The Hague / Scheveningen Hotels

Wanna learn some things? Visit the Municipal Museum for a look into The Hague’s history, via art, fashion and music, and the Bredius den Haag Museum for some native 17th-century art. Keen on some awesome architecture? Head to the stunning Noordeinde Palace (one of the Dutch Royal Fam’s HQs) and the hoity-toity suburb of Wassenaar. It’s ‘Den Haag’, dahhling.

The Hague’s Top 10

The Hague/Scheveningen History

• Madurodam – A whimsical way of learning how a city changes with time by looking at miniatures.
• Peace Palace (Vredespaleis) – The home of the International Court of Justice; you can go inside if you book in advance.
• Museum de Gevangenpoort (The Prison Gate Museum) — Walk the halls of this medieval prison.
• Binnenhof & Ridderzaal (Inner Court and Hall of the Knights) – This is the home of the parliament but also a trip back in time.
• International Criminal Court—You may be able to sit in while court is in session or take in a briefing.

The Hague/Scheveningen Art & Culture

• Mauritshuis Museum—The museum is known for its collection of Dutch masters, including Rembrandt and Vermeer.
• Escher in Het Palais (Escher in the Palace) – This museum is completely dedicated to the works of M C Escher.
• Mesdag Panorama – A cylindrical painting of an old fishing village done on an enormous scale.
• Gemeentemuseum Den Hague – This museum holds many collections of some of the most famous artists, including Mondrian and Matisse.
• Lucent Danstheater – Be sure to see a performance during your visit to this dance theatre.

The Hague/Scheveningen Shopping

• Van Kleef and Zoon – A brewery where the service is part of the attraction.
• Haagse Bluf – The home of the studios of the DHFM radio station.
• The Haagse Markt (The Turkish Market) – This is the largest open-air market in Western Europe.
• The Globe Outdoor and Travel Centre – An affordable shopping centre that also features outdoor activities.
• In de Bogaard – If you love books and music, then you will want to shop here.

Gay & Lesbian The Hague/Scheveningen

• Cafe de Landman – The Hague's oldest gay and lesbian bar.
• Hotel Des Indes—A luxury, gay-friendly hotel.
• Basta Café – Also the meeting place for the local gay rights organisation, the COC.
• Cafe de Link – If the Cafe de Landman is the oldest gay bar, this is the oldest gay cafe.
Stairs – A small club where you can get a drink or dance in the disco.

The Hague/Scheveningen Outdoors

• Pier and Promenade—Spend a quiet afternoon wandering the pier.
• Clingendael Park-Japanese Garden – A lovely park with delightful gardens.
• Duindorp – A beach you can reach by tram.
• Scheveningse Bosjes – A forest and park with trails for biking and hiking.
• The Ooievaart – One of the few canals in The Hague; tours are available.

The Hague/Scheveningen City Sport

• Swimming is an extremely popular sport here.
• Yachting is also a great thing to do or to watch while you are in the Hague.
• Surfing is not the first thing you would think of in Holland, but the Aloha Surf School will teach you otherwise.
• Skating is popular both in the winter and year round in an indoor rink.
• Skiing and snowboarding are the best ways to enjoy the winter snow.

The Hague Events

June’s Parkpop is the biggest pop festival in Europe and brings thousands of people – and teenyboppers – to The Hague. You probably won’t understand a single song, but hey – it’s all in fun.

Head to Scheveningen Beach in July for the dorky but fun International Sand Sculpture Festival. People compete to take home the trophy (which disappointingly isn’t made of sand).

The Scheveningen International Fireworks Festival in August takes fireworks to a whole new level. Who knew it could be classified as a team sport?

Kite enthusiasts flock to Scheveningen Beach for the Scheveningen Kite Festival in September. Everything from teddy bears to fish get airborne.

The Crossing Border Festival in November is a multiple arts event celebrating literature, music, visual arts and performing arts. Rub shoulders with art critics and drink wine with the literati.

When To Go

• The seasons are pretty mild. Expect summer to hit an average of 22°C (72°F) and winter 10°C (50°F)
• If you’re after a rain-free holiday, sorry – The Hague gets the wet stuff on a regular basis. September and November are worst.
• The Hague is a mixed bag when it comes to the weather, so be prepared with a jacket at the height of summer and sunnies in the winter!

Getting Around

If you want to explore The Hague’s city centre, just walk it – it’s pretty compact.

HTM runs the buses and trams. Buy a HTM Day Ticket to get more bang for your euro.

Make like a local and hire a bike. The Hague, like most Dutch cities, is full of bike paths and routes.

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