Is The Hague Worth Visiting? Honest Pros and Cons (2026)

I stepped off a tram at the Binnenhof, looked across a pond at the Dutch parliament, and thought I’d found a quiet government town. Twenty-five minutes later, I was standing on a wide North Sea beach with a Ferris wheel behind me. That quick switch is the best thing about The Hague. I spent three days here one summer.

The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government and the third-largest city in the Netherlands (Amsterdam stays the official capital). It’s home to the king’s working palace, the Peace Palace and the Mauritshuis, where Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring hangs. It also has Scheveningen, a proper seaside resort with a pier, a grand old Kurhaus and a busy fishing harbour. If you’re deciding whether The Hague is worth visiting, the short answer for me is yes, especially for art lovers and anyone who wants a city and a beach in one trip.

This guide covers the pros and cons of The Hague, where to stay, and what to book. You’ll also find tips on when to go, how long you need, and getting around, so you can decide whether it suits your kind of trip.

Pros of Visiting The Hague

1. The Mauritshuis and Girl with a Pearl Earring

The Mauritshuis is the best small art museum I’ve visited in the Netherlands. It sits in a 17th-century mansion beside the Hofvijver pond, and every room holds a Dutch Golden Age masterpiece. Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring is the star, and you can stand close enough to see the brushwork. Rembrandt’s Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp and Fabritius’s The Goldfinch hang nearby. The rooms are small, so you never feel worn out. The Golden Room, with its gilded ceiling, is a highlight in itself.

The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm and on Monday from 1pm to 6pm. Book a timed slot online, because walk-ins can miss out. The Mauritshuis entrance ticket takes about 1.5 hours to use. Go after 3pm for fewer people. The museum is cashless, and the free cloakroom takes coats and bags, so you can look at the paintings with your hands free.

2. The Binnenhof and the Political Heart

The Binnenhof is the oldest part of Dutch politics, and the whole complex sits on the edge of a pond in the middle of the city. The Ridderzaal (Knights’ Hall) rises above the courtyard, and the Prime Minister’s tiny office, the Torentje, sits on the corner. The best photo is from the far side of the Hofvijver, where the towers reflect in the water. I walked there at the end of my first afternoon, and I came back at dusk!

The complex is under renovation, but you can still walk or cycle through the courtyards. The Hague’s tourism site has the latest on access. To understand what you’re looking at, the politics and royal heritage walking tour lasts 2.5 hours and covers the parliament, the royal palaces and the stories behind them. The Plein and Lange Voorhout are a short stroll away, so you can build a full morning here.

3. Scheveningen Beach

Scheveningen is the reason I’d pick The Hague over most Dutch cities. The beach is wide, sandy and a short tram ride from the centre, and the boulevard behind it is lined with beach clubs, cafés and ice cream stands. I stayed here and walked down to the sand every morning before breakfast. The North Sea is cold, but people swim, surf and sunbathe from late spring. The light at sunset is the best part of the day.

If you want to get in the water, the surf lesson for adults lasts 1.5 hours and teaches the basics in the waves. For something drier, the Museum Beelden aan Zee entry ticket gets you into a sculpture museum right on the dunes, with North Sea views. Walk away from the pier for a quieter stretch of sand. Visit Scheveningen for more on the beach and its events.

4. The Pier, the Kurhaus and the Harbour

Scheveningen Pier sticks out over the sea, and the walk to the end is free. It’s open daily from 10am to 10pm. The Ferris wheel is the first in the Netherlands over the sea, and a ride takes about 20 minutes. From April to September, a zipline runs from the 55-metre Bungy Tower, and a bungy jump drops from 60 metres. Check the Scheveningen Pier page for the latest hours. The Kurhaus, a grand hotel from the 1880s, sits next to it on the boulevard.

For a different angle, the RIB speedboat tour takes 45 minutes and passes the Kurhaus, the pier and the lighthouse at high speed. Walk to the harbour afterwards. Fishing boats unload there, and the stalls sell fresh herring on a bun with onions, the classic Dutch snack. Early June brings Vlaggetjesdag, a harbour festival that celebrates the first herring of the season.

5. The Peace Palace and International Law

The Hague calls itself the city of peace and justice, and the Peace Palace is the symbol. The neo-Gothic building was funded by Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1913. Today it houses the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The International Criminal Court sits a short ride away. You can’t just wander inside, but the gates, the lawns and the tower are worth a visit. Guided tours need to be booked in advance, and the Peace Palace visitor centre has an interactive exhibition!

I’d see it by bike. The highlights bike tour lasts 2.5 hours and covers the Peace Palace, the old centre and some of the best architecture along the way. A guide explains what each building does, which makes the stop mean far more. Cycling is flat and easy here. The route also shows you how far apart the main sights sit, so it’s a good first-day activity.

6. Escher, Mesdag and More Art

The Hague has more art than its size suggests. Escher in Het Paleis sits in the former winter palace of Queen Emma on Lange Voorhout, and it’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm. More than 120 prints fill three floors, including the impossible staircases and tessellations. The 7-metre-long Metamorphosis III is the highlight. The Escher in The Palace ticket includes an optional audio guide. Both museums are small and within walking distance of each other, so you can see them in the same afternoon.

Panorama Mesdag is my other pick. You climb a staircase and step into the middle of a 360-degree painting of Scheveningen from 1881, complete with dunes and fishing boats. It’s the largest circular painting in Europe, and a visit takes about an hour. The Panorama Mesdag ticket covers entry. The Kunstmuseum Den Haag is worth a visit too, for its Mondrian collection and Berlage’s building.

7. Madurodam

Madurodam sounds like a kids’ attraction, but I enjoyed it as an adult. It’s a miniature Netherlands, with perfect little versions of Amsterdam, The Hague and Delft, plus windmills, canals and the Peace Palace. You can operate the Oosterschelde storm surge barrier and join a flower auction, and there’s a cheese-lifting game inspired by the Alkmaar market. It’s a quick way to see what Dutch landmarks look like before you visit them. A scan card activates the touch screens, so kids and adults both get something out of the details.

The park is open every day of the year. Tram 9 stops right outside, and the address is George Maduroplein 1. The Madurodam entry ticket allows about two hours, plus an optional one-hour guided tour. Check the Madurodam site for seasonal hours. It suits families best, but couples will enjoy it too, especially on a rainy afternoon when the beach isn’t an option.

8. Indonesian Food and Dutch Snacks

The Hague has a big Indonesian community, and that shows on the menu. You’ll find rijsttafel (a “rice table” of small dishes), satay, nasi goreng and bakery counters with Indonesian pastries. Wagenstraat is the centre of Chinatown, and the streets around Piet Heinstraat in the Zeeheldenkwartier are packed with restaurants. On the Dutch side, expect bitterballen, kibbeling (fried fish) and haring. Snacks like these cost just a few euros, so you can taste plenty without spending much. Haagse hopjes, a coffee-flavoured sweet, is the local candy, and it’s worth buying a bag!

I booked the walking food tour on my second afternoon. It lasts four hours and covers tastings across the city with stories about each stop. It’s a long tour, so skip lunch first. If you want to go solo, eat Indonesian for dinner and save the herring for the harbour. Reserve a table on Friday and Saturday evenings, because the popular spots fill up.

9. The Royal Quarter and Canals

The Hague is the royal city of the Netherlands, and you can see it in the old centre. Noordeinde Palace is the king’s working palace, and the tree-lined Lange Voorhout avenue is one of the prettiest streets in the city. The area around the Noordeinde and Denneweg has small boutiques, antique shops and quiet cafés. Prinsjesdag in September brings the king through these streets in a horse-drawn coach. I enjoyed walking here more than any shopping street back in the centre. Denneweg is the best street for browsing, with its small galleries and antique shops.

For another view, the electric boat tour lasts 75 minutes in a small group on an open boat. It slides through the city canals in near silence. The Hague Tower climb takes 65 minutes and shows you the 600-year-old tower’s mechanisms, plus the view from the top. Both are short and easy to fit between museums.

10. Day Trips

The Hague sits in the middle of the Randstad, so day trips are simple. Delft is about 15 minutes by train and also on tram line 1, and its canals and Vermeer history make it the obvious first choice. The Royal Delft experience shows how the blue pottery is made. Rotterdam and Leiden are both within 30 minutes, and Amsterdam takes under an hour. Leiden has a pretty canal-lined centre, and Rotterdam’s modern skyline is a complete contrast to The Hague’s.

In spring, Keukenhof is the big draw, with millions of tulips and hyacinths. It only opens for a short window each year, so check the dates before you plan. Pick one trip per day, because each one takes most of a day. I’d leave the longer ones for your third or fourth day. The trains are frequent and the stations are central, so you don’t need a tour.

Cons of Visiting The Hague

1. Scheveningen Beach Gets Packed

On a sunny weekend, the beach and the boulevard turn into a crowd. The trams fill up, the beach clubs charge a premium and the sand disappears under towels. Families, day-trippers and groups from nearby cities all arrive at the same time. I visited on a warm Saturday and spent ten minutes finding a clear patch of sand. The pier area is the busiest, and prices there are higher too!

The answer is to go early or go on a weekday. Walk away from the pier toward the quieter ends of the beach, where there’s more room and fewer queues. Take the tram before 10am, and you’ll have a seat. Save the pier and the boulevard for the evening, when the crowds thin and the light is better. A bit of timing makes a big difference, and the beach is still worth it.

2. The Binnenhof Is Under Renovation

The Binnenhof is the main sight in The Hague, and it’s under a long renovation. Scaffolding covers parts of the complex, and the interior tours of the Ridderzaal and the parliament chambers are on hold. I expected to go inside and found I couldn’t. The courtyards are still open to walk through, but the full experience will have to wait. It’s an odd feeling to visit the political heart of the country and find half of it closed.

The answer is to lean on the outside views and the nearby sights. The Hofvijver view is as good as ever, and the Mauritshuis is next door. The city walking tour with historical highlights takes two hours and covers the Binnenhof, the Mauritshuis and Noordeinde Palace from the outside. A guide fills in the history you can’t see. It’s a small loss, and the city is still worth it.

3. The Sights Are Spread Out

The Hague isn’t tiny like Delft. Scheveningen is about 20 to 25 minutes from the centre by tram, and the Peace Palace, Madurodam and the Kunstmuseum sit in different directions. On my second day, I zigzagged across the city and spent more time on trams than I’d planned. The old centre is walkable, but the big attractions are not all close together.

Group your days by area. Spend one day in the old centre, one in Scheveningen and one on the Peace Palace, Madurodam and the Kunstmuseum side. HTM runs the trams and buses, and you can tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone. Tram lines 1, 9 and 11 all reach Scheveningen. The rides are easy and frequent, so the distances stop feeling like a problem.

4. Many Sights Close on Mondays

Monday is a tricky day in The Hague. Escher in Het Paleis and Panorama Mesdag both close, and the Mauritshuis only opens from 1pm. I almost planned the Escher museum for my last Monday before I checked the hours. Many smaller shops and galleries also keep short hours. If your trip falls on a long weekend, you can lose a day of indoor options!

The answer is to plan around it. Save Monday for the outdoors: Scheveningen, the pier, the harbour and the Binnenhof walk. Madurodam is open 365 days a year, so it’s a good fallback. Use the Mauritshuis afternoon slot on Monday if you’re keen to see the Vermeer. Save the other museums for Tuesday to Sunday. A quick check of opening hours solves it, and the museums are still worth it.

5. Changeable North Sea Weather

The Hague sits on the coast, and the weather can swing in an hour. Wind comes straight off the North Sea, and a warm morning can turn into a grey, drizzly afternoon. The beach feels very different in a cold breeze. I packed a light jacket and wore it more than I expected. On a rainy day, the open-air sights lose a lot of their charm.

Keep a few indoor plans ready. The Sea Life Scheveningen entry ticket is a good rainy-day pick for families. The Louwman Museum ticket has more than 275 cars and comes with an audio tour. The Mauritshuis and the Kunstmuseum are good backups too, since both are indoors and easy to reach by tram. Pack layers and a compact waterproof, and the weather won’t ruin the trip. The city is still worth it.

Where to Stay

Scheveningen: I stayed in Scheveningen, and it’s my favourite base in The Hague. The beach is a few minutes’ walk, the pier and the Kurhaus are close and the harbour has plenty of places to eat. The tram reaches the old centre in about 20 to 25 minutes. The downsides are summer crowds, higher prices on the seafront and a quieter feel in the evening. Fox Hotel The Hague Scheveningen is a budget-friendly 2-star on Palaceplein with air conditioning and soundproof rooms. Boulevard Hotel Scheveningen is a mid-range 3-star on Seinpostduin with a beachfront spot, a terrace and a garden. Bilderberg Europa Hotel Scheveningen is an upscale 4-star on Zwolsestraat with an indoor pool, a sauna and beach access.

City Centre and Binnenhof: The old centre is the best base for museums and history. The Binnenhof, the Mauritshuis, the Plein and Lange Voorhout are all within a ten-minute walk, and the shops and restaurants are right there. It suits culture fans and short city breaks. The downsides are a longer trip to the beach and quieter evenings than in Scheveningen. ibis Den Haag City Centre is a budget-friendly 3-star on Jan Hendrikstraat with a restaurant and a bar. Holiday Inn Express The Hague – Parliament is a mid-range 3-star on Lange Houtstraat with a bar and air conditioning. Boutique Hotel Corona is an upscale 4-star on Buitenhof with a restaurant, a bar and a terrace.

Around Den Haag Centraal: This is the most convenient area if you arrive by train or plan day trips. The station connects to Delft, Rotterdam, Leiden and Schiphol, and the old centre is a 10 to 15 minute walk away. The streets around the station are busy and a little rough in places, but the hotels are modern. Moxy The Hague is a mid-range 4-star on Wijnhaven with a bar, a restaurant and a fitness centre. TRIBE Hotel Den Haag Centraal is a mid-range 4-star on Spui with a restaurant, a terrace and a fitness centre. Leonardo Hotel Den Haag Babylon is a mid-range 4-star on Bezuidenhoutseweg with a fitness centre and a tour desk!

Statenkwartier and the Peace Palace Side: This leafy residential area sits between the centre and the sea. It has grand 19th-century houses, quiet streets and easy access to the Peace Palace, the Kunstmuseum and the Scheveningse Bosjes park. It suits couples and travellers who want a calm base, though restaurants are fewer than in the centre. Best Western Hotel Den Haag is a budget-friendly 3-star on Groothertoginnelaan with a garden and a terrace. Court Garden Hotel is a mid-range 4-star on Laan van Meerdervoort with air conditioning and soundproof rooms. Leonardo Royal Hotel Den Haag Promenade is an upscale 4-star on Van Stolkweg with an indoor pool, a spa and a garden.

Best Time to Visit

Summer (June to August): I visited in summer, and it’s the best time for the beach. Days are long, the boulevard is lively and the terraces stay open late. Vlaggetjesdag celebrates the first herring in early June, and De Parade theatre festival runs in Westbroekpark in early July. Jazz in de Gracht fills the canals at the end of August. It’s also the busiest season, so book hotels and key tickets early.

Spring (March to May): Spring is beautiful. Keukenhof opens in late March, and the city starts to wake up. King’s Night and King’s Day on 26 and 27 April bring music stages in the centre and flea markets in Scheveningen. The Liberation Festival on 5 May is free on the Malieveld. Mornings are cool, so bring layers.

Autumn (September to November): Autumn brings fewer crowds and lower prices. Prinsjesdag falls on the third Tuesday of September, when the king travels through the centre in a horse-drawn coach. The International Kite Festival lights up the beach at the end of September. The weather turns wet and windy, so pack a waterproof jacket!

Winter (December to February): Winter is quiet and cold. The Royal Christmas Fair fills Lange Voorhout in December, and a covered ice rink opens on the Kurhausplein from November to February. Bonfire of Joy lights the north beach on New Year’s Eve. Days are short, but the museums are cosy and hotel prices drop.

How Long to Spend

1-2 Days: With one or two days, you can cover the highlights. Visit the Mauritshuis, walk past the Binnenhof and the Hofvijver, then take the tram to Scheveningen for the pier and the harbour. If you only have a day, a city walking tour gives you the old centre fast.

3-4 Days: This is the ideal length, and it’s what I did. Three days gives you the old centre and museums, a full beach day in Scheveningen and a third day for the Peace Palace, Madurodam and Escher. A fourth day lets you add Delft by train. I split my days by area, and it kept the tram rides short.

5-7 Days: With a week, you can slow down and use The Hague as a base. Delft, Rotterdam, Leiden and Keukenhof are all easy day trips. Keep one slow day for the Kunstmuseum, a long lunch in the Zeeheldenkwartier and a sunset walk on the beach. If you’re seeing more of the Netherlands, consider Haarlem and Utrecht as additional stops with time to explore each at your own pace.

Getting Around

On foot: The old centre is compact, and the Binnenhof, the Mauritshuis, the Plein, Lange Voorhout and Noordeinde Palace are all within about 15 minutes of each other. I walked most of the time in the centre. The streets are flat and pleasant, so it’s the best way to see the old town.

Bike hire: The Hague is flat and easy to cycle, with good lanes along most roads. Donkey Republic rents bikes through an app, and the highlights bike tour is a good way to start. Lock your bike every time you stop!

Trams and buses: HTM runs the trams and buses. Tram 1 links Scheveningen with the centre and Delft, tram 9 runs to Madurodam and Scheveningen, and tram 11 goes between Scheveningen Harbour and Hollands Spoor station. You can tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone using OVpay, or use the HTM app. Remember to tap out at the end of each ride. The tram from the centre to Scheveningen takes about 20 to 25 minutes.

Trains: NS runs the national trains. The Hague has two main stations, Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag Hollands Spoor. Delft is about 15 minutes away, and Rotterdam, Leiden and Amsterdam are all easy day trips.

Taxis and ride-hailing: Taxis are expensive, and the trams cover most routes. Uber and Bolt are the main apps, and they’re handy late at night or with luggage. Check the fare in the app before you set off.

To and from the airport: The Hague has no major airport, so most people fly into Schiphol. The train takes about 45 minutes to Den Haag Centraal, with departures every 12 minutes for most of the day. NS runs the service, and the Schiphol train transfer is a simple ticket you can book ahead. If you want door-to-door service, the private transfer takes about an hour. For the way back, line up the same type of ticket for your departure, or take the train from Den Haag Centraal.

Final Thoughts: Is The Hague Worth Visiting?

Yes, and it’s one of the most underrated cities in the Netherlands. The Hague gives you world-class art, a political heart with real history, a royal quarter and a proper beach resort, all in one place. It’s easy to reach, simple to get around and quieter than most Dutch cities. I left wishing I’d had another day.

It isn’t perfect. The beach can be packed, the Binnenhof is under renovation, the sights are spread out, many museums close on Mondays and the North Sea weather can turn fast. Each of these has a simple fix, so none of them should put you off!

The Hague is best for art lovers, history fans, families and anyone who wants a city break with sand and sea. If you split your days by area, check opening hours and save a day for Delft, it’s worth every euro. You’ll leave with a new favourite corner of the Netherlands.