Food · The Hague · Netherlands
What to eat in The Hague
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define The Hague, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Raw herring, Kibbeling and Rijsttafel. Sharing a rijsttafel at one of the city's long-established Indonesian restaurants is a Hague tradition and the best introduction to Indo cuisine. Dinner is early by southern European standards; kitchens are busiest from about 6pm to 8:30pm.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Raw herring
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Service is included.
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Street food
1.Raw herring (Hollandse Nieuwe)
Lightly salted raw herring eaten by the tail or in a roll with onions and pickles. Scheveningen celebrates the new season's catch each June.
Where: Herring stalls in Scheveningen harbour and carts in the centre.
Street food
2.Kibbeling
Battered and fried chunks of white fish served with garlic or remoulade sauce.
Where: Fish stalls at Scheveningen harbour, along the boulevard and at the Haagse Markt.
Dish
3.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.
Where: Indonesian restaurants across the centre and Statenkwartier; ask for a rijsttafel for two to sample many dishes.
Dish
4.Saté
Skewers of grilled chicken, pork or goat with peanut sauce, served on rice or with fries; a staple of Indonesian-Dutch cooking.
Where: Indonesian restaurants and toko (shops) with takeaway counters.
Dessert · Vegetarian
5.Spekkoek
A dense Indonesian layer cake spiced with cinnamon, clove and cardamom, made from many thin baked layers.
Where: Indonesian tokos and bakeries in the city.
Dessert · Vegetarian
6.Haagse Hopjes
Small coffee-flavoured hard caramels created in The Hague in the 18th century and sold in tins and paper bags.
Where: Sweet shops, souvenir shops and supermarkets.
Snack
7.Bitterballen
Crisp, deep-fried balls of beef ragout served with mustard, the standard bar snack with a glass of beer.
Where: Cafés on the Plein and Grote Markt and beach pavilions in Scheveningen.
Dish · Vegetarian
8.Dutch pancakes (Pannenkoeken)
Large, thin pancakes topped with anything from bacon and cheese to apple and syrup, popular for lunch with children.
Where: Pancake houses in the centre, Scheveningen and near parks.
Dish
9.Surinamese roti
Flatbread with curried chicken, potatoes, long beans and egg, a staple of the city's large Surinamese Hindustani community.
Where: Surinamese takeaways in the Transvaal and Schilderswijk districts and around the Haagse Markt.
Dessert · Vegetarian
10.Poffertjes
Small, fluffy buckwheat pancakes cooked in a special pan and served with butter and powdered sugar.
Where: Market stalls, fairs and pancake houses, especially in Scheveningen.
Food experiences
Rijsttafel dinner
Sharing a rijsttafel at one of the city's long-established Indonesian restaurants is a Hague tradition and the best introduction to Indo cuisine.
Fish at Scheveningen harbour
Harbour fish restaurants and stalls serve herring, kibbeling and the catch of the day a few metres from the boats.
Haagse Markt grazing
The huge market's stalls sell Turkish breads, Surinamese snacks, fresh stroopwafels and spices at local prices.
Beach pavilion sunset
From spring to autumn, beach pavilions at Scheveningen and Kijkduin serve drinks and dinner on the sand as the sun sets over the North Sea.
Quick bites and street food
- Raw herring — Herring stalls in Scheveningen harbour and carts in the centre.
- Kibbeling — Fish stalls at Scheveningen harbour, along the boulevard and at the Haagse Markt.
- Bitterballen — Cafés on the Plein and Grote Markt and beach pavilions in Scheveningen.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Spekkoek, Haagse Hopjes, Dutch pancakes and Poffertjes. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Dinner is early by southern European standards; kitchens are busiest from about 6pm to 8:30pm.
- Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, and some places do not take cash.
- Book Indonesian restaurants and Denneweg spots ahead for weekend dinners.
- Beach pavilions are seasonal and many close between autumn and spring.
- Ask for 'kraanwater' if you want tap water.
Tipping
Service is included. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good table service is appreciated but optional.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dank je wel | Thank you |
| Goedemorgen | Good morning |
| Mag ik afrekenen? | Can I pay, please? |
| Proost | Cheers |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is The Hague famous for?
Raw herring, Kibbeling, Rijsttafel and Saté. Lightly salted raw herring eaten by the tail or in a roll with onions and pickles.
+Is The Hague good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Spekkoek, Haagse Hopjes and Dutch pancakes.
+Do you tip in restaurants in The Hague?
Service is included. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good table service is appreciated but optional.