The Hague (Den Haag) Overview

The official name of The Hague is ‘s Gravenhage, translating to “The Count's Domain.” That's a pretty awesome name for a city, so we're going to be using it for the rest of this introduction. The Count's Domain was birthed when Floris IV, Count of Holland, decided around 1230 that the land surrounding the pond that is now the Hofijver would be a good place to go hunting. Later Counts agreed that this was a nice tract of land, so they built more palaces here. Over time, this became an important administrative center for the Counts of Holland. After a bit of messy political history, The Count's Domain officially became the home of the government of the Dutch Republic and the residence of the House of Orange in the 16th century. In order for the national government to control the area, The Count's Domain didn't officially become a city until the Napoleonic period.

Today, while Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, The Count's Domain is the seat of government. The two chambers of Parliament meet in the Binnenhof, where Floris started the whole thing by building his hunting lodge. Queen Beatrix lives in the palace on Noordeinde and opens Parliament every third Tuesday in September from the Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights). Besides being an epicenter of national politics, The Count's Domain is extremely important for international matters, serving as the home of all embassies to the Netherlands, the judicial body of the UN, the UN's tribunal on the former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court, and EU organizations like EUROPOL.

If all this makes The Count's Domain sound important (as though you weren't tipped off by the regal name), that's because it is. This is a city full of politicians, diplomats, and businesspeople. Unsurprisingly, it feels a bit more sedate than the other large Dutch cities. However, its international character makes it a pleasure for travelers, as you're pretty much guaranteed to find someone from your own country mixed in with all the locals. It's also got top-notch museums, loads of parks, a few lively night spots, and a great beach resort just 15min. away.

Orientation

Coming into The Hague, you'll probably be arriving at Den Haag Centraal or, if you're sleeping at the Stayokay, Holland Spoor. The former station marks the eastern border of the city center, while the ...more

Accommodations

With so many people rolling into The Hague on business, there are few rooms for those seeking a cheap roof over their heads. Budget hotels tend to be either quite plain or located outside the city center ...more

Sights

As the political center of the Netherlands and one of the most important diplomatic cities in the world, The Hague is full of political and historic heavyweights. However, there's more to learn about here ...more

Coffeeshops And Smartshops

The Hague doesn't have much of a coffeeshop scene—the few that are here aren't as bare bones as the ones in Rotterdam, but you won't find anything near the concentration or luxury of the Amsterdam shops ...more

Food

The Hague does have some budget options, but they are largely the kind of places best for 3am pizza or post-clubbing shawarma. You can find them in the streets surrounding the Grote Kerk and along Spui ...more

Nightlife

Given the city's reputation as a center for business and politics, nightlife in The Hague is perhaps livelier than one would expect. You'll only find a handful of clubs, but some of the larger bars turn ...more

Arts And Culture

The Hague is a city for serious things like politics and diplomacy, but even suits need to have fun sometimes. As a result, the city offers a few good venues for highbrow events like opera and dance performances ...more

Essentials

Tourist Offices: VVV provides hotel reservations for a small fee, maps, tickets to museums and attractions, and information on discount passes. The Haags Uitburo, in the same office, keeps information ...more