A friend recommended I visit The Hague (Den Haag in Dutch) because it has Amsterdam vibes without the crowds. It ended up being one of my favorite places in Western Europe, and I’ve been back several times since then. There’s so much more than the International Criminal Court.
You’ll see canals and bikes everywhere just like in Amsterdam, but fewer crowds. You’ll still find the infamous coffeeshops if that’s what you’re looking for, but fewer drunk tourists looking to party. Plus there are more parks and even a beach.
FREE THINGS TO DO IN THE HAGUE
1. See Binnenhof and Hofvijver lake.
Binnenhof is the parliament building in The Hague. It’s surrounded by Hofvijver lake. It’s more of a pond than a lake, but still pretty. Sometimes there’s a market with people selling crafts, jewelry, and souvenirs.
2. Walk along Lange Voorhout.
After Binnenhof, walk to nearby Lange Voorhout. This has been called one of the prettiest streets in The Hague. The trees here are especially beautiful in the fall.
3. Stroll through Haagse Bos Park.
Haagse Bos Park is a large forest park near the city center. The trees are so dense that you’ll forget you’re in a city. The park can be busy especially on weekends, but usually gets less crowded the further you walk in. There’s also a Japanese garden nearby.
4. See the flowers at Paleistuin.
Paleistuin is the palace garden. The best time to visit is in the spring, but there are beautiful flowers almost year-round. There are also some art sculptures throughout the gardens, and a playground for kids.
5. See the Peace Palace.
The Peace Palace is an international symbol of peace through law. There are flowers and an eternal flame in front. The inside has been closed to visitors every time I visited. If it is open when you visit, you might need to schedule a tour in advance. I’ve heard the inside is gorgeous. Either way, it’s still cool to see the outside.
6. Go to the beach at Scheveningen.
One of the best beaches in the Netherlands, Scheveningen is a large sandy beach with bars and restaurants along the waterfront. There’s also an enclosed pier with bars inside, and even a Ferris wheel. It’s a great spot for families, a date, or to walk around by yourself.
I was surprised to find a surfing community in the Netherlands of all places. There are a lot of surfers here and you can take lessons if you want.
Foods to try in The Hague
1. Eat a fresh stroop wafel.
If you do nothing else in The Netherlands, eat a fresh stroop wafel. A stroop wafel is two waffle shaped cookies with caramel in between. There’s usually a cart by Binnehof and the Mauritshuis museum where you can watch them make stroop wafels and buy a fresh one (or five).
2. Outdoor dining at Grote Markt.
For a Northern European country, the Netherlands has a surprising amount of outdoor seating at restaurants. You’ll find al fresco dining throughout The Hague, and Grote Markt is one of the most popular spots. This lively square near the city center has several bars and restaurants to choose from.
3. Try a trendy restaurant in Zeeheldenkwartier.
Zeeheldenkwartier is an artsy neighborhood about halfway between the city center and the beach. There are a lot of nice restaurants and cafes here. It’s also the prettiest neighborhood in The Hague, in my opinion.
4. Try some international food.
I was surprised how much international food is in The Hague. Possibly because of the embassies located here, plus immigrants from former Dutch colonies and other countries. You can find a lot of Surinamese, Indonesian, and Turkish food. I love Turkish food and recommend the gözleme at Ekmekci. There’s even a Chinatown neighborhood with Chinese and other Asian restaurants.
5. Get groceries or lunch at Albert Heijn.
I love going grocery shopping in other countries to see what products are different. Albert Heijn is my favorite grocery store chain I’ve ever been to. They have a huge selection of grab and go meals like salads, sandwiches, pastas, and more. As a budget traveler without access to a kitchen, this was a game changer. I also love their juices and smoothes.
Albert Heijn XL has even more products, including shampoo and bath products. The Albert Heijn brand is very affordable and good quality.
Day Trips from The Hague
1. Take a day trip to Delft.
Delft is a quiet city very close to The Hague. You can even take the tram there instead of a train. This is where the Delft blue porcelain is from. There are several canals in Delft. You can also climb the tower of the New Church there to get a nice view.
2. See the tulips at Keukenhof or Hillegom.
April is the best time of year to see the tulips in the Netherlands. And Keukenhof in Lisse is the most popular spot to see them. I went to the Tulip Barn in Hillegom instead because it was less crowded there. No matter which spot you go to, you’ll be delighted by colorful tulips as far as your eyes can see.
Other things to know about visiting The Hague
1. Stay out of the bike lane.
The Netherlands is one of the most bike-friendly countries in the world. When you’re walking around, be careful not to walk in the bike lane. Bike lanes are usually red and in between the sidewalk and the road.
2. Almost everyone speaks English.
It seemed like everyone in The Hague speaks English. It’s still useful to have Google Translate on your phone to use at the grocery store. One time I accidentally walked in the exit doors and some people shouted at me in Dutch. They quickly realized I was a lost tourist and told me what door to use in English. So exit (uitgang) and entrance (ingang) are good words to know. And of course it’s always polite to say thank you in the local language (dank u wel).
3. Transportation in The Hague.
How to get to The Hague from Amsterdam Schipol airport.
Schipol airport has a train station inside that will take you throughout The Netherlands. There’s a train to The Hague Train about every 30 minutes. There are two main train stations in The Hague, so double check that you’re going to the right one – Den Haag Central and Den Haag HS.
You can buy train tickets at the station, there’s no need to buy ahead of time. When you buy your train ticket, you’re buying a ticket to that destination and it doesn’t matter what time you take the train.
How to use the tram in The Hague.
Once you get to The Hague, you can take the tram to get around. For me, the easiest way to buy tickets was with the HTM Ticket app.
You can also walk or rent a bike to get around The Hague. A lot of hotels have bike rental services.
4. Where to stay in The Hague.
The Hague is a little more expensive than some other areas in Europe so I usually stay at a hostel. I’ve stayed at two hostels there and my favorite is Will & Tate. You can also look for an Airbnb or hotel.
5. A lot of businesses are card only.
I was surprised that a lot of cafes, restaurants, and some shops did not accept cash. So make sure you have a debit or credit card with you.
One exception is Albert Heijn grocery stores. My American credit cards did not work here, so I had to use cash.
6. Know the difference between a coffeeshop and a coffee house.
In the Netherlands, coffeeshop means a cannabis store. Coffee houses and cafes have coffee and pastries. Cannabis is decriminalized in the Netherlands, the stores are semi-legal and the government allows them to operate. You’ll find a lot of coffeeshops in The Hague, especially in the city center and Zeeheldenkwartier. Only some of them will let you smoke inside, including Canna Club, Cremer’s, and Dizzy Duck Downtown. You usually have to buy a drink to smoke inside. These locations have tea and coffee plus other soft drinks.
If you’re used to smoking in the US, you should know that in Europe most people mix cannabis with tobacco. If you want to buy pre-rolls without tobacco, ask for “pure” joints.