Mauritshuis
Jewel-box 17th-century palace housing Vermeer and Rembrandt masterpieces
Stand face to face with Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and Fabritius's The Goldfinch in an intimate palace setting.
CentrumArt museumGolden Age
The Hague & Scheveningen, Netherlands
Ideal: 2–3 daysBest: May–SepPrice: Expensive
In 60 seconds
The Hague & Scheveningen in 60 seconds
The Hague (Den Haag) serves as the seat of the Dutch government, the residence of the royal family, and the judicial capital of the United Nations. Set around the tranquil Hofvijver lake and the medieval courtyards of the Binnenhof, the city exudes stately elegance with its leafy embassies, aristocratic town mansions, and refined shopping arcades. The Mauritshuis museum houses celebrated Dutch Golden Age canvases, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson. Just a twenty-minute tram ride away, the atmosphere shifts completely at Scheveningen, the country's premier seaside resort, with its wide sandy beach, pier, and brisk North Sea breezes.
MuseumsArtRoyalBeachSeafood
Best for
- History
Known for
- Mauritshuis
- Binnenhof
- Peace Palace
- Scheveningen Beach
- Indonesian rijsttafel
Skip if
You are looking for buzzing late-night canal districts; The Hague is genteel, institutional, and relatively quiet after dark.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well The Hague & Scheveningen fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Binnenhof & Ridderzaal
Medieval castle complex housing the oldest parliament still in use
Stroll through the 13th-century Gothic courtyards beside the Hofvijver where Dutch political power has resided for eight centuries.
CentrumHistoryMedieval
Peace Palace (Vredespaleis)
Headquarters of the International Court of Justice
Admire the neo-Renaissance diplomatic gift-palace funded by Andrew Carnegie, set among ornamental wooded gardens.
ZorgvlietGardensJustice
Scheveningen Beach & Pier
Sprawling sandy North Sea strand with an iconic promenade pier
Walk along the endless golden sands, ride the Ferris wheel over the waves, and stop at a beach pavilion for fresh herring.
ScheveningenBeachCoast
Eat
Where to eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Special occasion
Worth planning the evening around.
Restaurant Garoeda
ExpensiveHistoric Indonesian restaurant famed for authentic rijsttafel
Experience The Hague's deep colonial culinary ties with an elaborate multi-course rijsttafel spanning rendang, satay and sambal.
CentrumHeritageIndonesian
Catch by Simonis
ExpensiveRenowned seafood dining at the Scheveningen fishing harbour
Dine on grilled North Sea sole, turbot and fresh oysters directly overlooking the fishing boats in the outer harbour.
Scheveningen HavenHarbour viewsOysters
More places to eat
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Roast Factory
InexpensiveArtisan coffee roaster in the trendy Zeeheldenkwartier
Enjoy meticulously pulled flat whites in a relaxed leafy neighbourhood filled with independent design boutiques.
ZeeheldenkwartierNeighbourhoodRoastery
Beyond the obvious
Hidden gems
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Panorama Mesdag
Huge 360-degree cylindrical panoramic painting of 1881 Scheveningen
Step onto an elevated sand dune viewing platform to experience a stunning 14-metre-high optical illusion of coastal dunes and sails.
ZeeheldenkwartierArtHistoric
De Passage
The oldest covered shopping arcade in the Netherlands, built in 1885
Browse boutique confectioners and bookshops under the vaulted glass roof and carved neoclassical arcades.
CentrumArchitectureHeritage
After dark
Bars & nightlife
De Gekke Geit
InexpensiveQuirky craft beer and live music bar near the Grote Markt
Sample rotating Dutch microbrews alongside local students and musicians in a cosy living-room setting.
CentrumCasualCraft beer
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Zeeheldenkwartier
Vibrant 19th-century quarter with design shops and sunny café squares
One of the city's most charming districts, lined with Jugendstil façades, art stores, and artisan bakeries.
Scheveningen Bad & Haven
Historic fishing port and coastal beach resort
Where sea breezes, fish smokehouses and seaside pavilions meet the wide sands of the North Sea.
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
City Centre (Centrum)
ExpensiveNear the Binnenhof and major art galleries
Stay here for easy walking access to the museums, palaces and premier dining options.
CentralCulture
Scheveningen Boulevard
ExpensiveSeafront hotels overlooking the beach
Ideal for fresh coastal air, summer beach breaks and morning runs along the dunes.
RelaxationResort
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting in
- Den Haag Centraal connects to Amsterdam in 50 minutes and Rotterdam in 20 minutes by frequent trains.
- Tram to the beach
- Trams 1 and 9 run directly from the city centre to the Scheveningen boulevard in under 20 minutes.
- Indonesian dining
- The Hague has the richest Indonesian dining heritage in the country; always book rijsttafel ahead for dinner.
- Herring tradition
- Try Hollandse nieuwe herring with diced onions from a traditional fish stall at the Scheveningen harbour.
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- 1248
Count William II begins construction of a castle at The Hague that becomes the Binnenhof.
- 1899
The First Hague Peace Conference convenes, laying the foundation for international arbitration.
- 1913
The Peace Palace opens, cementing the city's role as the legal heart of global peace.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Delft
Vermeer's home town with iconic blue-and-white pottery and canal rings
Hop on tram 1 straight to the historic market square and pottery workshops of neighbouring Delft.
15 min by tramCanalsHistoric