The administrative capital of the Netherlands: The Hague. The city’s streets are surprisingly monumental, lined with stately buildings from which the country’s policies are directed. The impressive historical monuments, such as the Binnenhof castle, are intermingled with natural elements that never cease to amaze; its beautiful canals or the Scheveningse forest, an authentic urban forest that acts as the city’s lung. Read on, and we’ll tell you all about what to see in The Hague in the Netherlands.
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Things to see and do on your trip to the Hague in the Netherlands
The Binnenhof Castle: The Hague Parliament The Netherlands
If there is one thing the city of The Hague boasts, it is the majesty of its buildings. Binnenhof Castle is one of the most impressive monuments you’ll see on your trip to The Hague.
This is where your route begins: in the heart of The Hague, an enclave with centuries of history. The origins of this complex date back to the 13th century. Then the Count of Holland, Florentius IV, built the castle of Binnenhof.
This impressive complex is built next to a large lake, known as the Court Spring. There you can take photos of your trip to The Hague.
We cannot fail to mention something that complements the entire parliament complex. It’s the square where we find the Ridderzal, a monumental building that is known as the Knights’ Hall. This Gothic-style building was built in the 13th century. Its two beautiful towers stand out from the rest of this enclave.
A number of ceremonial events are held in this building, attended by the king himself. Access to the interior of these buildings is possible, although at the time of writing, activities have been restricted.
The Mauritshuis Museum: enjoy art to see in The Hague
The Hague is also art, and at the Mauritshuis Museum you can experience it first hand. If you’re wondering what to do in The Hague as an art fan, you’ll find an extensive collection of Dutch Golden Age and Flemish works.
Authors such as Rembrandt and Rubens are the architects of many of these artistic creations. And their works can be found throughout the museum’s tour. Outstanding works such as Vermeer’s The Girl with the Pearl Earring form part of this collection.
And even if you’re not a diehard art lover, the museum building itself is a monument worth visiting. Its stately design is a brilliant representation of the architectural style of Dutch royal buildings.
The entrance fee is around €16 and the opening hours are from 10:00h until 18:00h. It’s definitely a must-see in The Hague.
The channels to watch in the Hague
There is something that characterises the essence of many of the cities in this beautiful country and that is the river canals that run through them. The Hague is no exception, and it certainly adds to the beauty of the city.
Although not the city’s main attraction compared to cities such as Haarlem or Amsterdam, these canals do offer some particularly beautiful sights.
Near the central train station in The Hague, for example, you’ll find one of these spots where you can take a great photo of the canals. Another quite remarkable spot is on one of the bridges on the way to the Peace Palace.
Noordeinde and the Royal Palace of the Hague
Continuing your route through the iconic buildings of The Hague, you’ll come across a unique street: Nordeinde Street.
The pace of shopping never stops on this bustling street: lined with brand-name shops and exclusive clothing, it’s one of the busiest streets in the city.
But it’s not just international brand shops that you’ll find here, as this street is home to a building of vital importance to the city, the Royal Palace of The Hague. It is a unique detail that this monarchical building is located in the middle of a street of this style, and it is certainly a sight to behold in The Hague.
While the interior of the palace can only be visited on rare occasions, you will be able to access the gardens that are housed within it practically all day long.
The Scheveningse Forest and the Marudoram Miniatures Museum
The Scheveningse Forest is a huge park a little further away from the centre and is one of the largest green spaces in the city (if not the largest)
This is also one of the highest points in the city, and where you can find another site to visit in The Hague: the Marudoram miniature museum.
This quirky museum houses a faithful miniature representation of many of Holland’s major cities and is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. The entrance fee is €17.5, and it’s free for children under 2.
The Peace Palace
The Peace Palace (also known as Vredespaleis in Dutch) is a must on your list of things to see in The Hague, and is therefore one of the places we recommend you visit.
Built in the early 20th century, this monumental building is now the seat of the International Court of Justice in The Hague and other institutions of great importance to interstate politics.
We certainly invite you to come and visit the exterior gardens and admire the façade of the building. If you wish to visit the interior, we recommend that you visit their official website and book in advance, as it is a requested visit and they are only open on weekends.
Plein Square and other squares to visit in The Hague Netherlands
Finally and as usual, our recommendation is to visit the different squares you have to see in The Hague
Next to the Binnehof buildings is Plein Square, one of the city’s most prominent squares, where the lively pace of local life is infectious. It’s the perfect place to have a drink after your tour of the city.
Another of the most prominent squares is De Plaats square, which during the Middle Ages was an entrance to the castle of the city’s counts, as well as having been one of the city’s main thoroughfares until it was closed off a century ago.
Groenmarkt is also a great choice of square to visit, where you’ll find the city’s old town hall building and a multitude of bars and entertainment venues.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see around The Hague
Haarlem
Another city that is very close to Amsterdam, and therefore to The Hague, is Haarlem. It is without a doubt one of the must-see cities in the Netherlands.
Some of its most outstanding buildings are St. Bavo’s Church, a beautiful Gothic church that stands out, both for its height and its design, and in its interior there are different works of art and valuable objects. Also worth mentioning is the Grote Markt, its main square, and the Frans Hal Museum, filled with works by the eponymous author, an eminent figure of the Dutch Golden Age.
Further reading about Haarlem in our post.
Utrecht
Considered a miniature Amsterdam and less crowded by the constant stream of tourists, Utrecht is a must-visit on your trip through Holland.
Vital to the Romans, Utrecht has a lot of history behind it. You can visit iconic buildings such as St. Martin’s Cathedral and the Dom Tower, a building that towers above all others as the tallest church tower in the Netherlands.
Getting to Utrecht will take you about an hour from The Hague Central Station.
What to see in The Hague in 1 day
The city of The Hague has a lot to offer, but if you can only spare a day, we recommend you visit the following sites:
- Binnehof Castle
- Noordeinde and the Royal Palace of The Hague
- The Mauritshuis Museum
- Plein Square
- The Peace Palace
Where can I eat in The Hague?
Gastronomy is one of the great attractions of the Netherlands, and The Hague has great restaurants to enjoy it.
The Restaurant de Dagvisser is a very good option where you can enjoy typical Dutch food, with a modern design and where you can eat for around €25 per person. Vegetarian options are also available.
One option for Italian and Mediterranean food is Follia, where for around €20 per person you can enjoy a variety of typical Italian and Mediterranean dishes that are complemented by the superb location of the venue.
And for fish and sushi lovers, Momiji Sushi has very affordable prices (around €20 per head) and offers a wide and delicious menu.
Where do I stay in The Hague?
We’ve put together a short list, with some of the many accommodation options you’ll find in The Hague.
Situated in the heart of the city centre, the Paulowna Boutique Hotel is a beautiful, minimalist hotel, where for around €70 a night you can enjoy great comfort in a beautiful setting.
The Collector Hotel has a classic design, with elements of Dutch architecture and a price of around €60 a night which, together with its great location, makes it a very good choice for accommodation.
How to get to The Hague, The Netherlands
The easiest way is to fly to Amsterdam, as it is quite close and The Hague does not have a dedicated tourism airport.
There are flights for around €130 from major cities in Spain to Amsterdam, and from there you have a number of options for getting to The Hague.
The most recommended option is to take a train from Amsterdam Central Station, which will drop you off in about 45 minutes in The Hague.
Tips about a trip to The Hague in the Netherlands
- The currency in The Hague is the euro.
- If you are travelling from a country with another currency, we recommend that you exchange currency in advance.
- We recommend that you travel in spring, because of the temperatures and the vegetation that grows at that time: it’s really beautiful.
- The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
- Be prepared for medical emergencies: travel with insurance.
How to organize what to see on a trip to The Hague, The Netherlands
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need, and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in The Hague, the Netherlands.
If you have questions on how to do this, you can check out our post: How to create a travel itinerary on Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to The Hague
Our recommendation is that you fly to Amsterdam and take a train or bus from there to The Hague.
The most recommended months for your visit are the spring months between April and June. Summer is also a good time to enjoy the beaches close to the city.
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