History · The Hague · Netherlands
8 historic sites to see in The Hague
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Patrick Rasenberg, Public domain
Quick answer
Start with Mauritshuis, Hofvijver and Binnenhof and Peace Palace. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 9–9 hours across 4 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 9–9 hours
- Areas
- Centrum and the Hofvijver, Zeeheldenkwartier and Hofkwartier and Noordeinde
Historic sites in The Hague
Museum · Centrum and the Hofvijver
1.Mauritshuis
Its size makes it possible to see properly in two hours.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Landmark · Centrum and the Hofvijver
2.Hofvijver and Binnenhof
The buildings have been under a long renovation since the early 2020s, so access is limited, but the view across the water from Lange Vijverberg is the city's classic picture.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Architecture
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Architecture · Zeeheldenkwartier
3.Peace Palace
A visitor centre at the gate explains its history, and guided tours of the building are offered on selected days when the courts are not sitting.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Iconic
Gallery · Zeeheldenkwartier
4.Panorama Mesdag
Painted in 1881 by Hendrik Willem Mesdag and others, this 360-degree panorama of Scheveningen's beach and village, about 120 metres around and 14 metres high, is viewed from a central dune platform that tricks the eye into seeing the real coast.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Palace · Hofkwartier and Noordeinde
5.Noordeinde Palace and gardens
The Royal Stables are nearby.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Outdoors
Street · Hofkwartier and Noordeinde
6.Lange Voorhout
It hosts an antiques and book market in summer and outdoor sculpture exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Couples
- History
Historic site · Centrum and the Hofvijver
7.Gevangenpoort
Guided tours visit the cells and torture room.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Mariahoeve
8.Louwman Museum
A private collection of several hundred historic cars, from early steam carriages and 19th-century motor cars to racing cars and cars of film stars and royalty, displayed in a purpose-built museum near the Clingendael estate.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Centrum and the Hofvijver | Mauritshuis, Hofvijver and Binnenhof and Gevangenpoort | 2 hours + 30 minutes + 1 hour |
| Zeeheldenkwartier | Peace Palace and Panorama Mesdag | 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Hofkwartier and Noordeinde | Noordeinde Palace and gardens and Lange Voorhout | 30 minutes + 30 minutes |
| Mariahoeve | Louwman Museum | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 4 free, 4 mid-priced. Book ahead for Mauritshuis. The longest visit is Mauritshuis; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Mauritshuis: Timed tickets bought online help on weekends and in school holidays.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Centrum and the Hofvijver and Zeeheldenkwartier): Mauritshuis → Hofvijver and Binnenhof → Gevangenpoort → Peace Palace, at least 5 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Zeeheldenkwartier, Hofkwartier and Noordeinde and Mariahoeve): Panorama Mesdag → Noordeinde Palace and gardens → Lange Voorhout → Louwman Museum, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Short, chilly days; a good month for the Mauritshuis and Kunstmuseum.
- March: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds. Days lengthen and Keukenhof usually opens later in the month.
- January: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold, grey and windy, but museums are quiet and hotel rates are low outside conference weeks.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Centrum and the Hofvijver — Government buildings, the Mauritshuis and terraces on the Plein and Grote Markt
- Hofkwartier and Noordeinde — Antique shops, galleries and the King's working palace in the old court quarter
- Zeeheldenkwartier — A 19th-century residential quarter of cafés and shops west of the centre
More of The Hague
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in The Hague?
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.
+Which of these are free in The Hague?
Hofvijver and Binnenhof, Peace Palace, Noordeinde Palace and gardens and Lange Voorhout.