Most people have heard of Hague in reference to the UN’s International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court. Besides that, some may have a hard time pointing which country it’s a part of.
Hague, despite being the third largest city in Netherlands, has a small town feel. It is an interesting combination of traditional and modern-elegant styles. The reason for that, Hague/Den Haag Is the hometown of the political leadership of the Netherlands. If you think Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands you are correct. Netherlands is one of the few countries in the world with an unique arrangement where the main governing bodies are not in the capital. The Parliament and the Prime Minister’s office are located in the old castle Binnenhof, while the office of the King is a short walk away at Noordeinde Palace. The city surprised us with historic heritage, yet modern feel and young crowd! If you visit Hague, you will probably begin your day at lake Hofvijver exploring the many buildings of the historic Binnenhof (while some are still open, a big part of the complex is closed for a renovations which started few months ago and supposed to last 5 years). While there you should check the beautiful flower displays of Mauritshuis , one of the best art museums and give it couple of hours , especially if you’d like to see one of Vermeeer’s masterpieces-The Girl with a Pearl Earring. Few steps away you’ll find yourself at the Plain – an old city square framed by restaurants and cafes. From there you can take an easy stroll until you end up either at De Passage – an elegant shopping arcade (the oldest in Holland) , or Grote Marktstraat- the wide pedestrian main shopping street. At the opposite end of it you will find yourself at Grote Markt – another square, one of the most popular hangout spots in the city. In the small streets around you’ll see the towers of the Old City Hall and Grote Kerk church. If you continue with the circle you’ll have a chance to see the Noordeinde Palace (the current residence of the Royal family) stroll thru the peaceful park of Paleinstuin and see the Royal stables. If art is something on your list, the great Escher Museum (graphic arts) is not far and located at the former winter palace of Queen Emma. If you have the time, the town of Scheveningen is only about 5 km away. It’s one of the most popular towns on the coast of North Sea and is famous for its endless beaches and sand dunes, iconic pier and beach pavilions, and the famous Grand Hotel Amrath Kurhaus. I regret not making the time to go to this beach town, but it seems like the perfect destination for a day trip from Amsterdam, so I’m keeping it on my Amsterdam list. You can give Den Haag a day and see it. If you want to explore or veer off the beaten path though you can spend more days, you sure will find plenty of wonderful and interesting places to enjoy!
If you enjoyed this walk, check out my posts about the other destinations in Holland: Amsterdam and Rotterdam. And as always, follow me for more adventures!
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