- The Hague is the only major city in the Netherlands with a direct beach resort, Scheveningen, connected to the city center by a short tram ride.
- The city does not have a formal city wall or historic fortifications, as it grew as a hunting lodge for Counts of Holland rather than a walled medieval fortress.
- Despite being the administrative capital, the Dutch constitution designates Amsterdam as the capital of the Netherlands.
- The city's 'Binnenhof' complex remains one of the oldest functioning parliamentary buildings in the world still in use.
- During the 17th century, The Hague became a center for the 'Haagse School' of painting, a group of artists heavily influenced by the distinct light and grey skies of the Dutch coast.
About The Hague
The Hague serves as the seat of the Dutch government and the residence of the Royal Family, despite not being the constitutional capital. It hosts the International Court of Justice at the Peace Palace and maintains a unique urban landscape where political history blends with coastal recreation. Visitors explore iconic Dutch art at the Mauritshuis, witness miniature Dutch architecture at Madurodam, or experience modernist art at the Kunstmuseum The Hague. The city acts as a major international hub for diplomacy and global peace initiatives while preserving significant historical districts.
Highlights of The Hague
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Amusement parks
See the entire Netherlands in miniature, featuring moving trains, boats, and replicas of national landmarks.
Museums
View Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' in a restored 17th-century mansion.
Museums
Explore a world-renowned collection of historic, rare automobiles housed in a purpose-built gallery.
Museums
Discover one of the world's largest collections of works by Piet Mondrian in an iconic Art Deco building.
Museums
Engage with optical illusions and impossible structures housed in the former winter palace of Queen Mother Emma.
Museums
Experience contemporary art and architecture integrated into a protected dune landscape.
Museums
Observe the massive 19th-century cylindrical painting that creates a 360-degree illusion of the Scheveningen dunes.
Zoos
Walk through an underwater glass tunnel to observe North Sea marine life.
Top things to do in The Hague
The 235 highest-rated places in The Hague, ranked by travellers.
1
Amusement parks
Madurodam is a miniature park in The Hague featuring 1:25 scale models of famous Dutch landmarks, historical buildings,...
2
Museums
The Mauritshuis is a world-renowned art museum located in a 17th-century neoclassical Dutch mansion formerly owned by Co...
3
Museums
The Louwman Museum houses the world’s oldest private collection of motor vehicles, originally established in 1934 by Pie...
4
Venues
The AFAS Circustheater in Scheveningen is a prominent Dutch venue for large-scale musical productions and theatrical per...
5
Museums
Kunstmuseum The Hague is a landmark of Modernist architecture designed by H.P. Berlage and opened in 1935. The museum ho...
6
Museums
Escher in the Palace is a permanent exhibition housed in the former Winter Palace of Queen Mother Emma of the Netherland...
7
Museums
Museum Voorlinden is a privately owned museum of modern and contemporary art located on the historic Voorlinden estate i...
8
Museums
Panorama Mesdag is a cylindrical 19th-century panoramic painting measuring 14 meters high and 120 meters in circumferenc...
9
Zoos
Sea Life Scheveningen is a public aquarium located directly on the North Sea coast in The Hague. The facility features a...
10
Parks
Meijendel is the largest contiguous dune area in South Holland, managed by the drinking water company Dunea. The landsca...
11
Parks
Zuiderpark is a sprawling 110-hectare landscape park located in the southwest of The Hague, serving as one of the city's...
12
Parks
Westduinpark is the largest coastal nature reserve in The Hague, stretching approximately 2.5 kilometers along the North...
13
Venues
World Forum in The Hague is the Netherlands' largest combined theatre and convention centre, featuring a capacity of up...
14
Parks
The Paleistuin, or Palace Garden, is a historic garden located behind the Paleis Noordeinde, the working palace of the D...
15
Parks
Westbroekpark is a prominent public park in The Hague spanning approximately 18 hectares, distinguished by its extensive...
16
Historical places
Noordeinde Palace is one of three official palaces of the Dutch Royal House, functioning primarily as the King’s workpla...
17
Museums
Museon is a multidisciplinary museum in The Hague that integrates science, culture, and nature under a unified education...
18
Museums
Museum Beelden aan Zee is a private museum in Scheveningen, The Hague, exclusively dedicated to modern and contemporary...
19
Venues
The Rijswijkse Schouwburg is a prominent performing arts venue located in Rijswijk, serving the greater The Hague metrop...
20
Venues
The Zuiderstrandtheater was a prominent performing arts venue in The Hague, located in the Scheveningen harbour area. De...
21
Venues
Diligentia is a historic theater located on the Lange Voorhout in The Hague, operating as a primary venue for cabaret an...
22
Museums
Van Kleef is the last remaining original genever and liqueur distillery in The Hague, operating continuously since 1842....
23
Museums
The Peace Palace in The Hague serves as the seat of the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitr...
24
Parks
Landgoed Clingendael is a historic estate in The Hague characterized by a highly preserved 17th-century manor house and...
25
Temples
The Grote Kerk, or St. Jacobskerk, is a 15th-century Gothic brick church located in the historic center of The Hague. It...
26
Museums
Fotomuseum Den Haag is a specialized institution dedicated exclusively to photography, showcasing a rotating selection o...
27
Parks
Rijswijk Forest, locally known as Rijswijkse Bos, is a mature woodland park situated between the cities of Rijswijk and...
28
Parks
Oostduinpark is a protected dune area located between The Hague and Scheveningen, characterized by its shifting sand dun...
29
Historical places
The Waalsdorpervlakte Bourdon Bell serves as the primary monument at the site of the most significant execution ground f...
30
Museums
The Yi Jun Peace Museum is located in The Hague, the site where Korean diplomat Yi Jun died while attempting to seek int...
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The Hague on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to The Hague
May to September, as the coastal climate offers milder temperatures and the city's parks and beach areas are fully accessible.
2-3 days, providing sufficient time to visit the major museums and explore both the city center and the Scheveningen coastline.
The city is highly accessible via an extensive tram network, well-developed bicycle lanes, and is largely walkable within the historic center.
Stay in the Centrum for historic architecture and proximity to government buildings, or in the Statenkwartier for convenient access to both the beach and major museums.
Mid-to-high range, reflecting its status as a major international diplomatic hub and seat of government.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 235 curated attractions in and around The Hague, ranked by traveller ratings.
Madurodam is the highest-rated place to visit in The Hague right now.
The largest category is temples, with 63 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Nijmegen.
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