Travel guide · Netherlands
The Hague travel guide
Seat of government, Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and a North Sea beach
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The Hague is the Dutch seat of government and royal city, home to the King's working palace, international courts in the Peace Palace and dozens of embassies, while Amsterdam remains the capital. Its compact centre around the Hofvijver pond holds the Mauritshuis, with Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, Escher in Het Paleis and the tree-lined Lange Voorhout. A tram ride away, Scheveningen has a long sandy beach, a pier and a fishing harbour, and the Kunstmuseum, Panorama Mesdag and Madurodam lie in between. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–September.
Key facts
- Country
- Netherlands
- Best time to visit
- May–September
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- AMS, RTM
- Mid-range daily budget
- $170–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Mauritshuis, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Peace Palace and Scheveningen beach
Why visit The Hague
- The Mauritshuis holds Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft, Rembrandt's Anatomy Lesson and Fabritius's Goldfinch in one small palace.
- The Kunstmuseum Den Haag has the world's largest Mondrian collection, including Victory Boogie Woogie.
- Scheveningen's beach, pier and harbour are about 15–20 minutes from the centre by tram.
- Indonesian food is a city tradition, from rijsttafel restaurants to the Tong Tong Fair.
- Delft and Leiden are about 10–15 minutes away by train, and Rotterdam and Keukenhof are close by.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Museum · Centrum and the Hofvijver
Mauritshuis
This 17th-century palace on the Hofvijver holds a focused collection of Dutch Golden Age painting, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft, Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp and Carel Fabritius's The Goldfinch.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Landmark · Centrum and the Hofvijver
Hofvijver and Binnenhof
The Binnenhof, the complex where the Dutch parliament has met for centuries, rises straight from the Hofvijver pond, with the medieval Ridderzaal at its centre.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Museum · Statenkwartier
Kunstmuseum Den Haag
Housed in a 1935 building by H.P.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
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Architecture · Zeeheldenkwartier
Peace Palace
Funded by Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1913, the Peace Palace houses the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Iconic
Theme park · Statenkwartier
Madurodam
A miniature park of Dutch landmarks at 1:25 scale, from Amsterdam's canal houses and the Rijksmuseum to Schiphol, the Delta Works and the Port of Rotterdam, with interactive models children can operate.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Iconic
- Outdoors
Museum · Hofkwartier and Noordeinde
Escher in Het Paleis
The former winter palace of Queen Emma on Lange Voorhout displays M.C.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Kids
- Rainy day
Where to stay
Centrum and the Hofvijver is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, nightlife and shopping
Centrum and the Hofvijver
Government buildings, the Mauritshuis and terraces on the Plein and Grote Markt
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, shopping and food lovers
Hofkwartier and Noordeinde
Antique shops, galleries and the King's working palace in the old court quarter
$$ · Best for food lovers, solo travellers and budget
Zeeheldenkwartier
A 19th-century residential quarter of cafés and shops west of the centre
$$$ · Best for families, culture and quiet stays
Statenkwartier
Grand townhouses and museums between the city and the dunes
What to eat
- Raw herring — Lightly salted raw herring eaten by the tail or in a roll with onions and pickles.
- Kibbeling — Battered and fried chunks of white fish served with garlic or remoulade sauce.
- Rijsttafel — A Dutch-Indonesian 'rice table' of many small dishes such as beef rendang, satay, sambal goreng, pickles and crackers around a plate of rice, a legacy of the city's large Indo community.
- Saté — Skewers of grilled chicken, pork or goat with peanut sauce, served on rice or with fries; a staple of Indonesian-Dutch cooking.
- Spekkoek — A dense Indonesian layer cake spiced with cinnamon, clove and cardamom, made from many thin baked layers.
- Haagse Hopjes — Small coffee-flavoured hard caramels created in The Hague in the 18th century and sold in tins and paper bags.
When to go
The best time to visit The Hague is May to September, when the beach pavilions are open, terraces are busy and the sea is at its warmest. April adds tulips at nearby Keukenhof and the bulb fields. Winter is quiet, grey and lower-priced, and ideal for the Mauritshuis and Kunstmuseum.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Bulb fields and Keukenhof nearby, King's Day and the first beach-pavilion days. |
| Summer | June–August | Mild days, busy beaches, herring season and outdoor events, with frequent showers. |
| Autumn | September–November | Prinsjesdag in September, then wetter, windier weather and quieter museums. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold, damp and dark but lower-priced, with uncrowded museums and bracing beach walks. |
Getting there and around
Amsterdam Schiphol is about 45 km away; direct trains reach Den Haag Centraal in about 30 minutes. Rotterdam The Hague Airport is about 20 km south, reached by RandstadRail line E and a connecting bus or by taxi in about 25 minutes.
Central The Hague is walkable, and HTM trams and RandstadRail light rail link the centre with Scheveningen, Kijkduin, Delft and Rotterdam. The city is flat and very good for cycling.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Mauritshuis, the Hofvijver and Lange Voorhout, the Kunstmuseum and an afternoon at Scheveningen. Three days adds Panorama Mesdag, Escher in Het Paleis, Madurodam or Museum Voorlinden; with four or five you can add Delft, Leiden and Rotterdam.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Dutch
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe and of high quality.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Service is included.
The Hague is generally relaxed for visitors. Watch for pickpockets on busy trams and at stations, keep clear of cycle lanes, and swim only in lifeguarded areas at the beach, where currents near the pier and harbour can be strong.
Flights to The Hague
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in The Hague?
Two days covers the Mauritshuis, the Hofvijver and Lange Voorhout, the Kunstmuseum and an afternoon at Scheveningen. Three days adds Panorama Mesdag, Escher in Het Paleis, Madurodam or Museum Voorlinden; with four or five you can add Delft, Leiden and Rotterdam. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit The Hague?
The best time to visit The Hague is May to September, when the beach pavilions are open, terraces are busy and the sea is at its warmest. April adds tulips at nearby Keukenhof and the bulb fields. Winter is quiet, grey and lower-priced, and ideal for the Mauritshuis and Kunstmuseum.
+What is The Hague known for?
Mauritshuis, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Peace Palace, Scheveningen beach, Dutch government, Mondrian, Madurodam and Indonesian food. The Mauritshuis holds Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft, Rembrandt's Anatomy Lesson and Fabritius's Goldfinch in one small palace.
+Is The Hague expensive?
The Hague is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $170–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in The Hague?
No. Trams, trains and bikes cover the city, the coast and the main day trips, and parking in the centre and at Scheveningen is expensive in summer.