Quick search
CTRL+K
Quick search
CTRL+K
The Hague is a city known as the seat of the government of the Netherlands and as the residence of the regent. The city’s history goes back to Count Floris IV and his son, Willem II, who established and expanded their residence in the city. A village soon arose around the residence, and it was mentioned as Die Haghe in 1242. From 1358, The Hague became the primary residence of the counts of Holland, and therefore many government institutions were established in the city.
In the 16th century, Spanish troops invaded the city, which in 1588 became the seat of the assembly in the Netherlands. The Hague only gained city status in 1806, when Louis Bonaparte granted the city these privileges. After the division of the Netherlands into Holland and Belgium, Amsterdam remained the capital and The Hague the city of government. Since then, the city has grown significantly, and from 1945 the city was also known for housing the International Court of Justice.
Today, there are many sights to explore on a stroll through cozy The Hague, where you can start at Het Plein square. You can notice the Binnenhof, a collection of buildings dating from the 13th century, where Count Floris IV bought the land and built his residence in 1229. The most famous building in the Binnenhof is the Ridderzaal from the 13th century, and the complex now forms part of the country’s government administration.
There is a museum here that depicts the country’s political history, and you can see the parliament buildings on a tour. Next to the Binnenhof is the Mauritshuis museum, which is one of the finest art museums of the Netherlands. The museum building was built in the 17th century and contains, among other things, the royal Oranje family’s painting collection with works by Rembrandt, Frans Hals and others.
You can also visit The Hague’s Historisch Museum, which tells the story of the city’s development through archaeological finds and many fine objects from recent centuries. On the tour through The Hague, you will find Paleis Noordeinde, a 17th-century mansion that houses the offices of the Dutch regent. This is where new ambassadors are received, and on such an occasion this and other ceremonies can be followed from the street. The regent does not live in Palais Nooreinde, but rather in Huis Ten Bosch, which is located a little outside the center of The Hague. The small castle was built in 1645, but there is no public access to it.
It is also possible to see a bit more of both The Hague and many other parts of the Netherlands from above The Hague. You can do that in Madurodam, which is a finely constructed miniature country, where you can see a wide range of the country’s sights with cities, canals, etc., and everything is clear in miniature. Close to this is the castle-like Vredespaleis, which is the seat of the International Court of Justice, and from here you can continue to the suburb and seaside resort of Scheveningen.
In Scheveningen you can see the impressive Kurhaus from 1885. The long pier runs from the beach, from which you can enjoy a beautiful view from the lookout tower 400 meters out. By the sea in Scheveningen, you can also visit the Sea Life Center, which is a large aquarium with many fascinating animals and a closer look at the local and international maritime environment.
Grote Kerk is The Hague’s most important historic church and one of the city’s most striking landmarks. Its current appearance dates primarily from the 15th century, when the church was rebuilt into a red-brick Gothic hall church, characteristic of the so-called Brick Gothic style seen in most of the northern Netherlands. However, there was already a previous church on the site in the 13th century, making the Grote Kerk one of the city’s oldest continuously used buildings.
The large hexagonal tower is an architectural rarity and was built in the late Middle Ages as a symbol of the city’s growing importance. The tower was used as a lookout point, fire watch and belfry and is still visible from large parts of The Hague. In total, there are 51 bells hanging in the tower, including a carillon that is still played on special occasions. The carillon was used for centuries to regulate life in the city and marked religious holidays, market days and festive events.
Inside, the church impresses with its bright, spacious interior and the high vaults supported by slender columns. There are fine wooden ceilings, and the church’s stained glass mosaics are a mixture of medieval fragments and more recent works, which together create a kaleidoscope of colors when the light streams in. There is also a large organ, which has been rebuilt and restored several times throughout history, and is still used for concerts and church services.
De Passage is the Netherlands’ oldest covered shopping arcade and one of The Hague’s most beautiful architectural ensembles from the late 19th century. The arcade was built during a period when European cities began to create elegant shopping environments inspired by Paris and Milan. The result is a refined combination of glass, cast iron and decorative facades, which together create an atmosphere of international elegance.
The arcade consists of a series of interconnected passages with high glass ceilings that let daylight fall onto mosaic floors and ornate shop windows. The sense of luxury and craftsmanship is evident, and even small details such as railings, lamps and door handles have been crafted with great artistic care. The many shops, from specialty shops to modern design boutiques, are located in an architectural setting that makes even a short visit an experience.
For most of the 20th century, De Passage was an important meeting place in The Hague. The arcade protected citizens from rain and wind and became a social space where people could meet, shop, stroll and enjoy city life. Today, it has been expanded with a modern new passage, which is integrated into the whole, but still retains its classical style.
Nieuwe Kerk is a church built at the end of the 17th century and is one of the best examples of Dutch Protestant Baroque architecture. The church was built during a period when The Hague was growing rapidly and needed a new church space that reflected the classical ideals of the time. The architecture is characterized by harmony, straight lines and an elegant, almost palatial facade, which clearly differs from the more vertical Gothic forms that characterize the older Grote Kerk.
Inside, the space is bright, calm and clear, reflecting the Protestant tradition of functionality and focus on preaching. The high windows let daylight flow in and create an open atmosphere that is very different from the dark rooms of medieval churches. The vault is made of wood and gives the space a warm, almost acoustic framing, which today makes the church suitable for concerts and cultural events.
The history of the church is closely linked to The Hague’s development as a government city. Several official events and memorial ceremonies took place here over time. Today, the Nieuwe Kerk primarily functions as a cultural center, where you can experience modern art exhibitions, installations, literary events and classical music performances. The church has become a hybrid institution, combining its rich history with a modern purpose, and its beautiful spaces are today one of The Hague’s most atmospheric places to experience art and culture.
Binnenhof is an architectural complex and a political landscape whose history stretches back more than eight centuries. The complex originated as a royal and count’s residence complex in the Middle Ages and has since grown with extensions, conversions and renovated facades, so that today you can almost read layers of political power directly in the bricks. The beautiful facades face the Hofvijver, an artificially dammed pond that has historically been both a defensive structure and a picturesque setting for the house of power. The interaction between the water and the buildings creates a characteristic view that epitomizes The Hague’s identity.
Ridderzaal is the name of the large knight’s hall in the middle of the complex, and it appears like a ceremonial cathedral of wood and stone. The hall has high ceilings with a dramatic ceiling truss and long rows of brightly colored tapestries or weaving patterns in the formal contexts, which highlight the ceremonial dimensions of the state. Functionally, the Ridderzaal is still a space for high-profile state ceremonies such as Prinsjesdag, where the King’s inaugural address is delivered in a particularly ritualized context, which gives the building a vivid institutional significance.
The Binnenhof also contains a number of smaller halls, offices and reception rooms, where parliamentary committees work and where political administration unfolds in everyday life. The narrow corridors between the buildings and the small squares invite informal meetings between officials, journalists and lobbyists. Walking around the Binnenhof is to gain an insight into the political DNA of the Netherlands with an openness and ceremonial dignity. For visitors, it means both a historical insight and a current experience of democracy at work, and guided tours, special exhibitions and occasional openings make it possible to get close to both building details and political processes.
Mauritshuis is an architectural jewel and an exhibition space where the intimate format of art meets high quality in collection and presentation. The exterior of the mansion is classical, but when you step inside, you are greeted by small salons with carefully selected hangings that allow for a close, calm and intimate experience of each individual work. The scale of the house makes the visit well-considered, and as you move from room to room, your eyes can rest and enjoy the compositions in a way that large modern museums rarely allow.
The core of the collection consists of Dutch Golden Age art, where portraits, still lifes and genre paintings tell the story of a society’s wealth, rituals and daily life. These works are not just aesthetic objects. They are also documents of trade, colonies, science and the private home, and they invite reflection on both artistic techniques and the values of society in a flourishing period.
The Hague Forest is one of Europe’s oldest forests, which still exists in its original form within the borders of a large city. The forest is already mentioned in medieval sources from the 13th century and was protected for long periods by the Counts of Holland to secure hunting grounds and wood resources. Thanks to royal and later state conservation regulations, the area has never been completely built up, making the forest a rare historical natural gem.
The forest stretches like a green belt through the northeast of The Hague and is home to old oaks, beech trees, streams and forest lakes. The varied landscape makes the area a popular place for hiking, cycling and relaxation. Many of the trees are several hundred years old and give the forest an almost fairytale feel.
In the middle of the forest lies Huis ten Bosch. It is a royal residence, which is today the home of the Dutch royal family. The castle has a long history dating back to the 17th century and is surrounded by a fenced park area. The forest itself is fully accessible to the public, and many of the city’s citizens and visitors use it as a recreational haven. You can experience birds, small mammals, bats and a multitude of insect species, among other things.
Lange Voorhout is an elegant boulevard, laid out like a tree-lined avenue, which has been a centre for art, diplomacy and aristocratic life in The Hague for centuries. The wide plane trees and the palatial facades create an urban space where the finesse of architecture and the softness of nature meet. The history of the avenue has slowly developed over time from a parade ground to a cultural axis, and it has always been a preferred address for embassies, salons and galleries.
The buildings that flank Lange Voorhout today house a mix of public institutions, museums, galleries and private representations, giving the area a particularly international and cultural character. The interiors of the mansions are used in several places for exhibitions, receptions and cultural events, so that the street functions as a platform for both formal representation and artistic communication.
The neighborhood around Lange Voorhout is densely built up with small side streets filled with antique shops, cafés and eateries, and an urban culture unfolds here, ranging from diplomatic functions to lively, local meeting places. Periodic events, such as book fairs, sculpture installations and concerts, turn the avenue into an urban space that changes character with the seasons and cultural events.
Escher in Het Paleis is a museum and a fascinating encounter between simple palace architecture and an artistic universe that challenges all common perceptions of space, perspective and symmetry. The palace’s classic salon hall forms a formal chrome-plated backdrop, while Escher’s graphic world of optical illusions, repetitions and mathematical transformations contrasts and creates a strong, conceivable dissonance. This interaction makes the museum a place where both the eye and the brain are activated.
Escher’s works range from meticulous studies of nature to perfect, impossible spaces, and the museum conveys both his technical prowess and his intellectual themes. Visitors encounter variations on patterns, metamorphoses from birds to fish to architecture, and motifs where time and space seem to curve around themselves. It is an artistic universe where mathematics and aesthetics go hand in hand, and where the viewer is invited to think in special constructive and paradoxical ways.
The museum’s goal is both to show original works and to let the audience experience the illusions physically. Therefore, installation rooms have been built where you can step into scenes that simulate Escher’s impossible perspectives, and interactive stations where you can create symmetries and repetitions yourself. This hands-on approach makes the museum particularly suitable for education, family outings, and anyone who enjoys mental challenge wrapped in visual play.
Paleis Noordeinde is the official working residence of the Dutch king and one of The Hague’s most important historical palaces. The palace dates back to the Middle Ages, but was rebuilt in the 17th century, when it was given an elegant classicist facade that still characterizes the building today. It was used for centuries as a residence for noble families and later as a royal residence, and today it is an important part of the daily functioning of the Dutch monarchy.
The palace’s architecture is characterized by stylish symmetry, light limestone facades and an almost aristocratic simplicity that sets it apart from the more opulent European castles. Inside, the palace consists of representation halls, work offices and reception rooms used for official state visits, audience ceremonies and meetings. Most of the interior is of course not publicly accessible, but the known parts show a refined mix of historical furniture, portraits of royalty and modern Dutch design.
Behind the palace are the Noordeinde Gardens, Paleistuin, which are open to the public and act as a green oasis in the city center. The well-kept lawns, trimmed hedges and large trees create an elegant frame around the palace’s rear facade and provide an insight into the court’s historical surroundings. You can also walk the streets around the palace, which are known for their art galleries, antique shops and small cafes, which together form one of The Hague’s most atmospheric neighborhoods.
Panorama Mesdag is a unique art project. It is a huge circular painting that envelops the viewer with a meticulous reproduction of the coastal landscape of Scheveningen in the late 19th century. The effect is created by a combination of painterly technique, perspective treatment and staging with real sand, props and precise lighting. The work is designed to lead the audience’s gaze and create a feeling of being physically present in the middle of the scene. This quality makes the panorama an early form of virtual reality with brush and canvas.
The canvas itself is enormous and detailed, and it was built in a process where the studio worked collaboratively on composition, color and perspective. The motifs contain everyday life on the coast with fishermen, boats, dunes, bathers and shipping, and they thus provide a topographical and social testimony of the time. The panorama therefore functions both as a work of art and as historical documentation of the change in coastal culture, and it is an experience to immerse yourself in.
The Peace Flame is a modern symbol of The Hague’s role as an international city of peace and is located in a small park near the Peace Palace. The flame burns constantly as an expression of the desire for global peace and cooperation. It was lit at the beginning of the 21st century and has since become a gathering point for ceremonies, commemorations and international delegations.
Around the flame is the World Peace Pathway, a circular path consisting of stones from almost every country in the world. Each stone represents a contribution to peace and international cooperation and originates from places of both cultural and political significance. Some stones come from sacred places and others from former conflict zones. Together, they form a kind of physical manifestation of the world’s diversity.
The Peace Palace is a strong symbol of The Hague’s role as an international city with institutions that assess and decide on cross-border cases in a world of states and international organizations. The building was created as a monument to the idea of law over violence, and its physical presence with towers and gates is also an attraction in itself. The Peace Palace is open to the public via guided tours and special events, where one can gain insight into the functioning of the institutions.
The interiors of the palace reflect a global aesthetic. The halls are decorated with materials and gifts from all over the world, because states have historically contributed to the construction as symbols of shared commitment. The large courtrooms have a special seriousness, intended to accommodate both formal work and solemn legal acts.
Outside the palace there is a surrounding garden, which is a quiet space for contemplation and ceremonies. The garden is used for diplomatic meetings and official receptions, among other things, and functions as a green space for reflection and representation. Walking here provides a sensory experience of how important international cooperation is.
Museon-Omniversum is a hybrid institution that combines traditional museum communication with magnificent audiovisual experiences. Museon’s exhibitions offer hands-on learning about nature, technology and culture, and Omniversum’s dome films deliver sensory experiences where the audience is literally enveloped in images and sound. This combination makes it possible to present complex scientific themes in a way that is both experiential and informative.
The exhibition design in Museon emphasizes interdisciplinary, and climate, energy, biodiversity and human cultural history are conveyed through models, interactive installations and stories that put global issues into a local perspective. Omniversum is technically ambitious with dome films that use high-resolution projection and targeted sound to give the feeling of flying over landscapes, diving under the sea or moving through outer space.
Kunstmuseum Den Haag is both an architectural signature and a content-wise mainstay in the city’s museum landscape. The building is a well-thought-out modernist structure, where formal rigor and spatial clarity set the stage for a broad collection of painting, design, fashion and handicrafts. The architecture is not just a backdrop, but an active part of the experience, inviting visitors to move in a rhythm of contrasts and light.
The museum’s collections are wide-ranging. Here you will find Impressionism, modern art and in particular a deep collection of Piet Mondrian’s work, which shows the transition from naturalism to total abstraction. This makes the museum a central place for understanding the development of modernism in the Netherlands and internationally. In addition to visual arts, there are departments for porcelain, fashion history and design, so that the visit becomes an interdisciplinary experience of materials, forms and cultural history.
Madurodam is the masterpiece of the miniature country. It is a park with a themed model universe that condenses the geography, history and technical know-how of the Netherlands in precise, moving models on a scale of 1:25. The park’s strength lies in its combination of technical finesse with automation, movement and detail, and the ambition to explain the infrastructure of an entire country.
The exhibitions range from historic city centers to modern ports, and from locks and dikes to airports and railway junctions. This makes Madurodam a powerful story about the Netherlands’ relationship with water, innovation and trade. You can see how engineering has shaped the country, and how small technical solutions address major geographical challenges. The moving parts such as trains and ships give life and dynamism, so that the visit becomes an interactive miniature performance.
Scheveningen is a coastal town close to The Hague, which is not least known for its fine beach. Scheveningen is more than a beach, however. It is an entire coastal culture shaped by fishing, bathers, spas and modern recreation. The town is a story from its early days as a fishing village to its development as a fashionable seaside resort in the 19th century with the Kurhaus and elegant promenade buildings. The promenade is the icing on the cake, tying the town’s tourism together in a large, maritime space.
The pier in Scheveningen is a symbol of this development. It is a place for excursions, views, amusements and culinary experiences. The pier is a technical structure that extends into the sea, and from the pier, promenade or beach you can follow surfers, bathers and other activities. There are cafes and restaurants on the pier, and here you can also try, for example, a ride on a Ferris wheel on the water or a bungy jump in the water.
The Kurhaus in Scheveningen is the city’s most famous building. It is an iconic beach hotel from the late 19th century, known for its impressive neo-Baroque architecture and its location directly on the North Sea. Originally built as a fashionable health resort with bathing facilities, restaurants and entertainment, the building has over time been a cultural center, where royalty has lived and where world-famous artists have performed. After several restorations, the Kurhaus today stands as one of Scheveningen’s most striking landmarks and functions as a luxury hotel.
Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands and a unique experience with the its many canals and sights within walking distance in the cozy city center. The city is best experienced from the almost endless number of canals that intersect the city. The more than a thousand bridges and countless houseboats make the atmosphere something special during the tour.
Amsterdam is a beautiful city where you are never far away from the next sight in the very well-preserved city center, which was not least created by an economy that through centuries boomed from maritime trade with the whole world.
Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands, and it is known for several things; not least for a glorious maritime history and Europe’s largest port. The area has been developed from the city center and all the way to the mouth of the Nieuwe Maas in the North Sea west of the city.
The maritime experiences make their mark on the city, which offers many lovely places along the water and around old port facilities. In addition, there are some excellent maritime museums and of course the opportunity to take a cruise on the harbor with one of the city’s many cruise boats.
Utrecht is one of the largest cities of the Netherlands, and it is located as part of the populous Randstad area. The city’s history goes back to the Romans, who built a fort here in about the year 50, which was called Traiectum. The fort was also nicknamed Ultra to distinguish it from other forts, and Ultra Traiectum eventually became Utrecht. In 696, Saint Willibrord established a religious center on the abandoned Roman fort with two churches, and Willibrord became Utrecht’s first bishop. The city grew, and in 1122 the Holy Roman emperor granted Utrecht city rights, and thereby the citizens could build a city wall amongst other structures.
Many stone town houses were built in the period after that, and the cathedral was built from 1254 in the flourishing trading town. However, the part of the Rhine river through the city became less navigable, and this meant that trade moved primarily to Amsterdam. However, Utrecht retained its religious significance. Later, the Peace of Utrecht was concluded in the city in 1713, and in recent centuries Utrecht has grown with industrialization.
The Hague, Netherlands
Overview of The Hague
The Hague is a city known as the seat of the government of the Netherlands and as the residence of the regent. The city’s history goes back to Count Floris IV and his son, Willem II, who established and expanded their residence in the city. A village soon arose around the residence, and it was mentioned as Die Haghe in 1242. From 1358, The Hague became the primary residence of the counts of Holland, and therefore many government institutions were established in the city.
In the 16th century, Spanish troops invaded the city, which in 1588 became the seat of the assembly in the Netherlands. The Hague only gained city status in 1806, when Louis Bonaparte granted the city these privileges. After the division of the Netherlands into Holland and Belgium, Amsterdam remained the capital and The Hague the city of government. Since then, the city has grown significantly, and from 1945 the city was also known for housing the International Court of Justice.
Today, there are many sights to explore on a stroll through cozy The Hague, where you can start at Het Plein square. You can notice the Binnenhof, a collection of buildings dating from the 13th century, where Count Floris IV bought the land and built his residence in 1229. The most famous building in the Binnenhof is the Ridderzaal from the 13th century, and the complex now forms part of the country’s government administration.
About the The Hague travel guide
Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English
About the travel guide
The The Hague travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Dutch city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
The Hague is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about The Hague and and The Netherlands
The Netherlands Travel Guide: https://vamados.com/thenetherlands
City tourism: https://visitthe-hague.nl
Main Page: https://www.vamados.com/
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to The Hague you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
Similar to The Hague Travel Guide
