Why visit / Interesting facts:
- Impressive art collection in Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery
- The capital of the Netherlands
Time required: 300 minutes
Public transport:
Address:
Photos: (see more photos)
Photo: Ferdi's World
Things you need to know:
- The Hague is Netherlands' 3rd largest city, home and workplace of Queen Beatrix, seat of the Dutch parliament and judicial capital of the United Nations
- Binnenhof (Inner court), a venerable building complex featuring monumental buildings, is the seat of Staaten-Generaal (States General), the Dutch parliament, since 1446
- The medieval Hall of the Knights (Ridderzaal), at Binnenhof, is where Queen Beatrix delivers her annual speech from the throne and opens the new legislative session
- Mauritshuis, a small Renaissance palace adjacent to Binnenhof, houses the Royal Cabinet of Paintings that showcases a number of Rembrandt, Hals and Vermeer paintings
- Peace Palace (Vredespaleis), a magnificent mock-Gothic building (built in 1913), is home to the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration
- All the participating countries place marvelous gifts in the Peace Palace such as amazing French mosaic floors, crystal chandeliers weighing 1,750kg (3,858 lb)
What to do there:
- Take a 10-minute tram ride (nr. 16) or take a walk from Den Haag Centraal Station to the city center
- In the city center - opposite the parliament - there is a Tourist Information Office. Pick up a free city map there
- Start your visit at the venerable complex of Parliament buildings
- Head to the magnificent Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery to see the impressive art collection with Rembrandt, Vermeer and Rubens master pieces
- Continue your tour to the magnificent mock-Gothic Palace - Vredespaleis (Peace Palace)
- Take tram nr. 1 or 9 to Scheveningen. This relaxed, beachside town is only a 15-minute tram ride from the center of The Hague. It is the liveliest on sunny summer afternoons
Tips & Insights:
- If you have the time visit Madurodam: the mini-Holland amusement park with miniature city buildings (tram nr. 9)
