The Hague

Netherlands Updated Oct 2026

The first surprise in The Hague, Netherlands, is how quickly the sound changes: tram bells and bicycle tires give way to gulls and North Sea surf in about 15–20 minutes. The seat of Dutch government is also home to a royal palace, international courts, Indonesian kitchens and a long beach.

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The Hague, Netherlands Photo: Patrick Jaksic / Pexels
Attractions
12
Audio
17 h
Trip length
2–3 days
Best season
Late May–mid-September

Why The Hague

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In the historic centre, the Hofvijver reflects the Mauritshuis, where Vermeer’s *Girl with a Pearl Earring* hangs among Dutch Golden Age paintings. Nearby, the Binnenhof—the country’s political heart—is undergoing a major renovation; the work itself has become part of the view from its temporary viewing tower.

The city’s food tells a more complicated story. As an administrative centre for the Dutch East Indies, The Hague drew generations of Indonesian and Indo-Dutch residents; today, a rijsttafel arrives as a spread of fragrant rice, rich rendang and sharp sambals, while Surinamese roti and snacks add another layer to the table.

Art and architecture reward a slower pace: M.C. Escher’s impossible staircases fill a former royal palace, while H.P. Berlage’s Kunstmuseum holds a deep collection of Piet Mondrian. Then the tram reaches Scheveningen, where wind moves over the beach and the Kurhaus faces the sea; the change makes the city’s polished civic centre feel less like its whole story than one chapter.

  • Golden Age, room by room

    At the Mauritshuis, Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring hangs in a 17th-century palace beside the Hofvijver. Across town, H.P. Berlage’s Kunstmuseum holds nearly 300 works by Piet Mondrian, including Victory Boogie Woogie.

  • A city of courts and cabinets

    The Binnenhof’s Gothic Ridderzaal anchors the Netherlands’ political history, though renovation currently restricts access; the 28-meter viewing tower looks down over the work. The Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice and Permanent Court of Arbitration, gives the city’s legal identity a striking address.

  • The North Sea is part of town

    Trams 1 and 9 reach Scheveningen from the center in about 15–20 minutes, where the wind carries salt across a broad beach and a 382-meter pier. Come for the sea air, even if it’s too cold to swim.

  • A serious stage for the arts

    Amare, opened in 2021, brings the Nederlands Dans Theater, Residentie Orkest and Royal Conservatoire together under one roof. Its four performance venues make an evening of dance or music an easy counterpoint to a day among palace facades and museum rooms.

Places to Visit

Not every monument, just the ones we'd walk you past ourselves.

All 155 places in The Hague

Neighborhoods

Where to wander, by quarter — each with its own rhythm.

  • Historic Centre and Hofkwartier

    The city’s political and royal core gathers around the Hofvijver, the Mauritshuis and the Binnenhof, currently under renovation. Linden-shaded Lange Voorhout leads past Escher in Het Paleis, while Noordeinde mixes palace façades with independent shops; after dark, the terraces around Grote Markt have a more informal, music-led mood.

  • Zeeheldenkwartier

    This 19th-century quarter feels residential first and fashionable second, with decorative façades and small shops along Piet Heinstraat. Prins Hendrikplein is a good place to pause for coffee or a market, and nearby cafés serve everything from sourdough pastries to Levantine mezze.

  • Scheveningen

    Scheveningen holds two coastal moods at once: a wide beach and boulevard by the Kurhaus, and a working harbor where fish stalls sell herring and kibbeling. The 382-metre Pier reaches out over the water; in June, Vlaggetjesdag brings decorated fishing boats and the season’s first herring to the harbor.

  • Statenkwartier and Duinoord

    Built up largely between 1890 and 1915, these adjoining districts are good places to look up: stained glass, tile panels and wrought-iron balconies enliven their residential streets. The Kunstmuseum, designed by H.P. Berlage, gives the area a cultural anchor, with its Mondrian collection and galleries of fashion and applied arts.

  • Transvaal and Schilderswijk

    These densely populated, multicultural districts are among the city’s best places to eat casually, from Surinamese roti shops to Turkish bakeries and Moroccan butchers. On Herman Costerstraat, the Haagse Markt’s hundreds of stalls fill the air with frying fish, herbs and freshly baked flatbread.

Plan your trip

Before you go

Getting There
Fly into Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) or Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM); direct NS trains from Schiphol reach Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag HS in about 29–35 minutes, while RTM connects by bus 33 and Metro E via Meijersplein. The main rail stations are Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag HS (Hollands Spoor); road approaches include the A12 from Utrecht, A4 and A13 from the Rotterdam–Amsterdam corridor, and A44/N44 from Leiden.
Getting Around
The Hague has no conventional subway: RET Metro E is the single metro line serving the city, while RandstadRail light-rail lines 3 and 4, HTM trams and buses, and regional EBS buses cover local routes. Separated red-asphalt cycle tracks make biking practical; in 2026, HTM day and 3-day tickets cost €8.60 and €22, and the South Holland Tourist Day Ticket costs €17.50. OVpay contactless payment works on transit—tap in and out with the same card or device.
Climate & Best Time
Spring highs run about 10–18°C and lows 3–11°C; summer is around 20–23°C by day and 12–15°C at night, autumn 10–20°C and 5–13°C, and winter 6–8°C and 2–4°C. Rain falls throughout the year: April is usually driest at about 52 mm, while October is wettest at roughly 93 mm, and coastal wind can make beach evenings feel colder. July and August bring the busiest beach season; late May to mid-September offers a good balance of warmth and outdoor time, while April and May suit flower trips and cooler cycling.
Language & Currency
Dutch is the official language and the euro (€) is the currency; English is widely spoken, including at museums and on public transport. The city is largely cashless, and some shops and cafés accept only debit-card payment; tipping is optional, with 5–10% customary for especially good table service.

03 Top tickets in The Hague.

Book ahead

Curated from places in this city. Same price as official sites.

The Mauritshuis Museum: Entry Ticket
Mauritshuis
The Mauritshuis Museum: Entry Ticket
★4.7 from €21
Madurodam: Entry Ticket
Madurodam
Madurodam: Entry Ticket
★4.7 from €23.95
Escher in The Palace The Hague: Entry Ticket
Escher Museum
Escher in The Palace The Hague: Entry Ticket
★4.2 from €14.50
SkyView de Pier: Entry Ticket
Scheveningen Pier
SkyView de Pier: Entry Ticket
★4.4 from €16
Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Tram
Tram Tunnel
Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Tram
★4.6 from €18
Mauritshuis Museum + Escher in The Palace
Escher Museum
Mauritshuis Museum + Escher in The Palace
★4.7 from €31.50

Prices shown are indicative — final pricing and availability are confirmed at checkout. Audiala may receive a commission from bookings made via these links.

From Count’s Hunting Ground to Capital of Law

The Hague grew around a court—and learned to put power on trial.

  1. c. 3500 BCE

    People Settle the Coastal Dunes

    Excavations at Ypenburg have uncovered traces of Neolithic settlement, when the shoreline lay farther inland than it does today. The earliest Hague was not a town but a patchwork of homes on sandy ground beside shifting water.

  2. c. 100 CE

    Rome Guards the Rhine Frontier

    In the first centuries CE, Roman forces held the frontier along the Old Rhine, with military activity near the site of modern The Hague. The regional center was Forum Hadriani, now Voorburg; Rome left its mark nearby, but no Roman city grew here.

  3. c. 1230

    Floris IV Chooses the Hofvijver

    Count Floris IV of Holland acquired an estate beside the Hofvijver, or Court Pond, for a hunting residence. Around that water’s edge, a settlement began to gather around the count’s household.

  4. 1242

    First Record of Haga

    A charter records the settlement by the Latinized name Haga, an early written trace of what would become The Hague. The name referred to the count’s enclosed woodland estate, not yet to a city with walls or civic rights.

  5. 1248

    William II Orders a Palace

    William II, Count of Holland and elected King of the Romans, commissioned a royal palace at the Binnenhof. His building work turned a country residence into a stage for rulership—and gave the future city its enduring political center.

  6. c. 1290

    Ridderzaal Gives Power a Hall

    Under Count Floris V, the great hall now called the Ridderzaal took shape within the Binnenhof. Its broad timber roof and immense single chamber made court ceremony visible: authority could gather beneath one roof.

Show the full timeline (30 moments)
  1. 1397

    Monks Build the Kloosterkerk

    Construction began on the Kloosterkerk near the Lange Voorhout, adding a religious house to a settlement still organized around court and countryside. Its long life would carry the building through the Reformation, changing rulers and changing forms of worship.

  2. 1456

    The Golden Fleece Meets

    Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, brought the Order of the Golden Fleece to The Hague for one of its chapter meetings. The Ridderzaal and Grote Kerk supplied the solemn setting, and the gathering showed how a once-local court had become a venue for European power.

  3. 1528

    Van Rossum Burns the Town

    Troops commanded by Maarten van Rossum raided and burned parts of the unfortified settlement. The attack exposed the cost of The Hague’s unusual status: the seat of government had no city walls to keep an army out.

  4. 1584

    Government Settles at the Binnenhof

    After William the Silent was assassinated in nearby Delft, The Hague became the permanent seat of the States-General and the Dutch Republic’s government. The Binnenhof’s rooms, courtyards and galleries now held the machinery of a new state.

  5. 13 May 1619

    Oldenbarnevelt Dies on the Scaffold

    Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, the Republic’s leading statesman, was beheaded in the Binnenhof after a bitter struggle with Prince Maurice of Orange. The scaffold stood inside the seat of government: Dutch political conflict had become public, physical and irreversible.

  6. 1629

    Huygens Is Born in The Hague

    Christiaan Huygens was born in The Hague into a family closely tied to the court and its intellectual circles. He later developed the pendulum clock and made discoveries in astronomy, giving the city a place in the history of science as well as government.

  7. 1644

    Mauritshuis Rises beside the Pond

    The Mauritshuis was completed as a city residence for Count John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen, beside the Hofvijver and the Binnenhof. Jacob van Campen and Pieter Post gave a Dutch courtier a palace of measured symmetry; its later life as a museum would make those rooms famous for paintings.

  8. 1656

    Pendulum Clock Reorders Time

    Christiaan Huygens devised the pendulum clock in The Hague, and clockmaker Salomon Coster built an early working model. A swinging weight made timekeeping far more precise, with consequences for astronomy, navigation and the daily business of the city.

  9. 1670

    Spinoza Writes in The Hague

    Baruch Spinoza moved into a house on the Paviljoensgracht, where he spent his final years and worked on his philosophical writings. His rooms were modest; the arguments he shaped there would travel much farther than the city’s courtly decrees.

  10. 20 August 1672

    De Witt Brothers Killed by Mob

    Johan and Cornelis de Witt were dragged from the Gevangenpoort and killed by an Orangist crowd during the Republic’s disastrous year of war and panic. The brothers had governed from the Binnenhof; their deaths outside the prison gates showed how quickly political authority could collapse into street violence.

  11. 1774

    Art Opens to the Public

    Prince William V opened his picture gallery to visitors, creating the Netherlands’ first public art gallery. Paintings that had once belonged to a prince could now be studied by a wider public, an idea that would reshape the city’s cultural life.

  12. 1806

    City Rights at Last

    Louis Bonaparte, king of the Kingdom of Holland, granted The Hague formal city rights. The settlement that had served counts, princes and parliament for centuries finally received the civic status its political weight had long outgrown.

  13. 1818

    A Bathhouse Opens at Scheveningen

    Jacob Pronk opened Scheveningen’s first seaside bathhouse, giving the fishing village a new role as a bathing resort. Salt air and cold water became part of The Hague’s urban life, as visitors began arriving for the shore as well as the court.

  14. 1881

    Van Gogh Returns to The Hague

    Vincent van Gogh returned to The Hague and began a formative period of work, studying with the painter Anton Mauve and drawing the city’s streets and working people. Here, his early practice took shape in pencil, watercolor and oil before he became the painter the world recognizes.

  15. 1899

    Law Becomes an International Project

    Delegates from 26 countries gathered at Huis ten Bosch for the First Hague Peace Conference, convened at the initiative of Tsar Nicholas II. They agreed rules for warfare and founded the Permanent Court of Arbitration, planting the idea that states could submit disputes to law rather than arms.

  16. 28 August 1913

    Peace Palace Opens Its Doors

    The Peace Palace was officially dedicated, built with funding from Andrew Carnegie and designed by French architect Louis M. Cordonnier. Its brick, stone and towered roof gave international law a permanent address in a city already known for diplomacy.

  17. 1935

    Berlage’s Museum Opens

    The Gemeentemuseum, now Kunstmuseum Den Haag, opened in a modern brick building designed by H.P. Berlage, who had died the year before. Its quiet geometry offered a fitting home for modern art, including the world’s largest collection of works by Piet Mondrian.

  18. 10 May 1940

    Paratroopers Descend on The Hague

    German forces launched an airborne assault on the airfields around The Hague, hoping to seize Queen Wilhelmina and the government. Dutch troops retook the airfields and blunted the attack, but the Netherlands capitulated days later and the occupation began.

  19. 1942–1944

    Atlantic Wall Tears Through Neighborhoods

    German occupiers cleared large areas of The Hague to build the Atlantic Wall, demolishing homes and driving tens of thousands of residents from their neighborhoods. Nazi authorities also deported an estimated 12,000 Jewish residents from the city; most were murdered.

  20. 3 March 1945

    Bezuidenhout Bombed by Mistake

    British bombers aiming at German V-2 launch sites in the Haagse Bos dropped their bombs on the residential Bezuidenhout district after a coordinate error. About 532 people died, roughly 3,300 homes were destroyed, and more than 30,000 residents were left homeless.

  21. 1946

    International Court Takes Its Seat

    The United Nations’ International Court of Justice began work at the Peace Palace, carrying the city’s prewar arbitration project into a new institution. Judges now sat where, only a few years earlier, war had reached the surrounding streets.

  22. 1993

    War Crimes Tribunal Comes to The Hague

    The United Nations Security Council established the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. The city’s courts would now hear cases examining crimes committed during the Balkan wars, extending its legal role from disputes between states to individual responsibility.

  23. 1 July 2002

    Rome Statute Brings the ICC

    The Rome Statute entered into force and established the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague. Its mandate to prosecute genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity gave the city a new, contested task: judging individuals accused of the gravest crimes.

  24. 2021

    A New Stage, an Old Renovation

    The Amare cultural complex opened on Spuiplein, bringing music, dance and theatre into a new city-center venue. That same year, a long renovation began at the Binnenhof, placing the old seat of government behind construction barriers while its political life carried on.

Who lived here

  • Painter · 1872–1944

    Piet Mondrian (Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan)

    Grew up and worked here

    Mondrian grew up in The Hague and established a studio here in 1892, before leaving for Paris in 1911. He might recognize the city’s straight avenues in his own geometry, though today’s towers would offer new shapes.

  • Painter · 1831–1915

    Hendrik Willem Mesdag

    Settled here in 1869

    After settling in The Hague, Mesdag turned Scheveningen’s shoreline into a 360-degree panorama with a 120-metre circumference, still displayed in Panorama Mesdag. He might recognize the dunes and North Sea wind in today’s view, even if the resort’s pier has changed the horizon.

  • Philosopher · 1632–1677

    Baruch Spinoza

    Lived and died here

    Spinoza lived on Paviljoensgracht from 1670 until his death in 1677, writing philosophy while earning a living as a lens grinder. The house survives as a museum; the city’s role in international law might have amused a thinker who insisted that ideas should meet open argument.

  • Queen Mother of the Netherlands · 1858–1934

    Adelheid Emma Wilhelmina Theresia of Waldeck and Pyrmont

    Lived at Lange Voorhout Palace from 1901 to 1934

    Queen Mother Emma made the palace on Lange Voorhout her home from 1901 until her death in 1934; the building later became Escher in Het Paleis. She knew its ceremonial rooms as a residence, while visitors now encounter them through optical illusions—a curious second life for a royal home.

  • Architect · 1856–1934

    Hendrik Petrus Berlage

    Designed Kunstmuseum Den Haag

    Berlage designed the building that opened as The Hague’s municipal museum in 1935, giving its galleries a clear rhythm of rooms and daylight. He might be pleased that visitors still find a sense of calm inside while the city changes around it.

Where to Eat

Where locals actually book dinner — not the tourist menus.

Insider tips

Small things that change how the city treats you.

  • Mind the Cycleways

    Red asphalt and bike symbols mark cycle paths; keep off them when walking and check both directions before crossing. Cyclists can move quickly, and some routes are shared with scooters.

  • Tap the Same Card

    Use OVpay by tapping in and out with the same physical card or phone. A missed tap-out can trigger a penalty fare, so check for a reader when you leave.

  • Compare Day Passes

    HTM lists a €8.60 day ticket and a €22 three-day ticket for its trams and buses. Compare those with pay-as-you-go fares, especially if you plan to use regional operators too.

  • Check Binnenhof Access

    The parliamentary complex is under renovation, so interior access and tours can change. Check the current arrangements before you go; the 28-metre viewing tower offers a look over the works.

  • Time the Japanese Garden

    Clingendael’s Japanese Garden opens for only about six to eight weeks in late spring and two weeks in autumn. Check the municipality’s opening dates before making the trip.

  • Carry a Bank Card

    Many Dutch shops and cafés are cashless or PIN-only, so bring a contactless debit or credit card. Tipping is optional; rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good restaurant service is customary.

  • Keep ID Handy

    Anyone aged 14 or older must carry valid photo ID in the Netherlands. Keep an eye on bags at Den Haag Centraal and Hollands Spoor, where crowded interchanges can attract pickpockets.

Frequently asked

Is The Hague worth visiting?

Yes—The Hague pairs Dutch Golden Age paintings with royal and political history, then puts the North Sea within tram distance. The Mauritshuis is home to Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, while Scheveningen offers a very different afternoon by the water.

How many days in The Hague do you need?

Plan two to three days for the city and coast. One day can cover the Mauritshuis and historic centre; a second leaves time for a larger museum or the Peace Palace area, and a third gives Scheveningen room in the schedule.

How do you get from Schiphol Airport to The Hague?

Take a direct NS train from Schiphol to Den Haag Centraal or Den Haag HS; the trip takes about 29–35 minutes. Trains run roughly every 10–15 minutes, and a second-class single fare is around €9.50–€10.50.

How do you pay for public transport in The Hague?

Tap a contactless debit or credit card, or a digital wallet, on the reader when boarding and leaving. Use the same card or device for both taps; HTM day tickets are another option for frequent tram and bus rides.

Is The Hague safe for tourists?

The Hague is generally safe by international standards, though normal city precautions still matter. Watch your belongings at busy stations, stay clear of cycle paths, and take care near canals at night, especially after drinking; call 112 for emergencies.

How much does public transport cost in The Hague?

HTM lists its day ticket at €8.60 and its three-day ticket at €22 for unlimited travel on HTM trams and buses. OVpay charges distance-based fares, so the best value depends on how many rides you take and whether you use other operators.

Is The Hague worth a day trip from Amsterdam?

Yes, if you focus on the city centre: direct trains take about half an hour, making the Mauritshuis and a walk around the Hofvijver practical in one day. Add Scheveningen only if you’re happy to keep the museum visit brief.

When is the best time to visit The Hague?

Late May to mid-September offers warmer weather and good conditions for the beach and outdoor walks. April and May are appealing for spring flowers and cycling; pack a layer, since the North Sea brings wind even on mild days.

All Places to Visit.

155 places to discover

Binnenhof
Place

Binnenhof

Peace Palace
Place

Peace Palace

Kunstmuseum Den Haag
Place

Kunstmuseum Den Haag

Kb National Library of the Netherlands
Place

Kb National Library of the Netherlands

Netherlands Institute for Art History
Place

Netherlands Institute for Art History

Noordeinde Palace
Place

Noordeinde Palace

Place

Literature Museum

Panorama Mesdag
Place

Panorama Mesdag

Place

Kinderboekenmuseum

World Forum Convention Center
Place

World Forum Convention Center

Place

Dutch Senate

Escher Museum
Place

Escher Museum

Place

Zuiderpark Stadion

Zuiderpark
Place

Zuiderpark

Kneuterdijk Palace
Place

Kneuterdijk Palace

Circustheater
Place

Circustheater

Scheveningen
Place

Scheveningen

Louwman Museum
Place

Louwman Museum

Court Chapel
Place

Court Chapel

Binckhorst Castle
Place

Binckhorst Castle

Haags Historisch Museum
Place

Haags Historisch Museum

Place

Museum Bredius

Mauritshuis
Place

Mauritshuis

Westbroekpark
Place

Westbroekpark

Place

Haags Openbaar Vervoer Museum

Lange Voorhout Palace
Place

Lange Voorhout Palace

Indies Monument
Place

Indies Monument

Place

Fotomuseum Den Haag

Voorburg
Place

Voorburg

Huis Ten Bosch
Place

Huis Ten Bosch

Madurodam
Place

Madurodam

Ridderzaal
Place

Ridderzaal

Huis Van Het Boek
Place

Huis Van Het Boek

Bingoal Stadion
Place

Bingoal Stadion

Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk
Place

Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk

Oranjehotel
Place

Oranjehotel

Kurhaus of Scheveningen
Place

Kurhaus of Scheveningen

Place

Kijkduin en Ockenburgh

Catshuis
Place

Catshuis

Den Haag Hs Railway Station
Place

Den Haag Hs Railway Station

Paard Van Troje
Place

Paard Van Troje

Drievliet
Place

Drievliet

Malieveld
Place

Malieveld

Koninklijke Schouwburg
Place

Koninklijke Schouwburg

Nieuwe Kerk
Place

Nieuwe Kerk

De Uithof
Place

De Uithof

Het Strijkijzer
Place

Het Strijkijzer

Gevangenpoort
Place

Gevangenpoort

Showing 1–48 of 155 places

Photo credits (1)
  1. Patrick Jaksic — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/18684354/

Photos may have been resized or cropped.