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 isnow 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.