6 Best Things To Do in The Hague
Why The Hague?
The Hague may not be as famous as its neighbor, Amsterdam, however, this city is a must visit! The Haag has a long and storied history you can feel at every corner. The city is the 3rd largest city in The Netherlands. The Haag is the center of the international courts and home to the Peace Palace and 55 percent of the population originally from outside of The Netherlands.
1. Mauritshuis
Mauritshuis houses one of the most comprehensive collections of Dutch Masters in the world. /The museum focuses on Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 17th century. You can see some of the most famous paintings in the world here including, Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Carle Fabritius’s The Goldfinch, Rachel Ruysch’s Vase with Flowers. /Mauritshuis was built from 1636-1641 originally inhabited by John Maurice of Nassau who was the governor of Dutch Brazil and first became a museum in 1774. /The museum does a good job of addressing the atrocities of slavery and indentured servitude that took place in Brazil when the Dutch colonized the country from 1630-1654 (when the Portugeues fought the Dutch and colonized Brazil).
2. Escher in Het Paleis
his museum packs a one, two punch with its art housed in this former palace../The palace houses the life collection of M.C. Escher and details his development into one of the most famous graphic artists. You’ll learn about his early life in The Netherlands, his time in Italy, and his later life in Switzerland. /While you are exploring Escher’s artistic development you’ll also be walking through the Het Paleis or the Lange Voorhout Palace is the former home of Queen Emma in the early 1900s. The palace has been restored and you can see the original fixtures, wallpaper, and furniture./Along with Escher’s artwork, and the Palace’s history, you can see the permanent glass chandeliers by Dutch artist Hans van Bentem. Each room of the palace has its own unique chandelier. The shapes vary from a seahorse, a skull and bones, a saxophone, and more.
3. Go on a walking tour
While The Hague is the home of the world court it also has more to offer such as museums, fantastic food, and /The Haag is the oldest, still in use, government center in the world, starting in the 12oos. While Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands and the most visited city, The Haag is still the center of government and the Dutch royal family still resides there. /I took a free walking tour with Elswhere tours. Els is a resident of The Haag and the only independently run tour company that services the city. She is knowledgeable about the city, its history and the vast international community. This tour is great for all ages!
4. Visit the beach
The Haag has over 6 miles of beautiful coastline that is only a 30-minute bus ride away from the city center. /There are six beaches with markedly different vibes. The beaches with the most activity and restaurants are Northern Boulevard (Noordboulvard) as well as Beach Kurhaus and the Pier. I’d recommend checking the beach conditions and any other information before you go. This is a fun way to take a break from the city and get some fresh air!
5. Eat the very best ice cream
The Netherlands is known for its food delicacies such as stroopwafels, bitterballen, dutch pancakes, and frites. So I never. imagine I’d stumble upon my favorite ice cream place in The Haag./Recently opened, Piet, has become a neighborhood staple with unique homemade flavors sourced from ethically and locally sourced when possible. I loved the subtle and delicate flavors of kulfi and mhallabi. Their best seller is pine nuts and needles, it tastes like a delicious winter day. /They have vegan and gluten-free options and offer lots of fun toppings including freshly melted chocolate. They also serve crepes which look fabulous!
6. Take a day trip
Take the short train ride (10-20 minutes) from The Haag and step back in time in this beautiful town intertwined with canals.
Delft has a lot to offer on a day trip. See the house where Johannes Vermeer lived and painted. Step inside stunning the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) where the Dutch Royal family is interned.
Visit on Saturdays to experience the eclectic antiques and vintage market along the canals, and find yourself a stroopwafel to enjoy on the train ride back to The Hague.