Centrum
First-timersAround the Mauritshuis and the parliament.
The Hague city guide
Things To Do In The Hague
The seat of government and the international courts, with Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring in a small palace museum and a beach at Scheveningen a tram ride away.
5
Hostels in the city
8.6
Average, from 6,190 reviews
1665
Girl with a Pearl Earring, around
1913
The Peace Palace opens
10 min
To Delft
Government by the sea
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, but The Hague is where the country is run: the parliament, the government, the king's working palace and most of the embassies are here. It is also the international city of justice, home to the International Court of Justice in the Peace Palace and the International Criminal Court.
The result is a city that is greener, grander and quieter than Amsterdam, with wide streets, elegant old houses and some of the best museums in the country. The Mauritshuis, a seventeenth-century palace, holds Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring.
It is also the only big Dutch city on the beach. Scheveningen, a resort with a pier and a long sandy beach, is part of the city. Two days is right, with Delft ten minutes away.
Where to stay
The centre and Scheveningen are linked by tram. Stay in the centre for museums or by the sea in summer.
Zeeheldenkwartier
AtmosphereA neighbourhood of cafés and shops west of the centre.
Scheveningen
The beachThe seaside resort, with the pier and harbour.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in The Hague
The Mauritshuis is the city's great museum, a small palace full of Dutch Golden Age masterpieces: Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft, Rembrandt's Anatomy Lesson, and Fabritius's Goldfinch. Book ahead.
The Binnenhof, the parliament complex next door, is under a long-term renovation, and access is limited while the work continues.
The Kunstmuseum Den Haag has the world's largest Mondrian collection, including his last painting, Victory Boogie Woogie. Escher in Het Paleis, in a former royal palace, is devoted to M. C. Escher's impossible drawings.
The Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice, has a visitor centre. Panorama Mesdag is a huge circular painting of Scheveningen beach in 1881.
Take the tram to Scheveningen for the beach, the pier and fish on the harbour.
Free things
Free things to do in The Hague
The beach at Scheveningen is free and long, with dunes behind it.
The centre's streets, the Hofvijver pond by the parliament and the Haagse Bos woods are free.
The Peace Palace visitor centre is free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in The Hague
The Hague has a good food scene, with a strong Indonesian influence from the colonial era: rijsttafel, satay and nasi goreng are especially good here.
At Scheveningen, the harbour has fresh fish stalls, and the new season's herring, Hollandse Nieuwe, arrives in June with a celebration.
Chinatown, near the centre, has cheap Asian food. A meal is €14 to €22.
Nightlife
Going out in The Hague
The Hague's nightlife centres on the Plein and Grote Markt, where bars and terraces fill in the evening.
Scheveningen has beach bars in summer.
A beer is €4 to €6.
Getting around
Getting around The Hague
Trams connect the centre, Scheveningen, Delft and the station, run by HTM. Tap a contactless bank card in and out.
The city has two main stations: Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag HS. Trains reach Delft in about ten minutes, Rotterdam in about twenty-five and Amsterdam in about fifty. Schiphol is about thirty minutes.
The RandstadRail light rail runs to Rotterdam.
Costs
What The Hague costs
The Hague is cheaper than Amsterdam. Dorms start around €25, a meal is €14 to €22. A careful day is €50 to €70.
Many places are card only, and some do not take credit cards.
Safety
Staying safe in The Hague
The Hague is safe.
On Scheveningen beach, swim only where lifeguards are on duty; the North Sea has strong currents.
Cycle lanes are for bikes, and bikes have priority. Do not walk in them, and look both ways before stepping off the pavement.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from The Hague
Delft, Leiden and the beach are all close.
Delft
Vermeer's canal town.
Leiden
The oldest university city in the Netherlands, with canals.
Rotterdam
The modern city.
Keukenhof
The tulip gardens.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Prinsjesdag, when the king opens the parliamentary year, is the city's great day.
Staff pick
3–23 December
Royal Christmas Fair
Set in the heart of The Hague at the picturesque Lange Voorhout, the Royal Christmas Fair transforms the city into a festive wonderland each…
Staff pick
1 January
The Unox New Year's Dive
The Unox New Year's Dive at Scheveningen Beach Resort, near Beelden aan Zee, The Hague, Netherlands, invites thousands to kick off the year with…
10 Oct – 1 Nov
Dark Days
Dark Days transform Familiepark Drievliet into a spooky and fun Halloween experience during October and early November. You will find a variety of Halloween…
7 November
ADO Den Haag vs Sparta Rotterdam
A football match between ADO Den Haag and Sparta Rotterdam is scheduled at the Cars Jeans Stadion in The Hague. The game kicks off…
2 October
BABYBEARD
BABYBEARD blends Japan’s sparkling pop with the raw energy of heavy metal, creating a unique musical experience. The group, formed around Australian performer Ladybeard…
3 October
Do You Remember This One?
Nostalgia fills the air with music spanning from the 80s to today. Expect a lively mix of hits from ABBA to Michael Jackson and…
3 October
IJSLAND
IJSLAND is a music project formed by Sef and Abel, known for its energetic live shows blending protest, activism, hip-hop, trap, and electronic beats.…
3 October
From Studio Ghibli to One Piece
This concert offers a total immersion in the world of Studio Ghibli and other Japanese animation classics. The Grand Symphonique orchestra of 50 musicians…
Hostels
Where to stay in The Hague
The top-rated places to stay in The Hague right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
May to September, for the beach and the terraces.
Jan
Cold, dark, cheapest beds of the year
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Tulip season opens at the end of the month
Apr
Tulips and Kingsday on the 27th
May
The best month
Jun
Long evenings, terraces full
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Still peak
Sep
Excellent and quieter
Oct
Cool, wet. Museum weather
Nov
Grey and cheap
Dec
Sinterklaas and Christmas markets
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The sea is swimmable only for the brave, from July to September.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Transport assumes trams and walking.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
The Hague travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is The Hague the capital?
Amsterdam is the capital, but The Hague is the seat of government and parliament.
Where is Girl with a Pearl Earring?
In the Mauritshuis, a small palace museum in the centre.
Is there a beach in The Hague?
Yes, at Scheveningen, a tram ride from the centre.
How far is Delft?
About ten minutes by train or tram.
Can I visit the parliament?
The Binnenhof is under a long-term renovation, and access is limited.
How many days do you need?
Two.
When is the best time to visit?
May to September.
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