The Hague: royal palaces, Mauritshuis and international city

The Netherlands’ seat of government — and home to a famous earring

The Hague (Den Haag in Dutch) is technically not the capital of the Netherlands — Amsterdam holds that title — but it is where the government sits, where the royal palace stands, and where international law is practised at the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court. It is a city of wide boulevards, elegant 19th-century townhouses, and a seaside identity that sets it apart from Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

For most visitors, The Hague is defined by one painting: Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” (c.1665), housed in the Mauritshuis museum. But the city is considerably more than one masterpiece. The Peace Palace (home of international law since 1913), the government complex around the Binnenhof (the oldest parliament building in continuous use in the world), Madurodam (a miniature Netherlands at 1:25 scale), and the beach resort of Scheveningen 5 km from the centre all make a compelling full day.

Getting there from Amsterdam

Direct intercity trains from Amsterdam Centraal to Den Haag Centraal run every 15 minutes. The journey takes about 50 minutes. A single fare is around €12–14 with a contactless bank card. The Thalys and Intercity Direct also stop at Den Haag, though these require a supplement. From Den Haag Centraal, the Mauritshuis and Binnenhof are 15 minutes on foot.

The Hague is often combined with Delft (10 minutes by local train) and Rotterdam (25 minutes by intercity) in a South Holland day. A guided tour that covers all three efficiently is the guided trip to Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague from Amsterdam , which handles all transport and gives a structured introduction to each city.

What to see and do

The Mauritshuis

The Mauritshuis is a compact, exquisitely curated museum of Dutch Golden Age painting housed in a 17th-century palace on the court pond (Hofvijver). Its collection includes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and “View of Delft”, Rembrandt’s “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp”, and works by Frans Hals, Jan Steen, and Rubens. The building holds only about 800 works, but they are among the finest 50 paintings in European art.

A Mauritshuis entrance ticket should be booked in advance — the museum is small and popular, and mid-afternoon slots on summer weekends can sell out. The experience is best in the morning when the rooms are quieter and the natural light through the windows is at its best.

The Binnenhof and Ridderzaal

The Binnenhof complex is the heart of Dutch parliamentary democracy. The 13th-century Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights) in the centre is used by the monarch for the annual speech from the throne on Budget Day (Prinsjesdag, third Tuesday of September). The courtyards and buildings around it are open for walking and, on non-parliamentary days, guided tours. The Hofvijver pond in front, reflecting the Mauritshuis and the parliament towers, is one of The Hague’s iconic views.

Walking tours

The Hague’s historic centre, the Hofkwartier (court quarter) around the Binnenhof, and the elegant residential streets of Statenkwartier reward exploration on foot. A guided The Hague walking tour covers the political quarter, the Peace Palace, and the city’s history as an international legal centre. Shorter city centre tours and private old-city walking tours are also available, with options tailored to specific interests such as art history, architecture, or Dutch political history.

Hop-on hop-off tram

The Hague’s historic tram network includes a tourist heritage line. The Hague’s historic tram network connects the city centre, Scheveningen beach, and the Peace Palace — a useful transport option if you want to cover all three areas without a long walk. A hop-on hop-off heritage tram runs this circuit and can be joined from the central station.

Madurodam

The miniature city of the Netherlands, Madurodam reproduces famous Dutch buildings, infrastructure, and landscapes at 1:25 scale in a theme park format. It is primarily aimed at families with children but is genuinely impressive in its detail — it includes working models of Schiphol airport, the Delta Works, and Amsterdam’s canal ring. Entry around €20 for adults. Admission tickets for Madurodam are bookable online; day tours from Amsterdam that include Madurodam and transport can also be found via GetYourGuide.

Scheveningen beach

The Hague’s coastal suburb of Scheveningen is 5 km from the centre (tram 1 or 9, about 20 minutes). The long sandy beach is backed by a pier, promenade restaurants, and the glass-fronted Kurhaus hotel (1885). The North Sea water is cold year-round (17–19°C in summer, much colder in spring and autumn), but the beachfront is lively from May to September.

Combining with Delft and Rotterdam

The South Holland day trip circuit — The Hague, Delft, and Rotterdam — is a popular and well-organised day from Amsterdam. The train connections between the three cities are fast (10–25 minutes between each) and frequent. A practical sequence: Amsterdam to The Hague by 09:30, Mauritshuis morning, lunch at the Binnenhof, afternoon train to Delft for a canal walk and Royal Delft, early evening train to Rotterdam for a harbour view from the Euromast or dinner at the Markthal. See the Delft destination guide and Rotterdam destination guide for what each adds to the day.

The The Hague day trip guide has timed schedules. The best day trips from Amsterdam guide puts the South Holland options in context. The Leiden destination guide is another natural pairing for a South Holland day — Leiden is 20 minutes by train from The Hague. The trains and day trips transport guide covers all intercity connections.

Honest advice

The Mauritshuis is small — plan two hours maximum for a relaxed visit. “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is smaller than most people expect (44.5 × 39 cm), and the room is often crowded; arrive early in the morning for the best experience. The painting does not disappoint despite the expectations.

The Hague’s centre is wider and more spread out than Delft or Haarlem — the blocks between the Binnenhof, the Mauritshuis, and the Peace Palace are walkable but not as compact as in other Dutch cities. The tram system is excellent for connecting districts.

The Escher in het Paleis museum

The work of M.C. Escher (1898–1972), famous for his impossible staircases and tessellating figures, is displayed in a former royal winter palace on the Lange Voorhout. The museum is intimate and well-curated, with original lithographs and woodcuts alongside digital interactive displays. Entry around €12. It is an excellent alternative to the Mauritshuis if you find the Golden Age focus less compelling or if Mauritshuis tickets are sold out.

The Peace Palace

The Vredespaleis (Peace Palace), built in 1913 to house the Permanent Court of Arbitration, is a grand neo-Gothic building on the edge of the city centre. It now houses the International Court of Justice. The visitor centre explains international law in accessible terms; guided tours of the palace interior run on specific days when the court is not in session. Check the schedule at the visitor centre in advance, as court sessions close the building to visitors for periods of weeks.

Eating in The Hague

The Hague has a substantial Indonesian and Surinamese food culture — more so than most Dutch cities — reflecting the large communities who settled here after Indonesian independence in 1949. The area around Passage (the elegant covered shopping arcade) and the Denneweg street has good independent restaurant options. For a fast and authentic lunch, Indonesian rijsttafel (rice table — a spread of small dishes) can be found at several restaurants near the Binnenhof for reasonable prices.

Frequently asked questions about The Hague

Where is “Girl with a Pearl Earring” exhibited?

In the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague. The painting is in a dedicated room on the first floor of the museum. Tickets should be booked online in advance; the museum is small and popular, particularly in summer.

Is The Hague worth a full day from Amsterdam?

Yes, if you combine the Mauritshuis, Binnenhof, a walk in the Hofkwartier, and Scheveningen beach. A half-day is sufficient for just the Mauritshuis and the central sights. Many visitors pair The Hague with Delft (10 minutes by train) for a full day.

What is Den Haag and why is it not the capital?

Den Haag is the Dutch name for The Hague. The city is the seat of government, home of the monarch, and location of the Dutch parliament (Binnenhof), but Amsterdam is constitutionally the capital. This distinction has historical roots in the Dutch Republic’s federal structure.

How do I get from The Hague to Scheveningen?

Tram 1 and tram 9 connect Den Haag Centraal to Scheveningen in about 20 minutes. The tram runs frequently throughout the day. You can use a contactless bank card on the tram.

Can you see both the Mauritshuis and Delft in one day from Amsterdam?

Yes. Take the 09:30 train from Amsterdam to The Hague, visit the Mauritshuis from 10:00 to 12:00, have lunch near the Binnenhof, then take the 10-minute train to Delft for the afternoon. Return to Amsterdam direct from Delft via The Hague in the early evening.