Real Traveler Experiences

City guide / Netherlands

The Hague, verdict by verdict

The Dutch seat of government where Vermeer's Girl lives at the Mauritshuis, the Binnenhof anchors a stately centre, and Scheveningen brings the North Sea a tram ride away. Our verdicts cover what to book, what to skip, and how it stacks against Rotterdam.

All 10 verdicts What to skip in The Hague
The Binnenhof across the Hofvijver pond in The Hague
Photo: Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)

Explore the decisions

Sights and tickets

5 verdicts
The Binnenhof parliament buildings reflected in the HofvijverAre the Binnenhof and The Hague's centre worth it?Go
Photo: Michielverbeek, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
Miniature Dutch canal houses at MadurodamIs Madurodam worth it?Go
Photo: Cqui, CC BY-SA 2.5 (source)
Scheveningen pier and ferris wheel from above the beachIs Scheveningen Beach worth it?Go
Photo: Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
The Mauritshuis museum on the edge of the HofvijverIs the Mauritshuis worth it?Go
Photo: Michielverbeek, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
The Peace Palace in The HagueIs the Peace Palace worth it?It depends
Photo: Peegmehh, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl (source)

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Tours

1 verdict
A stroopwafel stand at a market in The HagueIs a The Hague food tour worth it?It depends
Photo: Andy Li, CC0 (source)

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Day trips

1 verdict
The Markt square and Nieuwe Kerk of Delft from aboveIs a Delft day trip from The Hague worth it?Go
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)

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Big choices

3 verdicts
The skyline of The HagueThe Hague or Rotterdam: which city?Our pick: The Hague
Photo: TGr_79, CC BY-SA 2.0 (source)
Platforms and trains at Den Haag Centraal stationThe Hague: which airport or train route?Our pick: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), then the direct train to Den Haag Centraal
Photo: Hubertl, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
The Noordeinde quarter in central The HagueWhere to stay in The Hague: which area?Our pick: Centrum
Photo: Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)

The review

The Hague in short

The Hague is the Netherlands' buttoned-up coastal city: Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring inside the Mauritshuis's walkable 17th-century palace, the Binnenhof's parliament buildings on their pond, the Peace Palace's world-court grandeur behind Carnegie gates, and then a proper seaside suburb at Scheveningen, pier, rebuilt boulevard, herring stands and all. Diplomats' restaurants line the elegant streets, and Madurodam packs the whole country into 1:25 scale with working trains and boats.

The fair trade-offs: it is less picturesque than Delft or Amsterdam, the centre is spread out rather than canal-cozy, and Scheveningen is a resort beach, not a wild one, with the North European wind included. The Binnenhof stays a sealed construction site until around 2031, though the Hofvijver view survives, the Peace Palace interior opens weekend-only in season and sells out fast, the Mauritshuis is small enough to finish fast, and nearly every food tour runs Saturdays or fixed dates only.

Two days covers the Mauritshuis, the Binnenhof quarter, the Peace Palace and a Scheveningen evening; add Delft's canals and gables for a third, knowing the Vermeer Centrum holds reproductions, not originals. Sleep around Noordeinde for walkable evenings, or at Scheveningen if the sea is the point. The Schiphol direct train lands you in about thirty minutes, making this the easiest cultured-and-coastal base in the country.

Go if

  • Vermeer and Dutch Golden Age art at the Mauritshuis
  • A city-plus-beach pairing without moving hotels
  • Indonesian food and an underrated dining scene
  • Travelers who prefer substance over postcard canals

Skip if

  • You want Amsterdam-style canal romance everywhere
  • A pretty, compact old town is the point of the trip
  • Scaffolding around landmark buildings bothers you
When to go
May to September for the best beach weather and terrace season; the city works year-round for museums. Flag Day (Vlaggetjesdag) in June opens the herring season at Scheveningen.
How long
2 days for the centre and Scheveningen; add a third for Delft or a slower museum day.
Getting around
Trams cover the centre and run straight to Scheveningen; Centraal and HS are the two stations. The centre itself is easily walked.

Where to stay

Hotels that fit this trip in The Hague

Centre / Lange Voorhout

Hotel Des Indes

Splurge

The city's 19th-century grand dame where emperors and ballerinas stayed; a pool and spa beneath a domed atrium when you want the full splurge.

Check rates on Expediapartner site

In pictures

The Hague, frame by frame

The Binnenhof parliament buildings reflected in the Hofvijverthe Binnenhof and The Hague's centre worth it
Photo: Michielverbeek, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
The Markt square and Nieuwe Kerk of Delft from abovea Delft day trip from The Hague worth it
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
Miniature Dutch canal houses at MadurodamMadurodam worth it
Photo: Cqui, CC BY-SA 2.5 (source)
The Mauritshuis museum on the edge of the Hofvijverthe Mauritshuis worth it
Photo: Michielverbeek, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
The Peace Palace in The Haguethe Peace Palace worth it
Photo: Peegmehh, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl (source)
Scheveningen pier and ferris wheel from above the beachScheveningen Beach worth it
Photo: Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
Platforms and trains at Den Haag Centraal stationThe Hague: which airport or train route
Photo: Hubertl, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
A stroopwafel stand at a market in The Haguea The Hague food tour worth it
Photo: Andy Li, CC0 (source)

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