City centre
500 m from PleinThe area around the Binnenhof and the Hofvijver, with shopping streets, museums and the old lanes of the Hofkwartier. The best base for sightseeing, with trams to the beach from Centraal station.
- Population
- ≈ 550,000
- Language
- Dutch
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Best time
- Jun – Sep
- Nearest airport
- RTM, 16 km
Start in the square: Plein
Plein, 2511 CR The Hague
Plein is the square beside the Binnenhof, the old heart of Dutch politics, with a statue of William of Orange in the middle. Ministries and the entrance to parliament line its sides, and café terraces fill it on sunny days. The Binnenhof is closed for a long renovation, but the Mauritshuis is around the corner.
Within a short walk
- MauritshuisPlein 23, 2511 CS The Hague100 m
- Panorama MesdagZeestraat 65, 2514 HC The Hague1 km
- Prison GateBuitenhof 34, 2513 AH The Hague400 m
- Great ChurchRond de Grote Kerk 10, 2513 AM The Hague700 m
Where to stay in The Hague
Zeeheldenkwartier
1.3 km from PleinA 19th-century district west of the centre, with independent shops, galleries and cafés on the Prinsestraat and Zoutmanstraat. Relaxed and close to the Peace Palace, a short walk from the old centre.
Archipelbuurt
1.4 km from PleinQuiet streets of large villas and embassies between the centre and the dunes. It suits travellers who want calm evenings, with Panorama Mesdag and the Peace Palace nearby.
Scheveningen
4.3 km from PleinThe seaside district, with a wide sandy beach, a long promenade and the pier. Stay here for sea air and beach walks; trams take about twenty minutes to the centre.
Benoordenhout
2.2 km from PleinA green, wealthy area on the edge of the Haagse Bos woods, with wide streets and family homes. Quiet and leafy, a short tram or bike ride from Centraal station.
Things to do in The Hague
Mauritshuis
Plein 23, 2511 CS The Hague
A small 17th-century palace by the Hofvijver pond, filled with Dutch Golden Age paintings. See Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt's anatomy lesson; two hours is enough for the whole collection.
Peace Palace
Carnegieplein 2, Landgoed Zorgvliet, 2517 KG The Hague
A grand brick and stone building from 1913, home to the International Court of Justice. Inside is open only on occasional guided tours, so most people see it from the gate and the free visitor centre.
Madurodam
George Maduroplein 1, 2584 RZ The Hague
A park of miniature Dutch landmarks, from canal houses and windmills to Schiphol airport, built at a scale of 1 to 25. Children love it; plan two to three hours, and go early in summer.
Kunstmuseum Den Haag
Stadhouderslaan 41, 2517 HV The Hague
An art museum in a yellow-brick building by Berlage, with the largest Mondrian collection in the world. There are also rooms of Delftware, fashion and modern art, so allow half a day.
Panorama Mesdag
Zeestraat 65, 2514 HC The Hague
A huge round painting from 1881 showing the sea, the beach and the village of Scheveningen. You stand on an artificial dune in the middle, and the painting wraps all the way around you.
Prison Gate
Buitenhof 34, 2513 AH The Hague
A medieval city gate that served as a prison for centuries, now a museum about crime and punishment. Visits are by guided tour, through the old cells and the room where suspects were questioned.
Great Church
Rond de Grote Kerk 10, 2513 AM The Hague
The city's main medieval church, with an unusual six-sided tower above the old centre. It is used for concerts, fairs and events, so check that it is open before you go.
Scheveningen Pier
Noorderstrand, 2586 JW The Hague
A long pier reaching into the North Sea from the beach at Scheveningen, with a big wheel at its entrance. Walk to the end for views back along the coast, best at sunset.
Louwman Museum
Leidsestraatweg 57, 2594 BB The Hague
A large private collection of cars, from early steam carriages to classic racing cars, in a building near the Haagse Bos woods. A good choice on a rainy day, even if you are not a car fan.
The Hague Market
Herman Costerstraat, 2525 EP The Hague
One of the largest outdoor markets in Europe, with hundreds of stalls selling food, spices and fabric from around the world. It runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Getting there
Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM)
3045 AB Rotterdam
16 km from the city centre
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
1118 AZ Schiphol
40 km from the city centre
Den Haag Centraal railway station
Koningin Julianaplein, Centrum, 2595 DB The Hague
Main railway station, 600 m from Plein
When to go
Average daytime high and night-time low per month (2005–2024). Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
- 6°Jan
- 6°Feb
- 9°Mar
- 13°Apr
- 16°May
- 19°Jun
- 21°Jul
- 21°Aug
- 19°Sep
- 15°Oct
- 10°Nov
- 7°Dec
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 6 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Low °C | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Rain mm | 76 | 66 | 58 | 39 | 63 | 63 | 78 | 82 | 69 | 83 | 84 | 86 |
| Rain days | 15 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Daylight h | 8.2 | 9.8 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.7 | 16.7 | 16.3 | 14.7 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 8.7 | 7.8 |
The year in The Hague
The biggest events that come back every year, starting with the next one.
MarchSport
CPC Loop
A popular half marathon that runs from the city to the coast at Scheveningen and back. Thousands of runners take part, and many roads between the centre and the beach close for the day.
27 AprilHoliday
King's Day
27 April (26 April when the 27th is a Sunday)
The Dutch celebrate their king's birthday with orange clothes, free markets on the pavements and live music in the parks. In The Hague the biggest crowds gather around the centre and the Malieveld.
AprilMusic
Rewire
A festival of adventurous music, from electronic and experimental sounds to new classical work, in concert halls, clubs and churches across the centre. Buy a festival pass to move freely between venues.
JuneFood
Flag Day
Scheveningen harbour celebrates the first new herring of the season, with fishing boats decked out in flags, old crafts and music. Try the herring raw, the local way, with chopped onion.
Last Saturday in JuneCulture
Veterans' Day
The national day to honour veterans, with a large parade through the city centre and events on the Malieveld. The king watches the parade, and crowds line the streets early.
Third Tuesday in SeptemberCulture
Prinsjesdag
The king opens the parliamentary year and presents the government's plans. He rides through the centre in a horse-drawn coach, and people wait for hours along the route to see the procession.
Practical information
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- 1 EUR = 1.12 USD = 0.83 GBP (ECB, 30 October 2026)
- Language
- Dutch
- Plugs
- Type F and C, 230 V
- Emergency number
- 112
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (summer UTC+2)
- Country calling code
- +31
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
Public holidays in the next 12 months
Shops and museums may close or keep Sunday hours on these days.
- Christmas Day (Eerste Kerstdag)25 Dec 2026
- St. Stephen's Day (Tweede Kerstdag)26 Dec 2026
- New Year's Day (Nieuwjaarsdag)1 Jan 2027
- Good Friday (Goede Vrijdag)26 Mar 2027
- Easter Sunday (Eerste Paasdag)28 Mar 2027
- Easter Monday (Tweede Paasdag)29 Mar 2027
- King's Day (Koningsdag)27 Apr 2027
- Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag)5 May 2027
- Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag)6 May 2027
- Pentecost (Eerste Pinksterdag)16 May 2027
- Whit Monday (Tweede Pinksterdag)17 May 2027
The Hague FAQ
When is the best time to visit The Hague?
Jun – Sep, when the average daytime high is between 19 and 21 °C.
Which airport is closest to The Hague?
Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM), about 16 km from the city centre.
What currency is used in The Hague?
The euro (EUR).
What plugs are used in The Hague?
Type F and C, 230 V.
What are the biggest yearly events in The Hague?
CPC Loop (March), King's Day (27 April), Rewire (April), Flag Day (June), Veterans' Day (Last Saturday in June), Prinsjesdag (Third Tuesday in September).
Nearby cities
All guides in Netherlands →North Holland · 52 kmAmsterdamPopulation ≈ 740,000
Brussels Capital · 136 kmBrusselsPopulation ≈ 1,000,000
South Holland · 21 kmRotterdamPopulation ≈ 870,000
Flanders · 96 kmAntwerpPopulation ≈ 530,000
Last updated 31 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.