A day trip to The Hague is the perfect outing for all ages and it's only 60 minutes from Amsterdam. From shopping to nature and culture, discover all the beauty the city has to offer!
A visit to the Mauritshuis is a great starting point for a day trip or weekend away in The Hague. Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and other world-famous masterpieces are on every art lover's bucket list – a must-see! Stroll past royal palaces and enjoy inspiring museums and galleries. The beach and dunes are nearby, and you can also enjoy a stroll in the bustling shopping streets in the city centre.
Need a break or a bite to eat? There are many pleasant terraces and atmospheric restaurants to try out in the historical city centre. The Mauritshuis is the perfect starting point for an amazing experience of The Hague!
Royal The Hague
For over four centuries, The Hague has been home to the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau – a city of grandeur, history, and living traditions.
Royal Landmarks
Discover royal landmarks like the former winter palace of Queen Mother Emma (now Escher in The Palace) on Lange Voorhout near the Mauritshuis. Later this building also served as working palace to Queens Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix. Wander past Palace Noordeinde, the King’s working palace, surrounded by elegant boutiques and galleries, or relax in the hidden Palace Garden, once created for Princess Louise de Coligny. From Huis ten Bosch Palace, the King’s residence in the Hague Forest, to hidden gems like Prince William V Gallery and Kneuterdijk Palace. You'll find the presence of the royals everywhere in the city.
Museum Quarter The Hague
The Hague offers a wide range of museums and cultural institutions, all within walking distance of each other in the Museum Quarter. Take a stroll around the Hofvijver and Lange Voorhout and visit museums and galleries in the historic centre of bustling The Hague!
Obviously, the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis will be part of your program for your day trip to The Hague. You simply have to see the Girl with a Pearl Earring and all the other treasures our city palace has to offer with your own eyes. Still in the mood after the Mauritshuis? There are many other beautiful museums in The Hague!
Escher in The Palace
At the Escher Museum, you'll marvel at 120 works by M.C. Escher, the Netherlands' most famous master of optical illusions. With a combination ticket, you get extra savings when you visit the Mauritshuis and the Escher in the Palace. These tickets can only be bought through Tiqets.
Prince William V Gallery
Your Mauritshuis ticket gives you free admission to the very first museum of the Netherlands! Visit Prince William V Gallery and admire some 150 masterpieces in the historic hall. Prince William V of Orange-Nassau had it built in 1774 so he could show his impressive collection of paintings to the public.
The Gevangenpoort (Prison Gate Museum)
Right next door, you can step into the dark dungeons of Prison Gate Museum. Here, you can discover how rich to poor, known and unknown were once held captive in these cold dungeons (separate ticket required).
Panorama Mesdag
A unique museum centred around a single work of art: a 360° panorama of Scheveningen in 1881. Artist Hendrik Willem Mesdag made a monumental painting which completely surrounds the visitor. It is currently the world’s oldest panorama preserved in its original setting. An unforgettable experience!
Other Museum of The Hague
Experience an artistic weekend in The Hague! Take an art journey from the 17th century to the present day. Admire world-famous 17th-century masterpieces in the Mauritshuis, modern art in the Kunstmuseum and finish with contemporary art in Museum Voorlinden.
Kunstmuseum (Art Museum)
The Kunstmuseum is located just outside the city centre, so take one of the many trams or busses to get there. Enjoy a feast of some 160,000 modern and contemporary works of art, from Monet and Mondriaan to Bacon and Bourgeois, and be surprised by fashion and finely decorated Delft Blue in the iconic Berlage building.
Museum Voorlinden
Museum Voorlinden is located in Wassenaar, on the outskirts of The Hague. You will discover exclusive and contemporary works of art that will surprise, move and excite you in this ultramodern museum. The estate itself is well worth a visit!
Attractions to see in The Hague
In addition to museums, there’s a lot more to experience and great selfie spots around the Mauritshuis. For example, the political heart of the Netherlands, the historical Binnenhof, is just around the corner (currently under construction).
During the renovation, you can climb the tall 'Binnenhof Viewpoint' tower to take a peek at the Binnenhof from above and enjoy a spectacular view of the whole of The Hague.
Want to find out more? ProDemos offers various guided tours that show you around the Binnenhof.
Discover The Hague on foot or from the water
A boat tour allows you to experience The Hague in a completely different way. Sail through the canals and enjoy monumental buildings and stunning views. A city walk combined with a boat tour through The Hague's canals is also a possibility!
City walks
It’s amazing to discover a historical city, like The Hague, on foot. With a guide, you will hear the hidden stories of the city: from the Binnenhof to the Passage and from the Palace Gardens to the courtyards in the old centre. The walks via DenHaag.com or ProDemos are interactive and entertaining, often with themes such as art, politics or culinary The Hague.
Shopping in style
The Hague offers endless shopping opportunities. Well known store brands can be found around Grote Marktstraat and Spui. For something unique, head to De Passage, the Hofkwartier, Dennenweg or Frederikstraat with their luxury boutiques, galleries, antique shops, design shops and vintage shops.
Combine shopping with culture
In the charming smaller shopping streets, you will discover cosy coffee shops, stately buildings and striking architecture. Stroll past the king's Noordeinde Palace, admire the historic Hotel Des Indes and let the oldest shopping arcade of the Netherlands (De Passage, dating from 1885) enchant you with its glass domes and marble floors.
De Passage and the Noordeinde Palace are within walking distance of the Mauritshuis. Once you’ve passed the palace on your way to the public palace gardens (the Princessetuin), you can also take a peek into all the little antique shops, galleries and antiquarian bookshops.
Culinary delights
From Indonesian rice tables to Michelin-starred restaurants and from fresh fish in Scheveningen to fusion cuisine in the city centre: The Hague has an incredibly diverse culinary scene to enjoy.
When the weather is nice, enjoy a bite to eat and a drink at one of the many terraces or beach bars in the city. And you're in luck! The Plein, next to our museum and surrounded by beautiful historic buildings, is The Hague's premier terrace square. The Grote Markt is a lively, smaller square full of terraces at the end of the main shopping street. Or enjoy the sea view on the Scheveningen boulevard. Take your pick!
Sun, sea and sand
Fancy some sun, sea and sand? Just hop on the tram to Scheveningen and don't forget to look around you on the way there; you’ll be passing the striking Peace Palace - the city's most photographed building - and the miniature theme park Madurodam. These are sights that you simply must see during a longer stay in The Hague.
Pier Scheveningen
Don’t forget to visit the Scheveningen boulevard during your day trip or weekend to The Hague. Go for a nice walk, take a ride on the Ferris wheel or – if you dare – go bungee jumping or zip lining!
Delft & Vermeer
The charming city of Delft is inseparably linked to Johannes Vermeer, the world-famous painter of Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft. Just a short 20 minute trip from The Hague, Delft offers the perfect blend of art, history, and authentic Dutch charm.
Born and raised here, Vermeer captured the quiet beauty of Delft’s canals, squares, and interiors in his masterpieces. At the Vermeer Centrum Delft you can explore his life, techniques, and inspirations, while a stroll through the historic city reveals the very streets and views he once painted.
Hotels in The Hague
Can't get enough of The Hague? Then why not stay an extra night and book a room in the chic Hotel Des Indes, the Park Centraal with its art deco atmosphere, or the affordable StayOkay Hostel. Or stay even longer in one of the holiday parks near the dunes and the beach; there are plenty to choose from!
More information
A visit to the city starts at the Hague Tourist Information Office. Here you will find all the information you need about museums, events, walks and insider tips.
The rich cultural heritage and the many shops and events mean that there is something to do in The Hague in all four seasons. The annual Peace Festival and the Royal Christmas Fair for example or the charming antique - and book markets on the Lange Voorhout. Start discovering it now at www.denhaag.com.
