The Hague: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Culture and History

The Binnenhof has been the center of Dutch politics for centuries; at the same time, it is one of The Hague’s best-known attractions. The Hague also has more than 1,000 Rijksmonumenten, meaning nationally protected monuments. The Mauritshuis is located directly next to it. The museum houses Dutch paintings from the time of Rembrandt and Vermeer, including Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring.” The Mauritshuis can be reached on foot, by bicycle, by public transport, or by car. The page about The Hague then provides further reading.

The Kunstmuseum The Hague also has a clear focus: it owns the world’s largest collection of Mondrian’s work, with almost 300 pieces covering all phases of his artistic development. Escher in Het Paleis in the former Winter Palace of Queen Mother Emma offers a different approach to art. More than 120 prints from the work of Maurits C. Escher (1898–1972) can be seen there; the museum also offers visitors three free audio tours.

Historical traces can also be found in the city’s small courtyard complexes. The Hague still has around 115 surviving hofjes, which is why the city is known as the city of hofjes. Galerij Prins Willem V is considered the first museum in the Netherlands. The Rijksmuseum de Gevangenpoort opened in 1882 with the Netherlands’ largest collection of instruments of punishment and torture. An original guillotine from the early 19th century is also on display in the courtyard of the Gevangenpoort.

The Vredespaleis has an international character. It houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice, The Hague Academy of International Law, and the Vredespaleis Library. During a guided tour, visitors receive information about the building, the institutions housed there, and the works of art donated by various countries.

The Museum Panorama Mesdag displays the Panorama of Scheveningen, the largest painting in the Netherlands. The Mauritshuis Brasserie complements this with modern lunch dishes inspired by the museum’s paintings, as well as a Haagsche lekkernij.

Experiences

Museon-Omniversum offers interactive exhibitions about life on Earth as well as topics from culture, nature, and science. Madurodam is a theme park with miniatures, interactive attractions, water activities, and playgrounds. The model of the Netherlands in Madurodam is built to a scale of 1:25 and comprises 430 miniatures.

The information center for the Binnenhof renovation features an interactive video game for exploring the Binnenhof from an archaeologist’s perspective. It is aimed at children and adults. This means that, alongside the historic rooms, a digital form of exploration is also available without losing the thematic connection to the Binnenhof.

Stichting de Ooievaart organizes cruises of around 90 minutes around the center of The Hague. During the canal cruises, a skipper and a guide navigate the canals of The Hague, point out attractions, and tell hidden stories of the city.

On the coast of The Hague, De Pier offers experiences with a zip line and a Ferris wheel. Scheveningen Pier is home to the first Ferris wheel in the Netherlands over the sea. From there, visitors can enjoy views of the 11-kilometer-long beach and The Hague skyline.

Nature

Westduinpark is one of the largest natural areas in The Hague. Many protected plant and animal species live there; European agreements under Natura 2000 apply to protect them. More than 300 different varieties of roses grow in Westbroekpark, which is also home to around 20,000 rose bushes.

Scheveningse Bosjes is a forest established on dune soil with numerous historic monuments. Arboretum Landengebied offers a different botanical focus, comprising 695 different tree species. This means that different forms of greenery stand side by side within the city: the protected natural area of Westduinpark, the rose plantings in Westbroekpark, the forest on dune soil, and the diversity of the arboretum.

Cycling and Routes

The Hague’s cycle network makes it possible to travel to the train station, the shopping center, the beach, the forest, and other cities. Alongside canal cruises and museums, cycling is therefore also one of the explicitly described ways to travel through The Hague and reach its various destinations.

For further orientation between the city, coast, nature, and culture, the neighboring places Pijnacker-Nootdorp, Katwijk, Strijen, Rozenburg, Westvoorne, Graafstroom and Boskoop are also available.

For the overall travel overview: South Holland.