What to do in The Hague, Netherlands?
The Hague is a city and municipality in Holland, which is the southern part of the Netherlands. The Hague is the seat of the Dutch senate, government ministries, and courts, as well as international courts.
During World War II, it was a major base for German spies. After WW2, because it was so close to Emmen Airfield for NATO jets, it was constantly under surveillance from 1953-1960.
However these days you can walk around freely without any worry as it’s now a peaceful Dutch city with many different attractions to see and do.
It’s a city that you can’t help but feel connected to with a unique friendly vibe about it.
The Hague Attractions
1) Royal residence (Huis ten Bosch)
The Royal residence is a palace that was built in the Dutch city of The Hague. This palace became the official residence after it was commissioned in 1887. It later became the royal family’s winter home and was open to the public for visits and tours during time periods other than winter.
This exquisite building only stands 19 meters tall and 42 meters wide while its facade is covered with vibrant colors, mosaics, and gold plating. The inside of this building has an elaborate staircase that leads up to a large ballroom on the second floor.
It also has spacious living areas that were designed for royalty and share similarities with castles in Europe.
2) Royal family (Palace)
In the city of The Hague, you will find a house that was built for Prince Hendrik in 1839. It is a yellow villa with neoclassical elements and a large Tuscan portico on its front side.
It also includes two other buildings, which were later added after Prince Hendrik’s death to be used as guesthouses and offices for charity purposes.
The original owner of the villa was a wealthy merchant by the name J.W. Bilderbeek who actually built this in order to sell it off to Prince Hendrik.
3) Peace Palace
This palace is located in the city of The Hague, which has been designated as the official residence for the Dutch monarch. It was built in 1913 after it was requested by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia who also gifted an original copy of The International Court of Justice located here along with a Peace Park area located around it.
This palace is where all international peace treaties are signed and officially recognized as binding laws. This is truly one place you will want to visit if you enjoy learning about history, mediation, and world peace.
4) Binnenhof (inner court)
This historic building dates back to medieval times when the Counts started living there in order to manage their business affairs.
Nowadays, several buildings are attached to this that play important roles in national politics such as the Senate building which is the second oldest parliamentary building in the Netherlands.
The Binnenhof is a complex with a square courtyard surrounded by buildings and gates, which were built during several different time periods from medieval times to 19th-century traditionalism.
The most popular of these is known as the Ridderzaal or Knight’s Hall, which is a 15-century Gothic hall where Kings used to attend sessions until the construction of Palace Noordeinde.
In fact, they still continue using this space for special events such as New Year’s Eve parties that are open to public visitors.
5) Bezuidenhout (district)
This district in The Hague has been designed in typical Dutch classicist style where you will find a mix of old and modern buildings.
Not only is this area beautiful it also offers visitors a chance to visit the Madurodam miniature park, which has scale models of famous Dutch landmarks.
This popular attraction is filled with many colorful buildings that are made to look exactly like their larger counterparts in real life-size.
6) Scheveningen (beach)
Scheveningen is known as the most famous beach in The Hague and has been popular with visitors since it was first open to the public for bathing more than a century ago.
This promenade features fantastic views of the coastline and endless beaches that are packed with warm sunshine during summers and autumns.
It also houses numerous hotels, casinos, restaurants, and tourist attractions that reside within its Scheveningen Pier area.
7) Madurodam (miniature park)
Madurodam is one of the most visited attractions located in Scheveningen district with over 1 million visitors per year visiting this miniature park filled with scale models of Dutch landmarks.
These include some well-known buildings such as the Royal Palace Noordeinde, Amsterdam Central Station, and a windmill that is located within the miniature village.
Every detail was designed to match its real-life counterpart particularly in the accuracy of proportions and colors used for each building.
Many kids love visiting this attraction due to its wonderful layout and also because they can easily see larger versions of famous buildings from their childhood book stories or fairy tales.
8) Nederlands Scheepvaart Museum (Maritime museum)
This museum is dedicated to all things about ships which is one of many attractions located along Prins Hendrikkade street.
It features an enormous library, armory collection with a focus on navigation history, a collection of antique naval models, and temporary exhibits that are always fun to visit.
9) Madurodam replica of the Dutch Royal Family’s private yacht ”Piet Hein”
This is not a full-size replica ship like many cruise ships you will find in Asia, but this miniature version of the most luxurious royal family boat is definitely something special for families with kids or anyone who enjoys learning about history.
The Piet Hein was built at the Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard in 1932 and served as one of several yachts owned by Queen Juliana before it was turned into a museum after her husband Prince Bernhard passed away in 2002.
10) Market Square (Grote Marktstraat)
This is the largest and most popular square in The Hague with a large variety of shops and restaurants where you can find some great bargains for souvenirs.
It also houses the Grote Kerk (Church of Our Lady) which was originally built as a monastery between 1238 to 1250 before it became an important religious center up to modern times.
The church’s architecture incorporates Gothic, Romanesque, and Baroque styles that represent its long history as a place of worship.
11) War monuments & memorials
There are many war monuments and memorials located throughout The Hague including those dedicated to individuals who have won Nobel Peace Prizes such as Joseph Rotblat who won this prize for his tireless work in the field of nuclear non-proliferation.
Other war monuments and memorials include:
- National Monument on the Plein
- Het Scheveningse Bosje
- De Duinenrijk (Hippolytusbuurt)
- Nationaal Militair Museum (Oranjestraat)
- Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught
- Nationaal Monument Kijkduin
- Nationaal Monument Loolaan
- Nationaal Monument Nieuwspoort (Loopgraaf of Peace)
- Nationaal Monument Park Steenwijkerwold
- Nationaal Monument Prince Hendrik Schoolplein (Heemstede
12) Stuttgart, Germany
Seeing the Stadhuis (City Hall) located on Marktplein square makes it clear to all visitors that this building was modeled after its Gothic predecessor in Stuttgart, Germany which is an hour’s drive south of The Hague.
The city hall has two slender towers with red roofs and a wide clock facing westward towards the three arched entrances below the clock face.
Above each entrance are sculptured relief panels depicting historical scenes from The Hague’s past including its role as home to Dutch Royalty centuries ago.
13) Noordeinde Palace (Royal residence)
This impressive palace located next to Dam Square is one of many royal residences built for Dutch monarchs since the middle of the 17th century, but it is only one of two royal palaces that are open to visitors as a museum.
What also makes this palace very special is its long list of royal residents which includes King Willem III who was born there in 1817 and his wife Queen Sophie who helped design many rooms inside this white-walled palace.
Many guests visiting The Hague will agree that spending an afternoon at Noordeinde Palace is well worth taking time out to see the interior layout along with its impressive art collections.
14) Begijnhof (Beguines Courtyard)
This hidden gem located near Hofjes gardens just south of Dam Square offers serenity for anyone wanting to escape the busy streets of The Hague.
It is a small courtyard with a chapel surrounded by ancient homes that were built in the 13th century for women who wanted to dedicate their lives to religion.
These days, visitors can enjoy strolling through this sanctuary and then stop at one of the many cafes nearby for some rest and relaxation before continuing on your journey around The Hague or Amsterdam not far away.
15) Chassé Theater
This theater located near Buitenhof square has undergone several renovations since it was first established during World War II as a cinema to serve German soldiers.
Its distinctive style uses Moorish architecture with arches surrounding the main entrance building along with crenelated towers which stand out against its red brick walls.
16) Buitenhof square
This square is also known as “Outer Court” which refers to the nearby Parliament building that was built between 1844 and 1848 during the reign of King Willem II.
This structure uses Neoclassical architecture with an arrangement of Doric columns along its facade which is very impressive at night when it is lit up by floodlights.
Not only does this square house the Parliament but many other government buildings as well including several ministries, law courts, religious institutions, and foreign embassies located in beautiful stone palaces that were constructed over 200 years ago.
TIP: Combination tickets including all attractions in The Hague
There are many combination tour/ticket packages in The Hague that will allow visitors to visit all or most famous attractions in this city including public transportation.
You can opt for 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, and even 96-hour travel cards depending on the length of your stay which may also come with discounts if you book certain tours offered by these companies.
Final Words
The Hague is definitely one of Europe’s underrated cities that are rich in culture, historical landmarks, and many interesting activities for kids and adults alike.
It is one of the best cities for traveling families and those who want to learn about Dutch history and culture.
This city offers many free attractions making it easier for budget travelers to see many must-see sights when in The Hague.
Enjoy one of the best places in Europe and discover many hidden gems in this historic city!
