20 Essentials: what and do in The Hague in 1, 2 or 3 days

After a long time of waiting, we have had the opportunity to return to what is undoubtedly one of our favorite countries, The Netherlands.

On this occasion, and coinciding with the arrival in its final stage of the Volvo Ocean Race, we have visited a city that we did not know and, like the rest of the country, the more we know it, the more we fall in love with it.

The Netherlands It is a country that from the moment you arrive, transmits a wealth of very pleasant continuous sensations, which we do not perceive in other places.

The urban centers of the cities, despite being very busy, are very quiet, something very strange in large cities.

I don't know if it is due to the almost complete absence of cars on its streets to the detriment of bicycles, or because of how clean and green the cities are with their electric trams, but the soundtrack of the cities of Holland is very different from those of the rest of the world. rest of the world.

The predominant sounds in its streets are clín clín of bicycles, when a tourist without realizing it is walking along one of the thousands of kilometers of bike lane that the country has.

And it is true that when you travel to Holland For the first time you feel a little lost, seeing how the few cars that circulate continually give way to bicycles and pedestrians.

Initially a strange sensation that begins to make sense and becomes very pleasant the more time you spend in the country.

And these sensations are experienced in a more amplified way when we talk about Hague (in Dutch, The Hague, and in English, The Hague)

Curiosities of The Hague

There is a phrase that is told in the city that perfectly expresses its way of life.

A Rotterdam leaves to work, Amsterdam is going to buy now Hague to live…

And it is the cleanest and greenest city in the Netherlands and one of those with the best quality of life, within an enormous historical framework.

Hague It is the third largest city in the Netherlands, but nevertheless it is the most important institutionally.

This is where its monarchs live and work and is also the headquarters of the dutch parliament, making it the city where the most Dutch diplomats reside.

We have returned from our 4 day trip through Hague surprised with attractions that have exceeded our expectations.

Long, wide beaches with beautiful sunsets, a forest inside the city and museums of all kinds, including some that play with the senses or museums with paintings by painters of the stature of Rembrandt o Rubens.

The idea of ​​this article is to teach you the Most important places to visit in The Hague, while we provide you with practical information and curiosities about the city.

We not only want to give you a list, but we have organized it in such a way that you can tour the city like a route following the order that we propose.

What to see in The Hague (Den Haag)

When selecting where to start visiting a city, the most common thing is to start in the most central area.

But before showing you what to see in the city, on this occasion we are going to start by recommending a visit to a great museum, which has become the icon of Hague.

1. Madurodam, the Museum of Holland in miniature

This curious museum is a miniature recreation of the most important places in Holland and is the perfect place to get a fairly concrete idea of ​​what type of architecture it has. The Netherlands.

El Madurodam It is one of the best-known attractions in Holland internationally and for which many people know the city.

In this Outdoor museum Many of the miniatures have movement, so that you have the sensation of walking like a giant would through the streets of the different important points of the city. Netherlands.

It is the favorite place and essential visit for families and as in all these miniature city museums, and also for the not so children.

Later in the article I will indicate when in the route this visit would be included.

2. Binnenhof Castle and current Parliament of The Hague

Back in the city and to begin the tour, we start with a very important and representative monument of The Hague, it is the Binnenhof Castle.

Building from which the rest of the city is developed, it was the Count Florentius IV who in the 13th century, looking for lonely lands to make a hunting ranch, built this castle.

Little by little, over the centuries, this complex would begin to become the center of the political establishments of Holland.

This castle was expanded over time with a square and the famous Ridderzaal, a beautiful building with an elongated hall that would end up becoming the Knights Hall.

Today this old castle houses the headquarters of the Dutch Parliament and the office of Prime Minister.

The building of the Ridderzaal It is used once a year to inaugurate the parliamentary year, with a ceremonial event attended by the king, and has remained as an area for celebrations of the Parliament.

Behind it is a large lake, known as the Court Spring, and the photo taken from there is one of the most beautiful and representative postcards of Hague.

3. Pinacoteca Mauritshuis Museum

In this museum there is the best collection of paintings by the Dutch Golden Age and flamenco masters, in a building whose interior itself is already a work of art.

Works like The girl of the pearl de Vermeer and paintings by such famous painters as Rubens o Rembrandt, fill the carefully decorated walls that make the Mauritshuis museum have a very special atmosphere.

Whether or not you are a lover of painting, this museum with works from the 17th and 18th centuries is much more than an art collection, since the building itself is a clear example of the style of the palaces of Dutch royalty of the time.

If you are going to visit it, we recommend that you download the museum's free application (it is called Mauritshuis), in which the audio guide is available in several languages, including Spanish and English.

You can also hire this audio guide there for 3,5 euros if you don't want to download the app.

El entrance fee to the Mauritshuis museum It is 15,50 euros for adults, and children up to 18 years old have free access.

The schedules They are from 10 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon.

4. Grenadierspoort Gate

Right when leaving the Mautishuis museum. On your right and receiving the visitor at the entrance to the castle, you will find the call Grenadierspoort.

This beautiful gateway to the current parliament area is one of the most photographed places in the city for its exquisite decorations.

5. Lange Voorhout, the oldest boulevard in Europe

This boulevard was the social center of Hague, everyone wanted to live in this area. In fact, the narrowest houses in the city are located here.

It was said that it was better to live here in a small place than anywhere else.

Whether it was like this or not, the reality is that people gathered here to walk in circles around the shape of the square, and that's where the name came from.

This tree-lined boulevard is located in the heart of the city across from the Binnenhof castle.

During the summer months there is a World Sand Sculpture Championship, a very easy material to obtain in The Hague.

Furthermore, every Sunday there is a market that lasts all day, although if you are going to visit it, it is better to do it in the morning when it is more lively.

6. Hotel Des Indes a Luxury

On this same boulevard is the luxurious 5-star hotel From India to Luxury.

This hotel is a work of art in itself, and whether you stay there or not, it is worth a visit.

A hotel that is more than 100 years old and where all kinds of historical figures from royalty and nobility have visited.

It was recently renovated and as a tip if you are not staying there, at least stop by to see it or have a drink during the restoration because the decorations are worth it.

7. Museum of optical illusions Escher in the Paleis eb

Also on the boulevard is this small museum that focuses on optical illusions with a permanent collection, with paintings and photos that play with sensory perception.

This continuous game between what the eye sees and how the brain reacts is something very recurring in the artistic historical legacy and culture of this country.

8. Canals of The Hague

Between the aforementioned hotel From India to Luxury and one of the large parks in the city, Malivel (where there are deer in captivity), near the The Hague Central Station, is one of the most photographic areas of the canals of The Hague.

It is true that this city is not one of those with the most canals in Holland, in fact it has few.

But in this area there are a few very charming corners with their boats, their houses full of flowers and the bicycles that surround them.

9. Royal Palace of The Hague (Noordeinde)

Holland is one of the European countries that still maintains a monarchy, but it must also be said that the Orange royalty It's a bit particular.

Su Royal Palace It is located in the heart of the city, on the most important shopping street in The Hague, where the most exclusive and elegant stores are located.

La Dutch royalty It is considered the most monarchy folksy of the European nobility; As an example, it is quite common to find monarchs riding bicycles, either when arriving or leaving the Royal Palace.

At the entrance to the palace there is a flag of the country, which when it is flying high means that the king is inside it.

If you are thinking about how to visit it, we have to tell you that what you can always visit are its gardens. The interior is barely visitable at certain times of the year since it is a living palace where kings reside.

10. Statue of William of Orange

Right in front of the Royal Palace is the king statue William of Orange.

As a curiosity, the king who ordered the palace to be built never lived in it since he was murdered.

And this information about his way of dying is seen in his statue, since the horse on which he is mounted has its right leg raised, which indicates that his death was not due to natural causes, which is represented with the left leg in high.

If all four legs are supported, its death means that it was due to an accident.

This curious fact can be seen in the rest of the city's statues.

11. Mesdag 360º Panorama

Continuing with the perception and optical illusions so characteristic of this country, this museum has become famous for its 360 degree panoramic scene.

It is a classic museum with paintings, but its most important part is not that, and it is very difficult to describe the feeling you have when entering the montage found inside.

You will find yourself in a circular room in which you are located right in the center at the top, with 360º views as if you were on top of a lighthouse, with all your vision free.

From there you can see different historical moments of the city, from the town to the beaches where war scenes are recreated.

When they told us we thought: “so far so good.”

The point is that the Mesdag Panorama of The Hague It is set up in such a way that when you arrive, go up to the lighthouse and appear in the scene, small optical illusions with depth are created.

So to speak, it is difficult to calculate the real depth of the room.

The best thing is that you visit it and experience it yourself, because it is a very curious experience.

12. Noordeinde, the luxury shopping street in The Hague

North End It is not just any street: on this same street you will find the stores of all the international brands, the most exclusive brands, and all this next to the aforementioned Royal Palace.

It is a street full of buildings typical dutch architecture, but also with some buildings atrt new.

As a curiosity, when we visited this area they were undergoing construction and you could see one of the curiosities of the city.

The Hague is built on beach sand, not on land, and when you lifted the ground you could see the piles of sand perfectly, something very curious in the same street where the Royal Palace is located.

This is why it seems that the buildings in The Hague tend to move slightly.

13. The Sting in Gravenstraat

En Gravenstraat There is a building from the beginning of the 20th century with decorationsrt new and striking colors, which has become an icon of the city.

It is part of a shopping center in which the clothing store is located The Sting, yeahIt is located at the tram stop with the same name, at the end of the luxury shopping street.

But this building is not the only one with decorations art nouveau In the same square, there are several buildings that maintain this style, some of them more modern but respecting the aesthetics.

14. The Passage

On the way from Gravenstraat Towards the castle there is a small piece of Italy.

The mall The Passage It is built in the style of Italian shopping galleries, such as the famous Vittorio Emanuele in Milan.

It is the oldest shopping center in Holland, and there is a small coffee shop where they sell some famous candies that are well known in The Hague, obviously coffee. 100% recommended!

15. Peace Palace

From here we leave the historic center and begin touring the city on our way to the beach.

El Palace of Peace It is a huge building built more than 100 years ago and is currently the headquarters of the famous International Court of Justice in The Hague.

This global icon of justice can only be visited for its exteriors and gardens, free of charge; Its interior is only open to public visits a few weekends a year.

16. Scheveningse Forest

This forest is the true lung of the city, an area with many trees and the perfect place to walk, but be careful! Just so you know that it is one of the few areas with a bit of altitude in The Hague.

The entire city is practically flat, and the highest points of the city are in this green area, but don't worry because the altitude is just a few meters, although it is somewhat striking when you visit it.

At Scheveningse Forest is the Marudoram miniature museum which we talked about at the beginning of the article.

Therefore, if you follow the route to visit the city as we are suggesting in the article, this will be the time to visit the aforementioned museum.

17. Haags Gemeentemuseum and the Museum of Photography

These two museums are together, and one of them is very interesting for photography lovers.

At photography museum You can see photographic exhibitions that vary over time. We were able to see a very curious one in which there were photos of people from all over the world on his office table.

The differences between the offices of rich countries and those that have less are very striking.

On the other hand, in Haags Gemeentemuseum the work of the famous artist is exhibited Piet Mondrian.

If you are a museum lover, these two are very worth it.

This entire area where the museums are located is where the tram that takes you to the beach passes (line 16) and where many houses with the characteristic Dutch architecture are concentrated.

It is definitely worth walking through this area or exploring it by bicycle or tram.

18. Beach Scheveningen and Port of The Hague

Without a doubt one of the factors that gives a special charm to this city is the sea, its promenade and port.

Being 20 minutes from the center by tram or bicycle, the beach forms another second important urban nucleus, which extends the city.

The beach is surprisingly large, and when we visited it was full of windsurfers in the sea with their kites flying, creating a beautiful postcard.

The entire port and promenade is a very lively area, full of places and restaurants where you can enjoy dinner with the sunset falling into the sea.

 19. Sunset at The Pier (Sky view) in The Hague

But if we talk about sunset, the most beautiful one is in the spring.

The Pier It is not just a pier, but it also has a Ferris wheel that gives it a different atmosphere, which you can reach through the aforementioned pier.

Although we warn you that the best photos are from the beach with the pier in backlight.

If you like photography, here you can take some very beautiful photos.

20. Louwman Classic Car Museum near The Hague

Although this visit is not strictly in the city, but is located slightly on the outskirts, it is very worth it if you like cars.

This museum is a review of the history of motorsport since 1886, through some 250 models of antique and historical cars.

In this museum there are some of the oldest cars in the world, as well as several peculiar, unique and very special cars.

Other topics of interest about The Hague

How to get from Amsterdam airport to The Hague?

Hague It is only 60 km from Amsterdam, that is why the most common way of get to The Hague is previously passing through the Schiphol airport.

Here we leave you all the information necessary to get to The Hague without problems and in just 30 minutes by direct train.

Where to stay in The Hague?

It will also be useful for you to know what the best areas to stay in The Hague Depending on your preferences, either near the train station or the historic center, or in the beach area.

Here is the link for search hotel in The Hague en booking.com.

Excursions and guided tours in The Hague

Si vas a visit The Hague and you are looking for where to sign up for tours or excursions with guides To get to know the city, on this page you will find what you are looking for.