The Hague Travel Guide: Beaches, Art, and Royal History

I still remember my first morning there: salt air, wide streets, and a calm that felt like room to breathe. That quiet energy hooked me right away, so I wrote this guide to help U.S. travelers pick the best parts fast.

In this post I map three pillars: shoreline life, Dutch Golden Age museums, and the powerful legal sites that earned the city a title as judicial capital of the world. Each section stands alone, so you can jump where you want.

I explain who will love this plan — first-timers, repeat guests, families, and solo explorers — and lay out logistics first, then beaches and museums, then royal and judicial stops. I also note photo prompts like sunset shots and museum façades, plus booking tables later so you can reserve in one pass.

I keep coming for the rare combo of international courts and easy evenings by the water. I like a place that mixes global purpose with slow-paced streets. That mix shapes my travel choices and this guide.

This city feels calmer. I walk without crowds and find breathing room. Museums, government buildings, and cafés sit within easy reach. Compared with Amsterdam’s bustle or Rotterdam’s bold architecture, daily life here rewards strolling and small discoveries.

Gezellig guides me to warm cafés, inviting lanes, and slow dinners. I look for places where the royal family presence and official buildings are visible but not intrusive. I also visit the peace palace and government quarter to connect the city’s court role with streets I can actually explore.

• Who will like it: art fans, beach walkers, architecture lovers, and families seeking calm.
• Cost & pace: reasonable for U.S. visitors; I often base here to avoid long day trips.

I plan arrivals so I land in daylight, which makes transfers simple and stress-free. Fly into a major Netherlands airport, then continue by rail for the easiest pattern from the U.S. I like trains for comfort and speed between cities.

I usually hop the train from the airport. Trains are reliable for one day city-to-city hops and let you enjoy the view without traffic worries.

I reserve taxis for late arrivals, heavy luggage, or rainy nights. Rides save time when minutes matter and you want a quick door-to-door option.

Hotel ’t Sonnehuys sits near Tram 9, which makes center access quick. The Penthouse in Holland Spoor helps me orient southeast of the main strip.

• Plan beach mornings: leave early to catch sunrise; allow buffer minutes for tram or short ride.
• If wind or rain arrives, I switch from walk to tram or a short taxi to save prime time on the sand.
• For Scheveningen vs. city center: sunrise on the coast, one day museums midafternoon, then a calm dinner back in town.
• Families: strollers fit trams; reserve taxis for tired kids or heavy gear.

Typical travel times in minutes (planning guide):

• Airport to main station: 25–45 minutes
• Main station to Scheveningen: 15–25 minutes
• Center walk to museums or dining area: 5–20 minutes

For quick pre-trip planning I also use this handy route checker to compare timing and price: price-check routes.

I treat Scheveningen as my default reset button: wide sand, honest wind, and an easy coffee-to-sunset rhythm. The shoreline runs about 11 kilometers of white sand, so I usually pick a stretch by mood and company.

I like to stroll the deck late afternoon for the best light and brisk air. The walk feels cinematic; families and solo strollers mix with anglers. If you’re into thrills, the bungee jump over the sea is for confident adrenaline seekers, not casual first-timers.

• Zwarte Pad — a chill/party spot that fits late starts and friends.
• Noordboulevard — Pier, Kurhaus, lots of beach bars and good views.
• Kurhaus area — grand hotels, calmer sands, an easy refuel point.

I arrive mid-morning, book a lesson, and wear a wetsuit layer. Warm-ups on sand, a short theory talk, then a guided paddle. After class I grab a quick bite near the shore to warm up; the water stays cool outside peak summer.

• Sunset silhouettes on the pier walkway.
• Leading lines along the deck with textured clouds.
• A surf lesson in action with instructors in frame.

Few places pack so many Dutch Golden Age gems into one warm, walkable building. I call this museum my non-negotiable stop because it delivers concentrated masterpieces without museum fatigue.

Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is the crowd magnet. I also look for Rembrandt portraits and lively Jan Steen scenes. These works give a compact primer on light, texture, and everyday life in 17th-century Dutch art.

The Mauritshuis sits a stone’s throw from the Binnenhof and several government buildings. I book a timed entry that protects morning energy and leaves room for lunch and a stroll around the government quarter.

When I view, I read for light and daily detail: where paint shows texture, how faces hold expression. For photos, I favor the museum facade, ambient gallery shots where allowed, and the canalside exterior.

• Façade angles with soft light
• Wide gallery ambiance shots (no flash)
• Canalside street context outside the building

Families: I plan short bursts, one star painting, and a snack break to keep kids curious and happy.

I often build a half-day around three small museums that no other city replicates. Each one feels distinct, easy to pair with nearby streets, and simple to enjoy even on a tight schedule.

I expect playful brain-bends and focus on icons: House of Stairs, Convex and Concave, and Drawing Hands. Seeing these in a former winter palace adds a formal, almost regal setting that sharpens the experience.

Stepping inside feels like entering a painted world. The panorama shows dunes and the coast as they looked in 1881. I use it to read the landscape before I walk the real dunes by the sea.

This collector’s house opened to the public in 1852. I linger over medieval manuscripts, tiny bindings, and an early printed piece tied to Oscar Wilde with a signed letter fragment on display.

A short walk through town quickly shows how a working monarchy shapes daily streets and storefronts.

I pace a relaxed loop past noordeinde palace, taking time to study façades and small galleries. I pair that view with a coffee and a slow browse of nearby shops so shopping feels light, not exhaustive.

Huis ten Bosch sits like a quiet home in the woods. Before I go, I check access hours and park paths so the visit fits a park walk without surprises.

The former palace now stages plays and silent performances that work well with limited Dutch. My typical slot: museum afternoon, early dinner, then a show to keep the day balanced.

You notice the scale first — then the stories stitched into marble and wood.

I visit because this is where the city’s identity as a global justice center becomes tangible. The peace palace houses the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). That means real cases and quiet diplomacy happen inside, not just plaques for tourists.

Andrew Carnegie financed the project and the first stone was laid in 1907. Donors from around the world supplied marble, wood, vases, a Danish fountain, and even a Fabergé egg. The Japanese Room’s silk and gold tapestries were woven by more than 48,000 artisans. Those facts turn a stately building into living history.

• Book guided tours well ahead; they include the palace area, the Great Hall of Justice, and the garden.
• Treat the garden as part of the visit — it slows the pace and offers softer light for photos.
• Photo prompts: a strong exterior shot, framed garden paths, and close-up stonework details.

My quick loop balances a morning museum, an afternoon coast reset, and an easy evening near good restaurants. I plan the route to keep walking short and enjoyable so a single day feels complete, not rushed.

I start at Mauritshuis for a morning hour, then a 5–10 minute walk to the Binnenhof for photos. Next, I tram 20–25 minutes to Scheveningen for a beach stroll, De Pier view, or quick surf lesson.

Day two I take Escher in the Palace, Panorama Mesdag, and Meermanno at a relaxed pace. I leave the dunes for late afternoon and pick a restaurants with sea views for a long dinner.

• Short blocks: one big attraction per half-day.
• Snack rhythm: breaks every 60–90 minutes to reset moods.
• Swap based on weather: beach-first if calm; museum-first if windy or wet.

My rule: book the peace palace and any timed museum slots ahead; decide tram rides and beach gear day-of depending on wind and minutes available.

I pick meals that tell a story: a fish stall lesson, an old distillery tasting, then a rooftop sunset. This simple loop keeps my days balanced between quick bites and a single special reservation.

I usually ask for the whole herring by the tail if I want the full experience. Hold it by the tail, tip the head back, and nibble toward the body. If that feels bold, ask for it cut into pieces with raw onions. Watch for meeuwen nearby; they love an unattended snack.

I book The Penthouse well ahead for sunset on clear days. It sits on floor 42 in Holland Spoor and offers sea views when visibility cooperates. I arrive early to enjoy the bar, then move to a window seat for the skyline glow.

Patat, patat met (mayo), and patatje oorlog (mayo, satay, onions) are my go-to street treats. For a splurge, I stop at Frites Atelier for elevated toppings and seasonal sourcing.

Van Kleef pairs jenever tastings with quirky history—an 1893 phone book mention and a Van Gogh street link—so I book a short tasting. For fast, varied meals I head to Chinatown; supermarkets and small restaurants save time after museums or beach walks.

• Realistic photo ideas: fries cone in hand, herring stall counter, cocktail pour, skyline dining shot.

I build nature stops into my days because a quick outdoor hour makes the rest of the itinerary feel easy. These outings balance museums with fresh air and require no car.

Meijendel is the largest connected dune area in South Holland and part of a 43-kilometer coastal landscape. I often choose a short loop for a brisk walk or a mellow bike ride when I want North Sea air without the busy shore crowd.

On windier days I head to Westduinpark. I keep my camera ready for Scottish Highland cattle, but I treat that as a delightful bonus rather than a guaranteed show. The place feels wild and simple to fit into an afternoon.

Clingendael is one of my quiet favorites. I linger in the garden, move slowly, and finish with a light meal nearby so the visit feels like a calm home pause rather than a rush.

Museon pairs practical exhibits with visible green design. I look for its climate-neutral aims, the large solar panel, and the big green roof as part of the city experience for curious travelers.

• Pack a light wind layer and sturdy shoes for any short hike.
• Families: pick short loops, plan snack breaks, and keep strollers in mind.
• Flex the outing by weather and energy so nature feels restorative, not taxing.

When I pick a base, I decide if my days will orbit sand, museum visits, or quick transit links. That choice cuts daily friction and helps me pack lighter for the right rhythm.

I pick Hotel Des Indes when I want a heritage home with full comforts. It feels like stepping into a stately place with period detail, a notable bar, and a guest list that reads like travel history.

The spa, sauna, pool, and gym matter after windy beach hours or long gallery walks. For me, those amenities turn a busy day into a restful night without a long commute back to the room.

Hotel ’t Sonnehuys is a small townhouse hotel about a 5-minute walk to sand, the pier, and the boulevard. That short minutes-to-sand reality saves time and keeps mornings calm.

Tram 9 sits nearby, so I use it to jump into the city center in minutes when I need museums or dinner away from the shore. For a beach-first trip, this place trims transit hassle.

Who should stay where: pick the shore place for easy sunrise walks, a city room to focus on galleries, or a transit-friendly base if you plan many side trips. For late-night strolls I stick to well-lit, lively routes and stay near active areas so transit after dinner stays simple.

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Small detours taught me how this city hides cozy spots off main routes.

Bundle up for a bad-weather walk on the beach, lean into moody North Sea air, then warm up with hot chocolate. Visit the market — Europe’s largest covered market — for snacks, people-watching, and real local flavor.

Look for street art via the local platform that maps legal works. Seek hidden terrace gardens beyond Plein and Grote Markt for a quieter drink away from crowds.

For families, Stadsboerderij Pluk is a calm detour with plants and a small pet area. On a rainy evening I head to Amare for sustainable food and a performance.

Before you leave, slow down on one favorite street, shops, or building; that final stroll often makes a short trip feel complete.