6 places to visit in The Hague, the Netherlands

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MANILA, Philippines — Heading to Europe soon by any chance? If you’re planning to visit the Netherlands, there’s an endless list of things to do, from experiencing great art to visiting historic and cultural sites and cruising water canals.

Are you considering visiting The Hague? While the beautiful city has been under the radar and is not given the same amount of attention as some of the country’s more famous tourist spots, we’re here to tell you that it’s a worthy addition to your future travel itineraries.

Where is The Hague?

The Hague, the third largest city in the Netherlands, is located on a coastal plain, with the city facing the North Sea. While Amsterdam is the national capital, The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government. Known as the “City of Peace and Justice,” it is home to the International Criminal Court, as well as the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the United Nations’ International Court of Justice.

According to Netherlands Tourism, the city’s name can be traced to the hunting lodge of the Counts of Holland, which was situated in a woodland area known as “Haghe” or “hedge,” where Count William II built a castle in 1248. Several buildings began to cluster in the area and became the principal residence of the counts.

Aside from these historic buildings located in the old quarter of the city, city also offers modern attractions.

Here are some spots that, while not as popular as those in Amsterdam, would give a more low-key vibe, away from the crowd, and are worth adding to your travel itinerary.

The Mauritshuis

The Mauritshuis is one of The Hague’s most important museums. Ornately elegant, the mansion was built in 1641 and embodies Dutch classical architecture.

The 17th-century residence is now home to some of the best of Dutch and Flemish painting. The museum’s many masterpieces include Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer, Lamentation by Rogier van der Weyden, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt, The Goldfinch by Fabritius, View of Delft by Vermeer, and View of Haarlem with Bleaching Fields by Van Ruisdael.

Madurodam

Madurodam is a miniature park depicting all of the Netherlands in 1:25 scale. Its perfect replicas of the nation’s most iconic landmarks lets you discover the highlights of Dutch life and culture — like the ones listed in this guide — all in one place.

The park first opened in 1952 and is the largest attraction in and around The Hague. Visitors walk among the miniature models like giants, peek into the tiny museum replicas and glimpse even tinier reproductions of artworks. Some of these models are interactive, like the windmills and playgrounds for the kids. There is also the Fantasitron, where you can create a miniature model of yourself via a 3D scan.

Escher in the Palace

Home to the most well-known works of Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher, Escher in the Palace boasts a collection of around 150 prints and lithographs, all housed in the former winter home of the Queen Mother Emma of the Netherlands.

Escher is best known for his optical illusions and twists on perspective. But the museum traces his development as an artist — from his early Italian landscapes, to his tessellations and geometries in print, to his impossible architectures and metamorphoses. There is also a collection that displays the wood blocks and lithograph stones that Escher used in his printmaking.

The second floor of the palace offers an immersive, interactive world that encourages young and old visitors alike to experiment and create their own Escher-inspired tessellations and illusions, to see the world as Escher did.

Peace Palace

The Peace Palace is one of The Hague’s most well-known landmarks. Funded largely by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and constructed around the turn of the 20th century, the Peace Palace is a grand, imposing brick building built in Gothic and neo-Renaissance styles.

The Peace Palace is home to the International Criminal Court, the Academy of International Law, and a library of international law. Its interior décor is an amalgamation of different national cultures, with marble from Italy, wood paneling from Brazil and the United States, and iron railing from Germany.

Kunstmuseum The Hague

Founded in 1866 and one of Europe’s largest art museums, Kunstmuseum Den Haag boasts a collection of 160,000 art pieces including pottery and glass, modern and contemporary art and prints, fashion and decorative art, and musical instruments from around the world. Home to the biggest collection of works by Piet Mondrian, the museum exhibits 300 of the Dutch artist’s works, surrounded by paintings of Monet, Picasso, Degas, and more.

The museum is located in the modern residential district where houses are built in a style meant to evoke the traditional Dutch almshouses.

Binnenhof and Ridderzaal

In the center of the oldest quarter of The Hague is the 13th-century Binnenhof (Inner Court) with its medieval-style turrets. Now home to the ruling aristocracy and the Dutch Parliament, the complex encompasses many significant buildings and landmarks including the Rolzaal courthouse that dates back to 1511, the Lairessezaal where 17th-century paintings by Lairesse are kept, and the First Chamber with its painted medallions and portrait of King William II.

The most important building in the complex is probably the Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights). This enormous hall, with its large stained-glass windows and the Rose Window with the arms of the noble families of the Netherlands, is still used for state functions and receptions. Its roof structure, with wooden heads carved to signify eavesdroppers of “higher powers,” is said to deter state officials from lying.

Bonus: Prison Gate Museum

If you end up staying in The Hague for longer and want to see more, the Prison Gate Museum is the well-preserved former prison and torture chamber of the Court of Holland, where criminals and innocents alike were housed since 1428.

Today visitors can see the medieval cells, interrogation chambers, torture devices, and other vestiges of the gruesome administration of justice centuries ago.

Although best known as an international city of peace and justice, The Hague offers more than just government buildings, black robes, and law and bureaucracy. These destinations are noteworthy additions to your itinerary while traveling around Europe, especially if you are looking for more peaceful, less touristy spots. (READ: How to visit France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in 1 trip).

Getting there

It is not hard to find flights from Manila to Amsterdam. Just make sure to secure your Schengen visa.

From Amsterdam to The Hague, you can take the train, bus, or go by rideshare, car, or taxi, depending on your budget and preference. You can find the train timetable/schedule here.

Getting around

Transportation in The Hague is affordable and efficient. You can get around using one of the 30 trams and bus routes in the city’s network. You can also get to the attractions listed in this guide by taxi and by bicycle.

There are definitely more sights to see and places to visit at The Hague. What other destinations would you like to explore? – Bea Gatmaytan/Rappler.com

Bea Gatmaytan is a Rappler intern studying Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

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