In this article, I present The Haguethe 3e after Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Here you'll find
- A presentation of the Hague
- What you can see in The Hague
- Practical information: access, tips and useful information
- My opinion of a visit to The Hague during a stay in Amsterdam
- And much more!
If you're looking for information about the city of The Hague, you'll love this article.
Follow the guide!
The Hague: article summary
The Hague, 3e city of the Netherlands and seat of government
Den Haag in Dutch - or The Hague for us - lies 60 km from Amsterdam, and has the distinction of being the seat of government without being the capital.
3e country townbehind Amsterdam and Rotterdam, it is nicknamed capital of the legal world as it is home to the headquarters of numerous international institutions. These include the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the European criminal police agency Europol and all the embassies.
For a Amsterdam touristIs a visit necessary? I'll introduce you to the city and its special features to help you decide!
Introducing The Hague
The Hague is a city of contrastsIt's a coastal city, bordered by the North Sea. It's a coastal city, and is bordered by the North Sea, which could appeal to lovers of beaches.
Like most of the country, it suffered heavy damage during the Second World War, which explains the mix of old buildings in the city. its old quarters with the much more modern facades.
Visitors love to stroll through its atypical city center, on foot or by car. by biketo discover the city's various monuments, museums and charming little canals.
Among its assets are its many unspoilt natural areas and its small size, which makes it easy to explore.
Facts and figures about The Hague
- The Hague has just over 500 000 residents
- Nearly half of its population is of foreign origin
- It covers an area of 98.20 km2
- Its inhabitants are called Haguenais or the Haguenois
What can you see and do in The Hague?
The Hague has many points of interest, which should delight the most curious. Here are the must-sees!
Madurodam and its miniatures
Madurodam is a kind of interactive miniature museumThis is the perfect way to discover everything that characterizes the Netherlands.
Models, scale 1/25eThey feature fields of flowers, windmills, boats and the country's most beautiful monuments, providing a fun way to explore the country in one of the world's largest theme parks. the most original in Europe!
- Address: George Maduroplein 1, 2584RZ The Hague
- Opening hours: daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Prices: from 18 euros /person
Mauritshuis Museum
In this museum, you can admire more than 800 masterpieces Dutch art, with paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The most famous is undoubtedly The girl with the pearl by Vermeer, which was exhibited for a time at the famous Rikjsmuseum in Amsterdam. But it's far from the only one!
To celebrate its 200th anniversarysupports street art initiatives at various locations in The Hague. For art lovers.
- Address: Plein 29, 2511CS The Hague
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. / Weekends, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Rates: adults - 19 euros / free for under-18s
The Binnenhof
This central area, around which The Hague developed, is one of the city's must-sees. The ideal place for a stroll at the water's edgeto discover the superb facades and famous inner courtyard of the Binnenhof. Very romantic!
- Address: Binnenhof, 2513 AA, The Hague
De Passage shopping mall
Right in the center of The Hague this shopping centerwith its impressive glass roof. Here you'll find a wide variety of stores where you can buy some memories or luxury accessories for a pleasant shopping session.
For the record, its name comes from French because the mall was originally intended to sell luxury goods imported from Paris!
- Address: Le Passage 72, 2511 AA, The Hague
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. / Sunday and Monday, 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Avenue Lange Voorhout
Still with the idea of doing a bit of shopping while enjoying the city, I invite you to stroll along Avenue Lange Voorhout. It's quite simply the most famous street de la Haye, with its ancient buildings, tree-lined avenues and several buildings of prime importance.
Here you can meet Escher Museum (see below), several embassies and the Ministry of Finance.
The Escher Museum
Maurits Cornelis Escher is a Dutch painter and lithographerwho created astonishing works inspired by mathematics. You can discover his atypical world by visiting the Musée Escher, with its permanent exhibition and impressive hall of optical illusions.
- Address: Lange Voorhout 74, The Hague
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Prices: adults - 11.50 euros / 13-18 years -13.50 euros / 7-13 years - 6.50 euros / free for children aged 6 and under
The Mesdag panorama museum
I recommend a detour to the Mesdag panorama museum, which presents the works of the Haguenois painter of the same name and its interactive panoramic frescoshows Scheveningen beach in the 19th century.
As fun as it is impressive, with its 360° view!
- Address: Zeestraat 65, the hague
- Opening hours: daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Price: 10 euros
How do I get to The Hague from Amsterdam?
The Hague is about 60 km southwest of Amsterdam. Well served, it's easily accessible in 1 hour from the capital.
You can opt for :
- Visit trainwith a round-trip ticket costing 25 euros and a journey time of 1 hour.
- Visit carvia the A4 and/or A44, also taking 1 hour. However, as in Amsterdam, parking lots are quite expensive!
Should you visit The Hague during your stay in Amsterdam?
As you can see, there's no shortage of things to do in The Hague, and the city is ideal for a day trip from Amsterdam, due to its proximity. It has an undeniable charm and is less hectic than its big sister, which will delight lovers of peace and quiet.
However, there are so many Things to do in Amsterdam I'd only recommend it to those who stay long enough. If you only spend 2 or 3 days in Amsterdam, stay in the capital!
For those who have more time, The Hague is an interesting option. You're guaranteed to have a great time!
However, if you were to make just one excursion outside Amsterdam, I'd advise you to choose between the magnificent flower garden of Keukenhof and the charming fishing town of Volendam !
Enjoy the discovery!
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