10 Can’t-Miss Things to Do in The Hague, Netherlands

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It’s interesting when you only know a place due to one very specific context. For me, The Hague was always associated with the International Court of Justice and stories regarding war criminals. Anything beyond that, I had no idea. In the end, it took a visit to this city in the Netherlands to fully realise that Den Haag, as it’s known in Dutch, is way more than just that.

Whereas Amsterdam is often seen as fun, exuberant, and breathtakingly beautiful, The Hague is considerably more reserved. The two really don’t have the same atmosphere and, as such, likely appeal to very different crowds. But there are many things to do in The Hague that appeal to people interested in the local culture, which is why, if you’re thinking of visiting The Hague, here’s where I think you should start.

 

How to get to The Hague

The Hague is easily accessible in the Netherlands.

If you’re already in the country, use the Netherlands’ fantastic train network to get there from places such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It’s worth noting that if you’re coming from Belgium and Antwerp, you’ll need to change at Den Haag HS station and then connect to a local train to reach Den Haag Central. Train tickets can be purchased online, making the trip even easier.

For people flying into the Netherlands, both Amsterdam Schiphol and Rotterdam The Hague Airport will work. You can get a train directly from Amsterdam Airport, while you need a bus from Rotterdam The Hague Airport to Rotterdam Station before you can take the train.

For travellers doing a day trip to The Hague from Amsterdam, know that you can easily store your luggage in Amsterdam if needed. A day trip is easy to do on your own, thanks to the trains, but you can also join a tour to visit from Amsterdam.

It’s also super easy, too, if you rent a car for your Netherlands trip.

 

Where to stay in The Hague

I have to say, one of the things that really enhanced my visit to The Hague was the hotel I stayed in. Positioned right by the main station with a hyper-modern exterior, my time at the Babylon Hotel Den Haag was a combination of comfort and convenience.

With views out over the neighbouring park and a dedicated seating area, I was more than happy to spend time in the room after long days sightseeing. Even when there was a glitch with the room’s heating controls, the staff were promptly able to come up with a solution. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable stay at the Babylon Hotel Den Haag.

Of course, The Hague has other accommodation options, including these highly-rated places:

• Staybridge Suites The Hague – Parliament
• The Collector
• COVE Centrum
• voco The Hague

 

Top things to do in The Hague

You might be surprised to learn that there’s a lot to see and do in The Hague. I had two days in The Hague, and it kept me plenty busy. In fact, there are attractions in The Hague that I missed, from the Madurodam Miniature Park and Panorama Mesdag to the seaside district of Scheveningen. While I can’t comment on those, these are things I recommend you start with.

 

1. Visit the Gothic Binnenhof

The Hague is home to many international and national organisations, and without question, one of the most important is the Dutch Parliament itself.

The parliament is housed inside a marvellous Gothic building complex known as the Binnenhof and has been since 1446, making it the oldest house of parliament in the world. Originally a mansion built here by Count Floris IV in 1229, it soon grew in size and later became the home of the Counts of Holland.

In its modern role, the Binnenhof is home to many state offices and positions, including the Dutch House of Representatives and the Prime Minister. Given its special tenants, it’s kind of amazing that you can simply walk into its central courtyard and admire it. Particularly engaging today is the Grenadierspoort gate and the Ridderzaal or Knight’s Hall, which both make quite a Gothic statement.

Behind the Binnenhof, you’ll find the “court pond” Hofvijver, which would be far more accurately described as a lake. Strolling along the side of the Hofvijver, you can appreciate just how large the Binnenhof really is, as well as spy many other of the Hague’s most impressive landmarks.

 

2. See the modern and historical in The Plein

The layout of the Hague is curious for a city with such history, in that it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly the very centre of the city is.

Likely, the Binnenhof and Hofvijver together is the right answer and not a square, which is normally the case. If it were to be a square, though, it would have to be the Plein. After all, the name literally translates to “square”. Situated just off to the side of the Binnenhof, it’s a very traditional European square, lined with gorgeous heritage buildings.

But you can also get a taste of the modern when you crane your head up and see the tops of skyscrapers popping up over the rooftops. One building not to be missed on the Plein is the Old Ministry of Justice with its little gilded touches here and there. Most of all, the Plein is a particularly good spot if you’re looking for a drink or food.

 

3. Stroll through the Lange Voorhout

When it comes to a park lined with beautiful historic facades, it’s hard to beat the Lange Voorhout.

A boulevard lined with grand old buildings that count embassies, hotels, and galleries among their numbers, the park is certainly a feast for the eyes. Certainly, the kind of place you want to go to see how the other half live.

While I can only imagine how splendid the whole place is in spring or summer, the bare winter trees somehow added to the dignity of the area. It also meant I was actually able to see all the buildings, given how many trees there must be blocking views in warmer months. Best of all, the park leads to the following attraction…

 

4. Marvel at the M. C. Escher Museum

Without a question, the place I was most intent on visiting and one of the coolest things to do in The Hague, was the M. C. Escher Museum.

While I was familiar with a few of his pieces, I knew little more than that about this 20th-century Dutch artist. Known as the Escher in Het Paleis, the museum sure changed that, enlightening me to his full portfolio of work and also the man behind it.

Although I knew he liked to create logic-defying works, that style was just one of his obsessions.

Escher’s earlier works included mesmerising landscapes from family holidays in Italy, as well as posters created during WWII. But of course, Escher’s “mindscapes” are rightly his most iconic works. Practically mathematical in their design, these mindscapes harness geometry and fractal patterns that force you to look closer and closer.

With all the amazing pieces, it is easy to overlook the palace in which they are housed. The former Winter Palace of the Queen Mother of the Netherlands, as you walk from exhibit to exhibit, the royal chambers add a grand ambience to the whole experience.

Still with original furnishings and corners that are laden with photographs from the Queen Mother’s life, it almost serves as a secondary museum to her. In the upper floors, each room is given its own signature chandelier, featuring bizarre shapes like an umbrella, a globe, or even skull and crossbones.

 

5. Cringe at the Museum De Gevangenpoort

Learning about all the facets of historical life grants you a much greater appreciation for what’s come before you.

That’s why I think visiting the Prison Gate Museum in The Hague is so interesting. Inside what was once an entrance to the Binnenhof in the 13th century, the Museum De Gevangenpoort, inside the gate, takes you through its role as a prison and those who called it home. A guided tour leads you through and along all the nooks and crannies of the place, not to mention its stories.

It’s quickly clear the stark contrast between the cells for lowly commoners and the palatial digs for the wealthy. Throughout the tour, the guide would offer up some fascinating stories of escape and clever schemes to delay punishment by wealthier prisoners. Then there’s the tragic tale of Cornelis de Witt, brother to the Prime Minister, whose imprisonment would lead to his and his brother’s deaths.

As a medieval prison, being imprisoned was only a temporary situation before you were sentenced and punished. However, this often meant suffering through various forms of interrogation and torture in order to draw out a confession.

Ever-present in the museum, there’s no shortage of equipment used in either torture or punishment on display, from the stocks to branding irons and even more gruesome torture devices. Visiting this museum is an unusual mix of ugly history and the creative efforts of those looking to evade it.

 

6. Undergo visual overload at the Mauritshuis

Perhaps the most important museum in the Hague, the Mauritshuis art gallery holds an enviable collection of works by renowned Dutch artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Jan Steen. For art lovers, this museum is a real treasure trove of art from the Dutch Golden Age.

Boasting over 200 works of art, its collection includes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, and many more pieces. And that’s just in its permanent exhibit, with some mesmerizing temporary exhibits as well.

One of the more unexpected details of the Mauritshuis, at least for me, was its lavish interior. Once a count’s residence, it has housed the art gallery for almost 200 years now. This means that often the spaces in between the artwork are just as interesting as those inside the frames. However long I did spend here, and it wasn’t a brief amount of time, I could have easily spent much more.

 

7. Gaze along the canals of The Hague

Somehow, it feels like a Dutch city without canals isn’t really a Dutch city.

That’s based on my admittedly limited experience, but like Amsterdam and Utrecht, you can expect to find canals in the Hague as well. What’s different here is how they blend seamlessly into the city itself. While the canals feel like major, central features of other cities, the canals of the Hague don’t pull focus from all the other stuff going on.

Far less extensive than in other cities, they effectively form a ring around the centre of the city and span out from there. If I had to pick the prettiest parts, I’d suggest heading behind the Escher Museum or opposite the Palace Garden. It’s a great way to get your “canal fix” if you’ve got the craving and have yet to visit elsewhere in the Netherlands.

Walking around the canals is nice, but for a better view, consider taking a canal boat cruise. I may be downplaying the canals a bit to adjust expectations, but they’re still exceptionally beautiful.

 

8. Find the royal office of Noordeinde Palace

These days, Europe isn’t home to all that many royal families, but one still calls the Hague home.

Yes, the Hague is where the Dutch royal family resides. It is in the Noordeinde Palace that King Willem-Alexander and his family reside. Interestingly, the palace doesn’t feel all that removed from the rest of the city, not in the way that somewhere like Buckingham Palace does.

While roaming the palace halls isn’t going to happen, a fair compromise is to walk through the Palace Gardens instead. Found behind the palace and by a canal, it’s one of The Hague’s many pleasant green spaces. Visiting in winter as I did, I definitely didn’t see it at its best either.

 

9. Find odd statues all over the place

As a city with culture on the brain, it is little surprise that in the Hague it often spills into the streets.

Often in this scenario, it takes the form of street art, but for the Hague, it seems to be through sculptures. In many of the centre’s more pedestrian-friendly areas, I found myself noticing more and more sculptures sitting about. One that I found instantly captivating is the image above of a woman looking to the sky because the body language is just so evocative.

Then there’s the statue of Jantje, a little boy pointing across the Hofvijver Lake to the Binnenhof. As soon as you see him, you can’t help but look to see where he’s pointing. The statue relates to an old children’s song where a young boy named Little John or Jantje would point across to the Binnenhof when asked where his father works.

A fantastic mix of adorableness and local folklore.

 

10. Contemplate at the Peace Palace

Given that my initial knowledge of the Hague revolved around the International Court of Justice, it only makes sense to include it on this list.

The only one of the 6 main divisions of the United Nations to be located outside New York, the court’s home is the elegant Peace Palace in the city’s north. While guided tours of the palace interior are limited to specific occasions, standing before its gates immediately leaves an impression.

Outside the palace, the gardens feature a number of memorials and monuments honouring its mission of peace. To learn more information about the UN organisation, you’re able to freely enter the Visitor Centre through the gates. Just by the visitor centre’s entrance, there’s also a tree covered with messages and wishes of peace contributed by all those who visit this site.

I can’t think of a more positive note to end your trip on than this.

 

 

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Have you ever thought of visiting The Hague before? Which of these things to do in The Hague would most interest you? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

*Disclosure: I gratefully received free tickets from The Hague Tourism Office to the Escher Museum, Mauritshuis, and Museum De Gevangenpoort. I also received press rates from the Babylon Hotel Den Haag for my stay there. As always, opinions are completely and genuinely my own.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.