The Hague: Discover Coast, Art and Nature

Coast and routes

The Hague has 11 kilometres of coastline. Along the coast of The Hague, you can take long walks on the beach all year round. Swimming is also possible there all year round. Walks along the beach promenade are likewise possible all year round. This means that the beach, water and promenade are the city’s coastal features mentioned as being available year-round.

You can go surfing in Scheveningen. Kite flying is possible on the wide beaches of Kijkduin. Westduinpark is one of The Hague’s largest nature reserves. The nature reserve connects Kijkduin with Scheveningen. Thus, the two coastal resorts mentioned are situated along a nature reserve that stretches between them.

The Hague has curated cycling routes through the dunes, along the beach and to Scheveningen. These routes combine nature, culture, history and culinary experiences. The different sections of the routes therefore pass through several of the landscape and recreational areas mentioned within the city.

Culture and history

The Mauritshuis is located in the centre of The Hague. The Prince William V Gallery was the Netherlands’ first public art collection. Escher in Het Paleis displays more than 120 prints from the work of Maurits C. Escher. Maurits C. Escher lived from 1898 to 1972. The art venues therefore represent both a central location and a history of collecting, as well as the work of an artist placed within a specific period.

The Visitors Centre of the Peace Palace offers an audio tour. It covers the history of the Peace Palace and the institutions based there. The audio tour thus combines the history of the building with the institutions located there. Museum Panorama Mesdag displays Mesdag’s 360-degree panorama. During your museum visit, Café 1881 at Museum Panorama Mesdag serves coffee, light meals and lunch.

The Gevangenpoort Museum tells the history of crime and punishment. This history spans from the 15th to the 19th century. The Hague has more than 1,000 Rijksmonumenten. The Binnenhof is currently not open to the public during the renovation work. The historical timeframe therefore extends from the 15th to the 19th century, while the current state of the Binnenhof is determined by the ongoing renovation work.

Nature

The Japanese Garden is located in the middle of Clingendael Estate. The Japanese Garden contains rare trees and plants. Its location within Clingendael Estate and the rare trees and plants mentioned are collectively among the garden’s special features.

De Heimanshof consists of a systematic plant garden and a landscape garden. The landscape garden displays typical Dutch landscapes. The two garden areas therefore differ in their design: one is laid out systematically as a plant garden, while the other is designed as a landscape garden. Excursions are offered at Heempark De Heimanshof upon request. Guided tours are also available there upon request.

More than 300 different roses bloom in Westbroekpark. There are approximately 20,000 rose bushes there. Haagse Bos has been a green place for centuries, as documented by a deed. In Westbroekpark, both the number of different roses and the approximate number of rose bushes are central, while Haagse Bos is characterised by its history documented in official records.

Madurodam can be reached from The Hague Central Station by tram or bus in approximately ten minutes.

Other pages

You can find other pages here: Scheveningen, Kijkduin, Centrum, Vissershaven, Geuzenkwartier, Haagse Hout.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: The Hague.