A morning with Vermeer, an afternoon among the dunes and dinner with your feet in the sand: The Hague makes a convincing case for a city break. Stay a little longer and you may find yourself checking property listings. With its royal connections, distinctive neighbourhoods and international outlook, this city by the North Sea offers plenty to explore, and plenty to make you feel at home.
A royal past, a global present
The Hague’s story begins with the medieval counts of Holland, whose residence grew into the Binnenhof. Around this historic complex, a settlement developed into the country’s political centre. Amsterdam is the Dutch capital, but The Hague is where government has its home.
Start by the Hofvijver, the pond beside the Binnenhof, to get your bearings. The parliamentary complex is currently undergoing a major renovation, but the surrounding streets still offer a wonderful introduction to the city’s history. Wander towards the tree-lined Lange Voorhout, then browse the galleries along Noordeinde, where the king’s working palace lends the street a distinctly royal air.
Another landmark tells a more international story. Opened in 1913, the Peace Palace is home to the International Court of Justice. Together with the city’s embassies and international institutions, it helps explain why conversations here so often cross languages and borders.
Find your favourite neighbourhood
The Hague’s character changes from street to street, making neighbourhood exploring one of its greatest pleasures. In the centre, grand avenues give way to shopping streets, outdoor cafés and the elegant glass-roofed Passage. Browse the boutiques around Denneweg, stop for lunch and let your afternoon unfold without too much planning.
For a more creative atmosphere, head to Zeeheldenkwartier. Independent shops, cafés and handsome nineteenth-century streets make this a neighbourhood for lingering. Around Prins Hendrikstraat and Piet Heinstraat, a quick coffee can easily turn into an afternoon of browsing.
Statenkwartier brings spacious streets and striking architecture, with Frederik Hendriklaan – affectionately known as ‘the Fred’ – as its shopping heart. Pick up something delicious for dinner, browse the shops and imagine making this your regular Saturday route.
The leafy Archipelbuurt and neighbouring Willemspark offer stately houses and a calmer pace close to the centre. Scheveningen, meanwhile, has a personality all its own: part seaside resort, part fishing village, with a harbour and the beach woven into everyday life. If living near the water appeals, spend time here beyond the boulevard too.
Art worth slowing down for
The Hague makes it wonderfully easy to build a weekend around art. Start at Mauritshuis, where Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring shares an intimate 17th-century mansion with masterpieces by Rembrandt and other Dutch masters. Nearby Escher in Het Paleis draws you into a world of impossible staircases and visual puzzles in a former royal palace.
At Kunstmuseum Den Haag, discover the world’s largest Mondrian collection, including his dazzling Victory Boogie Woogie. With its modern art, fashion and decorative arts, this is a museum that rewards a leisurely visit – and gives you plenty of reasons to return.
Right next door, Fotomuseum Den Haag invites you to see the world through a different lens. Its changing photography exhibitions offer fresh perspectives on people, places and the stories behind an image. Pair the two museums for a culture-filled afternoon, with a café stop in between.
For art with a coastal twist, head to museum Beelden aan Zee in Scheveningen. Dedicated to modern and contemporary sculpture, this distinctive museum nestles into the dunes near the beach. Explore the expressive possibilities of the human form, discover surprising sculptural materials, then step outside for a walk beside the North Sea.
Panorama Mesdag offers another kind of immersion: a vast, 360-degree painting that places you amid the dunes of 19th-century Scheveningen. Visit before heading to the beach and compare its painted shoreline with today’s seaside bustle.
For contemporary art and landscaped grounds, venture beyond the city to Museum Voorlinden in nearby Wassenaar.
Families have plenty of options too. Madurodam introduces the Netherlands in miniature, while Museon-Omniversum pairs scientific discovery with immersive films in its dome theatre.
Shop till you drop
From high-end fashion to antique treasures, The Hague offers shopping experiences for every taste. In the city centre, streets like Grote Marktstraat and Spuistraat host major brands, department stores such as De Bijenkorf, and the elegant, glass-roofed De Passage, the oldest covered shopping arcade in the Netherlands.
For boutique browsing, try:
• Noordeinde – Chic fashion, art galleries and antiques.
• Denneweg – A historic street lined with antique shops, design boutiques and cafés.
• Frederik Hendriklaan – A lively mix of fashion, design and gourmet treats.
Shopping here is as much about soaking in the atmosphere as finding that perfect purchase.
From market stalls to dinner tables
Bring an appetite. The Hague’s international population gives its food scene a generous range of flavours. Browse Haagse Markt for produce, spices and snacks, or explore the restaurants in Chinatown.An Indonesian rijsttafel, a spread of small dishes served with rice, is a delicious way to spend a sociable evening. The city’s Indonesian connections also reflect Dutch colonial history, which remains part of its cultural story.
For an easy introduction to Dutch eating habits, try herring or a portion of kibbeling, battered fish pieces, near the beach. Afterwards, settle at a beach bar and discover the pleasure of having nowhere urgent to be.
Make room for the outdoors
The sea is one of The Hague’s strongest arguments for extending your stay. Scheveningen offers a lively boulevard, the Pier and long stretches of sand for walking, surfing or simply watching the horizon. A breezy winter stroll can be just as rewarding as a summer beach afternoon.
For a quieter coastal outing, explore Zuiderstrand or head towards Kijkduin. Between Scheveningen and Kijkduin, Westduinpark opens into a landscape of dunes, sandy paths and wide skies.
Green escapes are close at hand inland too. Walk beneath the trees of the Haagse Bos, take a picnic to Westbroekpark or pause in the gardens behind Noordeinde Palace. Here, fresh air can become part of your daily routine.
Could this be home?
For expats, The Hague’s appeal goes beyond sightseeing. Its international community, schools and organisations provide useful starting points for building a new life, while trams, trains and cycle routes help connect everyday routines.
Visit a few neighbourhoods, shop for dinner and try the journey to the beach. You may arrive with a museum itinerary and leave imagining an ordinary Tuesday here: finish work and jump on your bike – the sea air is waiting.