What to do in The Hague? Discover the best plans in the city

The Hague’s must-see attractions

The city boasts some of the best small art collections in the world; a visit to one of these collections could be the perfect way to start this trip. 

The Mauritshuis is located behind the royal lake in the historic heart of the city, and is warmly reflected by the water. This 17th century palace is the perfect place to lose yourself in the art of the Dutch golden age. Johannes Vermeer’s seductive 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring' is a fine place to start, while the collection also includes a rich selection of works by Rembrandt, Fabritius, Van Dyke, and Rubens.

The recently-refurbished museum is compact, consisting of only 16 rooms. In just an hour you can enjoy some of the most profound art in the world, and there’s a lovely café too for a tasty beverage. 

Along the banks of the lake you’ll find the Binnenhof, the ornate cluster of medieval buildings that house the two chambers of the Dutch government. The 13th century Gothic Hall of the Knights, set in the central courtyard, is particularly striking. Each year on the third Tuesday of September, King Willem-Alexander arrives in style on a golden carriage to open the parliament.

Another of the tips that we give you within this guide on what to do in The Hague, is that you tour the city by foot. Or, if you want to explore the city like a true 'Hagenaar', saddle up on a bicycle and take advantage of The Hague’s well-designed web of cycle lanes.

In 2017 it was 100 years since the art movement De Stijl was founded. The Netherlands celebrated this with a large exhibition in the Gemeente Museum, one of the best things to see in The Hague. The museum exhibits the world’s largest Mondrian collection and one of the largest De Stijl collections, which can be seen as a true highlight in The Hague. 

A 15-minute walk from the Binnenhof along Noordeinde, a well-known shopping street, will lead you to Panorama Mesdag, an impressive piece of art. The panorama is a 14 meter by 120 meter cylinder-shaped painting of Scheveningen, a suburb located to the north of The Hague, including one of the most popular beaches in the Netherlands. 

This piece of art will create the illusion of actually being on the beach. You can almost smell the sea air!

Scheveningen Beach

The perfect way to compliment the Panorama Mesdag is to actually travel to the place that inspired it. Scheveningen is a 20-minute tram journey from downtown. Or, if you’re staying at one of our hotels in The Hague, like the NH Atlantic Den Haag hotel, you can walk to the harbor of Scheveningen through the sand dunes that straddle the beach and Westduinpark. If you want to relax, there is no better soundtrack than the sound of the sea. 

This guide on what to do in The Hague wouldn't be complete without trying the raw herring sold at the stalls on this seaside beach and served with raw onions. The vendors will fillet the herring in front of you. Fish won’t come any fresher! 

For an indoor dining experience including a panoramic view, you can go across the harbor, to the famous restaurant Het Gouden Kalf. This brasserie-style restaurant operates with an open-plan kitchen in the center, so you can see the chefs working on French and Italian-influenced cuisine.

Restaurants, bars, and cafes in The Hague

There are over 80 places to eat and drink in The Hague, and the wealth of these great places reflects the cosmopolitan character of the city. 

The Hague is scattered with Indonesian restaurants, but our MINOR HOTELS EUROPE & AMERICAS staff love one in particular, namely: Garoeda. This restaurant was founded by a Dutch colonist in 1949, the innovative chefs fuse traditional Indonesian and Dutch cuisine. We recommend the house specialty, which is rijsttafel, a mouth-watering collection of dishes accompanied by a large bowl of rice.

If you desire Italian food in a buzzy environment you may decide to go to Impero Romano perched on the corner of four streets in a lively part of the city. This restaurant is a brilliant spot for people-watching as you enjoy a wood-fired pizza. 

If you need a shot of caffeine to complete this list on what to do in the Hague, Le Café Hathor is just around the corner. With amazing coffee and a floating terrace that juts out into the canal, it is a popular hangout for diplomats and politicians. 

Once the day comes to an end, and afternoon switches into evening, the locals will participate in the national habit of drinking a chilled jenever (pronounced: yuh-NAY-ver), a Dutch gin. The best place to try out jenever is the Van Kleef Museum and Distillery, the only surviving distillery of 14 that used to be in The Hague with liquid refreshment. The Van Kleef opened in 1842, and the interior still maintained the original charm. 

The views of the city from above are always a good idea. One of the best places for cocktails and fine food is The Penthouse. Located at the top of The Hague Tower, at 135 meters, it’s even higher than the restaurant on the Eiffel Tower!

Shopping in The Hague

The Hague has to offer something for every type of shopper, whether you want to buy a souvenir for yourself or a gift for someone special. 

One of the last stops in this guide on what to do in The Hague is De Passage, the oldest shopping mall in the Netherlands, and was opened in 1885. It was refurbished in the 2000s to incorporate the comforts of a modern mall, but in the old part of the mall, the glass roof allows light to shine into the mall for an unforgettable shopping experience. 

If vintage is your thing, it might be a good idea to go to Wauw (Wild and Unique Warehouse) on Piet Heinstraat, a trendy part of The Hague. This warehouse sells stunning handmade decorative products that you won’t find anywhere else.

Head out and discover The Hague, you won’t be disappointed!