Best Things To Do in The Hague

If you're planning a visit to the Netherlands, you'll find that the country has many other cities worth visiting besides Amsterdam. The Hague, world-renowned for its diplomatic muscle and for being the seat of international courts, is one of them, and it's a destination full of museums and theme parks.

Some of the best things to do in The Hague include visiting the Mauritshuis, touring the Madurodam Theme Park, riding around the city on the legendary local tram and discovering the panoramic views from the Pier SkyView Ferris wheel, which is one of the most visited in Europe.

The Mauritshuis is one of Europe's most prestigious art museums and home to some of the most famous paintings by the great Dutch masters. With a history of over 200 years, it houses a collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, including The Girl with the Pearl by Johannes Vermeer, one of the most famous pieces from the Netherlands.

You can also see other masterpieces such as The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt and The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius. The collection is complemented by works by Flemish, Italian and German artists, so you can also enjoy the rich diversity of styles and techniques that marked the late Renaissance even outside the Netherlands.

In addition to its permanent collection, the Mauritshuis organises temporary exhibitions that explore different aspects of art and culture, both historical and contemporary. These exhibitions are an excellent complement for art lovers who wish to delve deeper into specific themes or discover lesser-known artists. The museum also has a calendar of activities, such as guided tours, talks and workshops.

Buying tickets to visit the Mauritshuis is not only an encounter with art, but also with history and architectural beauty. The museum's intimate setting, its location next to the Dutch Parliament and its view of the Hofvijver Pond make the tour one of the most interesting experiences in The Hague.

Madurodam is a unique theme park that presents the most iconic monuments, landscapes and cultural aspects of the Netherlands, but in miniature. Named after a local World War II hero, it houses elaborately detailed 1:25 scale models that accurately recreate historic buildings, canals, airports, harbours and windmills from all corners of the country.

As you tour Madurodam you can admire miniature versions of the Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam and the famous Schiphol Bridge. In addition to the monuments, aspects of Dutch culture are also represented, such as tulip fields, dykes and traditional industries such as cheese making.

But the most appealing thing about booking tickets to Madurodam Park is its interactive approach. Many of the models include mechanical and electronic activities that can be operated by visitors. For example, you can load containers in the port of Rotterdam, control a lock on the canals or make a plane take off at Schiphol.

For the best views of The Hague, you can't miss tickets to Pier SkyView, a Ferris wheel located on the Scheveningen waterfront near one of The Hague's most popular beaches. This tourist attraction provides an unforgettable experience in comfortable, enclosed and heated cabins, suitable for all types of weather and audiences.

From the heights of Pier SkyView, which peaks at about 50 metres above sea level, you can admire the long beach of Scheveningen and the North Sea with its blue waters and golden sand dunes. On clear days you can also see the coastline stretching towards the horizon, marking the limit of the Dutch coastline.

In addition to the beach views, from the Ferris wheel you can also see some of The Hague's main attractions. To the east, you'll see the city's skyline, with landmark buildings such as the Binnenhof, home of the Dutch Parliament, and the Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice.

Binnenhof, located in the historic centre of The Hague, is the city's kilometre zero and a monumental complex of buildings that is of profound political importance to the Netherlands. This 13th century complex has been the centre of national government for centuries and remains the site of many of the country's most important decisions.

Binnenhof houses the Dutch Parliament and the Prime Minister's Office, making it one of the oldest continuously used political sites in the world and the heart of the Dutch governmental exercise. Its medieval architecture and its location next to the picturesque Hofvijver pond make it an essential tourist destination.

When touring the Binnenhof, one of the first things that will impress you is the Ridderzaal or Knights' Hall, the most prominent building in the complex. With its Gothic façade, the Ridderzaal is used for official ceremonies, such as the Speech from the Throne delivered each year by the King during the opening of the parliamentary year. Its interior has a wooden ceiling in the shape of an inverted ship's keel, stained glass windows and symbols of Dutch nobility.

In addition to the Ridderzaal, the Binnenhof houses numerous buildings and courtyards where government activities take place. Among them is the Tweede Kamer, or House of Representatives, and nearby you will find key tourist attractions such as the Mauritshuis and the Escher Museum. You can get here by public transport or if you decide to book a bike tour of The Hague, which passes through Binnenhof.

Booking tickets to the Escher in the Palace Museum allows you to discover a space dedicated entirely to the work of the famous Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher. This exhibition is housed in a former royal palace, which was the residence of Queen Emma of the Netherlands in the 19th century. With an elegant setting that contrasts with Escher's enigmatic works, this place is on the list of must-see attractions in The Hague.

The museum houses the largest collection of works by Maurits Cornelis Escher, known for his lithographs and prints that play with visual perception, geometric patterns and optical illusions. Among the most famous pieces you can find are Relativity, where the laws of gravity seem to work differently in each direction, and Hands Drawing, an image that defies logic and perspective.

A pioneer in the handling of "illusions", in the style of modern museums, one of the most striking characteristics of Escher's work is his ability to confuse the visual universe of those who observe his works. That's why this museum is designed to contemplate the artist's works, but also to interact with installations and elements that lay bare the Escherian technique.

One of the most comfortable and traditional ways to explore The Hague is on the tram that runs through the city and explores the main points of interest of this destination. The tram takes a scenic route around the Binnenhof complex, the political heart of the Netherlands, as well as the Mauritshuis and the Noordeinde Palace.

On its route along the coast, the tram also passes through the lively district of Scheveningen, so you can enjoy views of the quayside, where the Pier SkyView Ferris wheel stands out and the Beelden aan Zee Museum, an exhibition dedicated to contemporary sculpture that you can easily visit from one of the stops on this means of transport.

The tram route also includes a stop in front of the Peace Palace, which is the seat of the International Court of Justice. Nearby you'll have the opportunity to take a walk through one of the city's most beautiful parks, such as the Haagse Bos, which is a large urban forest that offers a respite from city life and some of the best cycling trails.

If you are a marine wildlife enthusiast or plan to visit The Hague with children, you can opt to book tickets to the Sea Life Aquarium Scheveningen, which is one of the city's top family attractions. At this aquarium you can visit more than 45 different exhibits showcasing marine life from all corners of the world. Among its most prominent inhabitants are sharks, sea turtles and penguins.

One of the most popular attractions is the underwater tunnel, which allows you to walk underwater and watch the animals swimming above you, with a perspective similar to being at the bottom of the ocean. The aquarium displays also include coral reefs, bioluminescent jellyfish and a variety of colourful tropical fish.

In addition to admiring the marine species, the aquarium has a number of interactive activities that make it especially popular with families with children. Visitors can touch starfish and crabs in the touch pool, an experience that brings the public even closer to the natural world, and also feed live species such as sharks and rays.

Almost 8000 kilometres away from China, and just like in other parts of the world, one of the most popular neighbourhoods in The Hague is Chinatown. This corner offers a unique cultural experience, with its ubiquitous red lanterns, traditional arches and exotic shops, transporting visitors straight to the heart of the Asian giant.

Although relatively small compared to other Chinatowns around the world, The Hague's Chinatown stands out for its authenticity and blend of cultures, with a mix of Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese and Thai influences. There you can stroll through its crowded streets, pick up typical products and book a food tour in The Hague.

In Chinatown you can enjoy authentic Chinese food, such as dim sum and lacquered duck, as well as Indonesian dishes that reflect the close historical link between the Netherlands and Indonesia. The district's location near Binnenhof also ensures that you won't miss out on anything and can easily fit it into your travel itinerary.

The Panorama Mesdag Museum is a unique place that houses one of the most famous works of immersive art in the Netherlands: the Scheveningen Panorama. Created by the painter Hendrik Willem Mesdag in 1881, this museum is mainly dedicated to this monumental cylindrical painting, 120 metres long and 14 metres high, which offers a 360-degree view of the fishing village of Scheveningen and its extensive beach.

What makes this work special is its ability to completely immerse the viewer in a 19th century seaside setting, transporting him or her back in time with an astonishing optical illusion. From a central platform and after booking tickets for the Mesdag Panorama, you can gaze at the huge circular painting that completely surrounds you, creating the sensation of actually being in the landscape.

The view includes the sea, the dunes, the houses and boats of Scheveningen, all painted with great detail and precision by Mesdag and his team of collaborators. The ingenious use of natural light and three-dimensional elements, such as sand and objects in the foreground, adds to the sense of realism. In addition, the museum also has a collection of art related to the life and work of Mesdag and his wife, Sientje Mesdag-van Houten.

In the adjoining rooms you can visit other maritime paintings by Mesdag, who was known for his depictions of the coast and the North Sea. The museum also organises temporary exhibitions on themes related to landscape art, the 19th century and the history of the Mesdag Panorama, which further enriches the visit and provides a deeper understanding of the artistic context of the time.

The Peace Palace in The Hague is one of the most iconic and symbolic buildings in the world, known for its role as the seat of international institutions promoting peace and global justice. This building is characterised by its neo-Renaissance architecture, which involves Gothic and classical elements. But in addition to its exterior beauty, the palace houses a rich collection of works of art, mosaics, stained glass, statues and clocks.

In its halls you can see the mix of cultural influences from all over the world, which reinforces the global character of the Peace Palace and its mission to unite nations in the search for peaceful solutions through dialogue.

Located in a city that is home to several of the world's most famous international institutions, the Peace Palace is a centrepiece of The Hague's diplomatic character, attracting world leaders, jurists and tourists seeking to understand more about the global legal system and the ongoing effort for a more peaceful world.

If you wish, you can visit this site on your own as part of a guided tour or book a bike tour of The Hague, as many itineraries end in the vicinity of the building.