Government
Though not the capital of the country, The Hague largely performs that role. The Dutch government and parliament are located here (in the Binnenhof), as well as the residence of the Royal House and many embassies and ministries. You can visit the historic Binnenhof square yourself, or with a tour to take a look behind the scenes.
For four centuries The Hague has been the living and working place of the Royal family, the House of Orange. Palace Noordeinde with its ornate, landscaped garden is the place where King Willem-Alexander works. When he is there the flag is raised at the palace. The palace is situated on the Noordeinde, one of the most elegant shopping streets of The Hague.
Museums
In The Hague, you will find a number of prominent museums. The Mauritshuis Museum is located in a former royal palace and houses a world famous collection of paintings from the Golden Age. You can admire Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, the ‘Goldfinch’ by Fabritius, the “Anatomy Lesson” by Rembrandt and other masterpieces.
Let your imagination run free at Museum Escher in the Palace. Nothing is what it seems in the works of graphic artist M.C. Escher. The water flows upwards, birds change into fish, and men endlessly walk the same stairs.
In Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, designed by the famous Dutch architect Berlage, you can wander around for hours. The museum features a permanent collection which includes the largest collection of paintings in the world by Piet Mondrian. Temporary exhibitions are also shown.
Leisure
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag is located near the beach of Scheveningen, which like Kijkduin and the Zuiderstrand is part of the 11-kilometre coastline that The Hague has to offer. Whatever season it is, here you’ll find an un-Dutch holiday feeling thanks to the fresh sea air and cool surfers. Do you want to visit the beach during bad weather? Let yourself be enchanted by Panorama Mesdag, a 360-degree scene of Scheveningen in 1881 with vistas of the sea and the dunes.
If you are visiting The Hague with children, then Madurodam is a must. Famous Dutch buildings, attractions and landscapes recreated in miniature. Together, you can discover what makes the Netherlands so special and what the stories are behind these Dutch attractions.
City of Peace and Justice
Finally, The Hague also has the Peace Palace, the most photographed building in the city. This is where the International Court of Justice resides, the only judicial organ of the United Nations outside New York, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. These make The Hague the City of Peace and Justice.
VVV Den Haag
Spui 68
2511 BT Den Haag
T. 0900 – 340 35 05
E. vvv@denhaag.com
www.denhaag.com
