Orientation

Coming into The Hague, you’ll probably be arriving at Den Haag Centraal or, if you’re sleeping at the Stay okay, Holland Spoor. The former station marks the eastern border of the city center, while the latter marks the southern. The Hague’s real heart is the area around the palatial Binnenhof, the Dutch Parliament (the surrounding area is called Buitenhof). This is the main area for sights, museums, and some good but slightly pricey restaurants. North of here, the city gets increasingly more residential, although it’s in this part of town that you’ll find the Vredespaleis and the Gemeentemuseum/GEM/Fotomuseumcomplex. South and west of Buitenhof are the more commercial areas with the best shops, food, and nightlife. Running south from Buitenhof is Spui, which heads toward the Stayokay, lined first with theaters, then with some cheap takeout restaurants. West of Buitenhof is the busy shopping area on Grotemarktstraat and the surrounding streets. This region gives way to the popular nightlife area around Grote Markt. Northwest of Buitenhof a tangle of small streets like Molenstraat and Papestraat contains more relaxed bars and good restaurants. Fifteen minutes north of the city by tram, you’ll find the beach town of Scheveningen.