🇳🇱Netherlands · Places to discover
What to see in The Hague?
26 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
The Hague occupies a singular position in the Netherlands: political capital without being the official one, seat of the International Court of Justice, a city of diplomats and serious museums. The Mauritshuis alone holds some of the seventeenth century's most studied paintings, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. The Scheveningen district reminds you that the North Sea lies twenty minutes' cycling from the centre.
Spring and autumn suit better than summer, when school groups clog the Mauritshuis queues. Two days will cover the essentials, three if you properly explore Scheveningen and the Binnenhof. The tram is the most logical way to get around. Avoid concentrating your stay on the beach in July: the city itself, often overshadowed by Amsterdam, deserves far more attention than its seafront.
Landmarks & heritage
4 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Binnenhof
Medieval complex at the heart of The Hague, seat of the Dutch Parliament since the 13th century. The Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights) is one of the Netherlands' finest Gothic buildings.
2Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Café De Zwarte Ruiter
A grand traditional Dutch brown café (bruine kroeg) on the Grote Markt with a terrace facing the Binnenhof. Dutch craft beers and jenever (local gin) – the place to drink like a true Hagenaar.
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Panorama Mesdag
Circular panorama from 1881 depicting Scheveningen painted by Hendrik Mesdag – one of the world's largest panoramic paintings still in situ. A unique and lesser-known immersive experience.
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Landmark
Landmark
Mauritshuis
Intimate 17th-century palace housing Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt's The Night Watch. An exceptional and intimate collection without the crowds of major museums.
Museums
2 places
5Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Museum
Mauritshuis Art Museum
Berlage's architectural masterpiece housing the world's largest collection of Mondrian. The building itself is a work of art, often overlooked alongside Amsterdam's museums.
6Wikimedia CommonsMuseum
Louwman Museum
Private collection of 230 historic cars spanning 130 years of automobile history, presented in a spectacular contemporary building. One of the world's finest collections, lesser-known even among The Hague locals.
Religious sites
1 place
7Wikimedia CommonsReligious site
Grote Kerk The Hague
Imposing 15th-century Gothic church dominating the historic centre, with a monumental Baroque organ. Locals gather here for classical concerts on weekdays.
Castles & fortresses
3 places
8Wikimedia CommonsCastle
Palais Noordeinde
Working palace of King Willem-Alexander, at the end of an upmarket shopping street. The austere façade and equestrian statue of Orange-Nassau make it a royal stop without protocol.
9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Castle
Peace Palace
Palace of Peace, seat of the International Court of Justice, built in 1913 with donations from nations worldwide. The Neo-Renaissance architecture and gardens are striking.
10Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Castle
Escher in the Palace
Former palace of Queen Emma transformed into a museum dedicated to M.C. Escher. His impossible works take on a particular dimension in these gilded 18th-century rooms.
Nature
4 places
11Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Nature
Duindorp and Meijendel Dunes
A coastal dune nature reserve between The Hague and Wassenaar, with marked trails among wild orchids and rabbits. The sunsets from the dune crests are among the finest on the Dutch coast.
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Nature
Nature
Rietveld-Schröder - Schie Canal
The promenade along the Schie to the north of Delft offers typically Dutch landscapes: windmills, polders, grey herons and moored boats. A cycling or walking route that takes you far from the city centre.
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Nature
Nature
Haagse Bos
A 100-hectare royal forest just steps from the Binnenhof, where Dutch monarchs once hunted. Shaded paths with deer visible at dawn – a green lung at the heart of power.
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Nature
Nature
Scheveningse Bosjes
Vast urban forest of 300 hectares between The Hague and Scheveningen, ideal for running or cycling. Locals use it daily to escape the city without leaving the city.
Parks & gardens
1 place
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Park
Park
Westbroekpark
Quiet municipal park with a rose garden of 20,000 roses in bloom from June to September. Hagenaars picnic here away from tourist circuits, beside a peaceful pond.
Viewpoints
3 places
16WikipediaViewpoint
Grote Kerk Tower – Bell Tower Viewpoint
A climb of 221 steps rewards you with a panoramic view over The Hague's red-tiled roofs and, on clear days, all the way to the sea. Open only in summer and little known among rushed visitors.
17Wikimedia CommonsViewpoint
Scheveningen Pier Viewpoint
The far end of Scheveningen Pier offers a 360° view of the North Sea and The Hague's skyline. On clear days, the English coast is visible – a rare perspective in continental Europe.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Haagse Markt
One of Europe's largest open-air markets with over 700 stalls, reflecting The Hague's cosmopolitan character. Exotic fruits, spices from around the world, fresh fish and Surinamese street food – visit Wednesday or Saturday mornings.
Activities
3 places
19Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Activity
Zeeheldenkwartier
A bohemian neighbourhood undergoing gentle gentrification, with independent cafés, art galleries and organic grocers set in grand 19th-century townhouses. The creative soul of The Hague away from official circuits.
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Activity
Activity
Madurodam
Miniature park reproducing Dutch monuments at 1:25 scale, founded in memory of a Second World War resistance fighter. Unabashed kitsch yet fascinating for understanding the country's geography and architecture.
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Activity
Activity
Museon-Omniversum
A natural sciences and society museum paired with a hemispherical IMAX planetarium. The dome projection sessions offer a rare experience, ideal for rainy days.
Beaches
2 places
22Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Beach
Scheveningen Beach
A major urban beach just 20 minutes by bicycle from the city centre, featuring the iconic 400-metre pier extending into the North Sea. Essential for summer evenings to watch sunsets over the water.
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Beach
Beach
Strand Kijkduin
A wilder, less crowded beach than Scheveningen, with preserved dunes and a Sunday beach market in summer. The go-to spot for families and surfers from The Hague.
More to discover
3 places
24Wikimedia CommonsPlace
Statenkwartier District
A residential quarter from 1900-1930 showcasing Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, with façades of remarkable ornamental richness. Dutch architects displayed remarkable inventiveness here—a architectural walk in itself.
25Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Place
Passage Pommeraye
A Neo-Renaissance shopping arcade from 1843 with three levels connected by a monumental sculptured staircase. An architectural masterpiece often overlooked by tourists, perfect to explore even on rainy days.
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Place
Place
Château des Ducs de Bretagne
A 15th-century medieval fortress at the heart of the city, featuring a remarkably well-staged history museum of Nantes. The ramparts offer panoramic views of the city at no charge.
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