10 Things to Do in The Hague

If you are planning to visit the Netherlands, you will find that the country has many other cities worth visiting besides Amsterdam. The Hague, known worldwide for its diplomatic muscle and as the seat of international courts, is one of them and stands out for its cultural contribution, as it is a destination full of museums and theme parks.

Among the best activities you can do in The Hague are visiting the Mauritshuis, exploring the Madurodam Theme Park, riding the legendary local tram through the city, and discovering the panoramic views from the Pier SkyView Ferris wheel, 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 Dutch masters. With a history spanning more than 200 years, this exhibition houses a collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, including Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, one of the most famous works of art in the Netherlands.

In addition, this museum also houses other masterpieces such as Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp and Carel Fabritius' The Goldfinch. The collection is complemented by works by Flemish, Italian and German artists, allowing you to enjoy the rich diversity of styles and techniques that characterised the late Renaissance even outside the Netherlands.

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 views of the Hofvijver pond make a visit one of the most interesting experiences in The Hague.

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Madurodam is a unique theme park that showcases the most iconic monuments, landscapes and cultural aspects of the Netherlands, but in miniature. This exhibition, named after a local hero from the Second World War, features detailed 1:25 scale models that accurately recreate historic buildings, canals, airports, ports and windmills from all corners of the country.

As you walk through Madurodam, you can admire miniature versions of the Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam and the famous Schiphol Airport. 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 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 take off in an aeroplane at Schiphol.

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If you want to see the best views of The Hague, don't miss out on tickets for Pier SkyView, a Ferris wheel located on the Scheveningen pier, near one of The Hague's most popular beaches. This tourist attraction offers an unforgettable experience in comfortable, enclosed, heated cabins that are suitable for all weather conditions and all visitors.

From the heights of Pier SkyView, which reaches its peak at around 50 metres above sea level, you can admire the extensive 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 boundary of the Dutch coast.

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

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Binnenhof, located in the historic centre of The Hague, is the city's ground zero and a monumental complex of buildings that has profound political significance for the Netherlands. This 13th-century complex has been the centre of national government for centuries and remains the place where many of the country's most important decisions are made.

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 Dutch government. Its medieval architecture and location next to the picturesque Hofvijver pond make it an essential tourist destination.

As you walk around 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 Throne Speech delivered each year by the King during the opening of the parliamentary year. Its interior features 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 reach this site by public transport or by booking a bike tour of The Hague, which passes through the Binnenhof.

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Book tickets to the Escher Museum in the Palace and discover a space entirely dedicated 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 site 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 engravings 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 Drawing Hands, an image that defies logic and perspective.

A pioneer in the use of "illusions" in the style of modern museums, one of the most striking features of Escher's work is its ability to confuse the visual universe of those who observe his works. That is why this museum is designed not only to contemplate the artist's works, but also to interact with installations and elements that reveal Escher's technique.

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

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

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 can take a walk through one of the city's most beautiful parks, the Haagse Bos, a large urban forest that offers a respite from city life and some of the best cycling trails.

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If you are a fan of marine life or are planning to visit The Hague with children, you can book tickets for the Sea Life Scheveningen Aquarium, one of the city's main 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 notable 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's exhibits also feature coral reefs, bioluminescent jellyfish and a variety of tropical fish in different colours.

In addition to admiring the marine species, the aquarium offers a range 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 some species, such as sharks and rays, live.

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Almost 8,000 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 of the city 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 combination of cultures, with a mix of Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese and Thai influences. There you can stroll through the crowded streets, pick up typical products and book a food tour in The Hague.

In Chinatown, you can sample authentic Chinese food, such as dim sum and Peking duck, as well as Indonesian dishes that reflect the close historical ties between the Netherlands and Indonesia. What's more, the district's location near the Binnenhof ensures that you won't miss a thing and that you can easily include it in your travel itinerary.

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

What makes this work so special is its ability to completely immerse the viewer in a 19th-century coastal setting, transporting them back in time with a stunning optical illusion. From a central platform, and after booking tickets for the Panorama Mesdag, you can contemplate the enormous circular painting that will surround you completely, creating the sensation of actually being in the landscape.

The view includes the sea, dunes, houses and boats of Scheveningen, all painted in great detail and with 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, enhances 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 adjacent rooms, you can see other seascapes by the artist, who was known for his depictions of the coast and the North Sea. The museum also organises temporary exhibitions on topics related to landscape art, the 19th century and the history of the Panorama Mesdag, further enriching the visit and offering a more complete understanding of the artistic context of the period.

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

In its halls, you can contemplate the mixture 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 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.

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