transport link from the nearby regional airport. Source: thehague.com
From the railway station to the centre
- Tram or bus from Den Haag Centraal
Trams 17 and 9 and buses 22, 24, 28, 29 serve the museum and beach districts; plan with 9292.nl. Source: thehague.com
Getting around
- Bicycle
The Hague has a good network of bike paths, and bikes can be rented conventionally or through apps such as Donkey Republic and HTM Bike.
- Transit Pass
The OV-chipkaart is the main way to pay on The Hague's HTM trams and buses, and day or multi-day passes are available.
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Street Petition Clipboard Scam
Binnenhof surroundings, Grote Marktstraat, The Hague Centraal station
People with clipboards approach claiming to collect signatures for a (fictional) charity or political cause. After signing, you are pressured to donate cash on the spot. Personal details collected on the form can also be used for identity fraud.
How to avoid it: Do not sign anything on the street from unknown solicitors. Legitimate Dutch charities do not collect street donations in this way. If interested, ask for the charity registration number and verify via the Centraal Bureau Fondsenwerving (CBF) register.
Best time to visit The Hague
- Jan 6°C
- Feb 7°C
- Mar 10°C
- Apr 14°C
- May 17°C
- Jun 20°C
- Jul 22°C
- Aug 22°C
- Sep 19°C
- Oct 15°C
- Nov 10°C
- Dec 7°C
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Frequently asked questions about The Hague
- What are the top-rated places to visit in The Hague?
- The highest-rated places in our The Hague guide are Mauritshuis, Binnenhof Parliament Tour, Escher in Het Paleis, Panorama Mesdag, The Hague Hofvijver Lake.
- Where should I stay in The Hague?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in The Hague: Centrum & Hofkwartier, Scheveningen Beach, Statenkwartier.
- How do I get around The Hague?
- Ways to get around The Hague covered in our guide: Bicycle, Transit pass, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in The Hague?
- Scams reported to us for The Hague include Street Petition Clipboard Scam. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in The Hague?
- Average daytime highs in The Hague run from 6°C in Jan to 22°C in Aug.
- Which airport is nearest to The Hague?
- The nearest airport to The Hague has the code RTM.