The Hague, also known as Den Haag and s-Gravenhage is the third largest city in the Netherlands and the seat of parliament since the 16th century.
Probably the most international and cosmopolitan of Dutch cities, The Hague has a very different feel to that of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The crooked 18th century flat fronted house are not in evidence here and there are much fewer canals than you would ordinarily expect to find in a Dutch city. Wide streets and a general sense of open space is more the sensation that visitors to The Hague experience.
Home to the International justice courts and many other international judiciary organisations, The Hague has a very large international work force which contributes to the air of a multi national city.
Away from the many new modern structures evident on the skyline of The Hague there are a whole host of historical places of interest. Visitors can enjoy the 13th century Binnenhof complex of buildings that house the Parliament or take in Queen Beatrix’ palace, Paleis Huis ten Bosch, located just outside the city to name but a few. The Hague also offers a vast array of galleries and museums to satisfy every cultural palette.
The Hague is also home to Scheveningen, a very popular seaside hamlet that attracts more than 10 million visitors a year.
A lack of a University in the city means that there is relatively little in the way of nightlife in the Hague but the main squares, Het Plien, Grote Markt and Buitenhof offer visitors a wealth of cinemas, bars and restaurants.
Why not take a look at the interactive map via the menu on the left to get an aerial view of the places that interest you in The Hague.