The Hague

Internationally, The Hague is often known as the "judicial capital of the world" due to the many international courts that are located in the city. Among these are the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and, since 2004, the International Criminal Court. Beside these institutions, The Hague is home to more than 150 international organizations, and to many EU institutions, multinational companies and embassies. This gave the city a distinct international character — one that is noticeably different from Amsterdam. Rather than having the many foreign tourists and fortune-seekers attracted by Amsterdam's reputation for excitement and liberalism, The Hague generally has more expatriates working and living in the city because of the number of international institutions and companies. Because of this, The Hague has a reputation as a wealthy, conservative and somewhat sedate city.
The Hague has very little of the edginess and excitement of Amsterdam; however, it provides well for its inhabitants in different ways, such as large areas of green space, 11 km of coastline, attractive shopping streets and an extensive multicultural scene. Rather than having canals like other Dutch cities, The Hague has streets and avenues that are just a little bit wider than those in the rest of the country, giving the city a more continental feel. Instead of the typical Dutch renaissance 17th-century step-gabled houses, it has 18th-century mansions in baroque and classicist styles. The city is considered by many as the most stately of the country. Just outside the city centre, posh neighbourhoods effuse a more 19th century look with eclectic and art nouveau architecture.
The farther you get from the sea front and the city centre, however, the more neighbourhoods tend to become less well-off. One dividing line between affluent and sketchier areas is drawn by some at Laan van Meerdervoort, which runs parallel to the seaside. Areas away from the sea tend to have much less in the way of green space. An exception to this is one centrally located park, Zuiderpark, which also used to contain the stadium of the local football team ADO Den Haag. Some of its supporters were known as the most notorious hooligans of the country, perpetuating a stereotype of "lower-class" for the inhabitants of that area.
The Hague offers great architecture, from the picturesque government complex of the Binnenhof, to the grand and stately mansions on Lange Voorhout. Museums like the Mauritshuis rank among the best in the country. For food aficionados, The Hague offers some of the country's best Indonesian cuisine, due to large-scale immigration from this former Dutch colony. The city also offers good opportunities for outings, such as extensive green spaces for walking and bicycling as well as dunes and seaside recreation areas just a few tram stops away from the city centre. The Hague also offers a few attractions especially appealing to children, such as the miniature city of Madurodam and the 360 degree Omniversum cinema.
Over recent decades, the city has undergone an extensive amount of development in the form of modern architecture projects. Recent constructions include the City Hall and Central Library by American architect Richard Meier, De "Snoeptrommel" (known by the locals as Candy-Box) - a round shopping centre next to the old town hall, and a collection of post-modern, brick-clad office towers in between the city hall and the Centraal railway station, which provide new housing for a number of ministries. A major infrastructural development has been the construction of an underground tram tunnel underneath Grote Marktstraat, which is used by regular trams, and a new light-rail system, known as RandstadRail, linking The Hague with the neighbouring cities of Zoetermeer and Rotterdam.
A major redevelopment project is underway in the area around the Centraal railway station. Here, skyscrapers like the 142 m Hoftoren rise up over the city and several other high-rise towers are under construction.

Tourist information

• VVV Den Haag

  address: Spui 68

• City Mondial

  address: Wagenstraat 193
  Their website is in Dutch language only.

By plane

The Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) is the closest airport to the city. In 2010, the name of the Rotterdam's airport was appended with "The Hague" ending, when Metro line E connected Den Haag Centraal station with the Meijersplein, a station close to the airport. The airport terminal is connected with the later one by bus line #33 (which continues further up to the Rotterdam Centraal railway station).
The Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (AMS), is a bit farther. However, with several direct trains per hour from the railway stations Hollands Spoor and Centraal, and also with an hourly night train from station Hollands Spoor, it is more frequently used by people travelling to and from The Hague by air.

By train

Hubertl

The Hague has two main train stations, serving domestic and international routes.

• Den Haag Centraal Stationis the biggest train station in The Hague. It is within walking distance of the city centre and from Malieveld park. Den Haag Centraal has connections to Amsterdam (45 minutes), Schiphol Airport (30 minutes), Utrecht (35 minutes), Groningen (2 and 1/2 hours) and many other cities throughout the Randstad and the Netherlands. Passengers coming from Rotterdam can also use that city's Metro line E to travel to Den Haag Centraal. You can get to Centraal Station from a variety of international destinations such as Cologne, Berlin, Frankfurt, Prague, Moscow, Basel and Copenhagen via the city of Utrecht. Upon arrival, the city centre of The Hague is about a 5 minute walk from the Centraal Station. Leave through the left side entrance (look for the tram station stops) and walk through the glass passageway and straight ahead.

Rudolphous

• Den Haag Hollands SpoorIs a 20 min walk from Central Station. It has connections by intercity train to Antwerp and Brussels, as well as domestic connections to Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Amsterdam, Leiden and Delft. Southbound trains from Den Haag CS always pass through Hollands Spoor. To get to the city centre, walk straight ahead from the main entrance and follow the Stationsweg road through Chinatown, and you will end up right in the middle of town.

Visitors are most likely to use Centraal Station, as it is closer to the centre, tourist attractions and shopping. It also has the best local public transport links via tram and bus, and is also safer at night than Hollands Spoor, which is in a somewhat sketchy area of town. The only reason for using Hollands Spoor is to catch the international trains to Antwerp and Brussels. In addition to southbound trains from Centraal, tram lines 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 also cover the short distance from Centraal Station to Hollands Spoor. From both stations leave trains that go to and from Schiphol Airport.

By car

The Hague is connected by toll-free motorways to Amsterdam (A4 and A44), Rotterdam (A13) and Utrecht (A12). Access to the centre is through the A12 motorway that penetrates the city centre, like a needle, and ends on a large traffic junction just north of the historic centre. Approaching and leaving the city from any of these motorways can take a long time during the morning and evening rush hours. On hot summer days, hundreds of thousands of people try to reach Scheveningen beach by car, and huge traffic jams of up to 50 km long may occur, causing traffic delays of up to several hours. On such days, consider taking public transportation. The park and ride facility P+R Hoornwijck opened in 2008 on the Laan van Hoornwijck by the Ypenburg interchange. Motorists can easily reach it from the A4 (Exit 9) and A13 (Exit 7). From here, you can take tram 15 to the city centre.

By public transport

The Hague has an efficient city wide system of light rail (called RandstadRail), trams and buses, running mostly on free tracks allowing for a fairly speedy ride. HTM runs the public transport system in The Hague and some of the surrounding area. Rotterdam-based RET runs a Randstadrail line (Metro Line E) between The Hague and Rotterdam, through various suburbs. Veolia provides regional bus services to the areas surrounding The Hague.
Centraal Station has easy access to trams on the south side (Rijnstraat), but the main lines (Randstadrail 2, 3 and 4, tram 6) stop on platforms crossing the main station hall at level 1. You can find buses on the bus platform above the railway tracks. Central Station is finishing up a major reconstruction work that may make some connections hard to find. Just ask at the information kiosk at the centre of the station. Hollands Spoor has trams and buses stopping in the front of its main entrance.
On Friday and Saturday nights HTMBuzz operates six night bus services. Tickets for these are more expensive (€5) and only available from the bus driver. All night services meet at Buitenhof in the city centre every hour.

Tickets

If you use public transport, you will need a valid ticket. The strippenkaart is no longer valid. You can travel by OV-chipkaart, which is a public transport smart card. This card can be bought at the HTM offices at Central Station (you find the office upstairs at the bus terminal), Hollands Spoor and in Wagenstraat, among other places.
You can also buy a 2 hour ticket directly from a driver in normal trams and buses when boarding, these tickets are valid on all trams and buses by HTM or HTMBuzz. RandstadRail trams (the blue-white ones) instead have a ticket machine that accepts coins and credit cards. If this ticket machine is broken (more often than not), you have to buy a ticket from the ticket inspector (if there is one).

• HTM travel cards2 hour and 1 day cards are available from a driver on buses and trams, at the machines in the RandstadRail tram (lines 3, 4 and 19) with coins only, and in the R-net trams (line 2 and 11) with coins, a bank card (Dutch or most European cards) or a credit card. 1 day and 3 day cards can be purchased from machines at the HTM Service Points at Den Haag Centraal, Den Haag HS and Zoetermeer Centrum-West railway stations, as well as the VVV Den Haag (situated in the City Library on Spui). These passes are valid through The Hague, Delft, Zoetermeer, Leidschendam, Voorburg, Wateringen and Scheveningen.

• Tourist Day TicketThe card is valid in the South Holland Rotterdam and the Hague region with the following carriers: Arriva, Connexxion, HTM, HTMbuzz, RET, Veolia and Waterbus. The Tourist Day Ticket is not valid on trains, Fast Ferry, Driehoeksveer Ferry, (small) neighborhood buses, night buses, public transport taxis, or on buses 195 and 295. The card is available from service points of transport carriers of the region, tourist information offices (VVV) and some hotels.

The fine for not having a valid ticket is €50 plus the cost of a normal ticket. Ticket inspectors board trams and light rail at random, either in uniform or plain clothes.

By foot

The Hague's city centre is fairly compact and you can easily navigate the area on foot. From Centraal Station, it is about a 10 min walk to the Binnenhof and the Hofvijver pond.

Centre

The heart of the city contains most of the historic architecture from the medieval, renaissance, and Baroque periods and is easily accessible on foot. You'll also find lots of outdoor cafes and shopping near the Plein on the Lange Poten or just east of there on the Hofweg.

• PleinThis square — Plein simply translates as 'square' in English — is one of the most elegant in the centre. Located right next to the Binnenhof, it is lined with historic government buildings on three of its four sides. The north side is lined with bars and cafés, which spill out onto the square in summer. These sidewalk cafés are quite popular with politicians from the neighbouring Binnenhof, and even Prime Minister Mark Rutte can be spotted here with a pint regularly. The square is also the scene for demonstrations against government policies. The statue in the middle is that of William of Orange, heralded as the founding father of the Dutch nation.

• Binnenhof

  phone: +31 70 7570200
  The Binnenhof (Inner Court) is a castle built in the 13th century as residence of the count of Holland. Ever since, it has almost subsequently been the seat of the government of Holland, and later all of the Netherlands. It used to be surrounded by moats on all sides. Since then it has been modified countless times to accommodate the expanding Dutch government. The moats have been filled, but the castle still borders on a pond (the Hofvijver, Court Pond). In its waters the old buildings continue to mirror themselves. Today, the Binnenhof houses the two chambers of the Dutch parliament and the Prime Minister's office in a small round tower opposite the Mauritshuis. Enter through one of the gates on Plein or Buitenhof and you will find yourself in a medieval enclosed courtyard, surrounded by architecture from the 13th up to the 19th century. There may be crowds gathered here on occasion because of public demonstrations, TV airings or receptions for foreign officials. In the centre stands the Ridderzaal (Knight's Hall), the centrepiece of the castle, today used for ceremonial purposes. Unfortunately, the other splendid rooms of the complex are closed to the general public. It is possible, however, to attend the meetings of the parliament. The House of Representatives of the parliament meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, in a modern chamber from 1992. The Senate meets on a weekly basis, on Tuesdays, and does so in a splendid 17th century Dutch-styled chamber with a lavishly painted ceiling.

• Mauritshuis

  address: Plein 29
  Housed in a 17th-century palace overlooking the water of the Hofvijver pond, the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis contains the former collection of last Dutch stadtholder, William the V. While the museum is quite small (a complete tour takes a little over an hour) it contains some of the most famous work from the old Dutch Masters, including Johannes Vermeer (Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft), Rembrandt van Rijn (The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp), Andy Warhol ("Queen Beatrix"), Rembrandt self-portraits at ages 20 and 63, and others. It is well worth a visit, especially as it has just been renovated.

• Galerij Prins Willem V

  address: Buitenhof 33
  This gallery essentially is a part of Mauritshuis. A collection of 18th century paintings from the Mauritshuis is on display there.

• Gevangenpoort

  phone: +31 70 3460861
  address: Buitenhof 33
  Built in 1370 as an entrance gate to the Binnenhof complex, the Gevangenpoort (Prison Gate) was converted into a prison in 1420. In 1853 the prison shutdown and it was turned into a museum. For a taste of medieval justice, have a look at their collection of torture instruments and get locked inside an original medieval cell block.

• Bredius Museum

  phone: +31 70 3620729
  address: Lange Vijverberg 14
  The private collection of Abraham Bredius, a 19th-century art historian contains Dutch Baroque art, as well as drawings, porcelain and crafted silver.

• Lange VoorhoutThis former extension of The Hague Forest is now a large tree-lined square, bordered on all sides by grand 18th century townhouses. The large Baroque building on the west side is the 'Huis Huguetan', home to the Dutch supreme court. The square is especially pretty in spring, when its crocuses are in bloom. On Thursdays and Sundays there is a very good antique and book market. Every summer, the square hosts Den Haag Sculptuur (The Hague Sculpture), a free outdoor sculpture exhibition. The fortified building on the corner is the US Embassy and has been a point of contention among locals and embassy officials because of the heightened security.

• Escher in Het Paleis

  phone: +31 70 4277730
  address: Lange Voorhout 74
  This former royal palace was converted in 2002 into a museum dedicated to the famous Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher. The first two floors display prints, sketches and archive material showing how Escher progressed from realistic pictures to his later works of optical illusion and geometrical pattern. The top floor offers a trip through Escher's worlds with interactive screens and games and a special Escher Room. There are also scavenger hunts for younger children. On Sunday and during the school holidays, there are workshops for children.

• Grote KerkNow a meetings venue.

• Oude StadhuisThe original town hall is a small building from the 15th century when The Hague itself was a small settlement around the Royal Court. In the 18th century it was expanded upon and now has a grand façade facing the 15th-century Grote Kerk (Big Church), originally used as city's main place of worship, but now primarily functions as an exhibition space.

• StadhuisIn the early 1990s, the municipality moved to this enormous white building by American architect Richard Meier, nicknamed by locals as the Ice Palace. Walk in to have a look at the lofty main hall, which has exhibits on various topics related to the city. The two air bridges through the hall connecting the various offices had to be fenced off to prevent suicides, but still make for a nice view of the atrium below. The city hall borders a large, somewhat barren modern square with a fountain. It contrasts sharply with the Baroque Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), located in a small park in the other side of the road.

• DennewegThis street is a prime area for finding antique and specialty shops. It also has some good pubs and upscale restaurants to recharge in after shopping. Parallel to the Denneweg run the Hooigracht and Smidswater canals, which are two of the very few canals in The Hague compared to other major Dutch cities and towns.

• Paleis NoordeindeThis is the royal palace that King Willem-Alexander uses as his office. While the inside is not open to the public, the 17th-century façade can be seen from Noordeinde street, which also has a large number of art galleries. The gardens on the opposite side of the palace are accessible to the public for walking.

Out of the centre

• Panorama Mesdag

  phone: +31 70 310 66 65
  address: Zeestraat 65
  The Panorama Mesdag is a cylindrical painting from 1881, more than 14 m high and 120 m in circumference. One of the most famous painters of The Hague School, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, created a vista of the sea, the dunes and Scheveningen village. It is the oldest 19th-century panorama in the world that's still in its original site.

• Vredespaleis

  phone: +31 70 3024137
  address: Carnegieplein 2
  The Peace Palace was built in 1913, to house the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which was hoped to provide a means to legally settle international disputes. Ironically, World War I broke out just a year later. Today the Peace Palace also houses the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial body of the UN, which settles disputes between countries only. The building can only be visited with a guided tour, available only on certain weekends. Check the right-hand column of the website for open days.

• De Verdieping van NederlandA free exhibition showcasing the history of the Netherlands through original copies of historically significant documents. It has the original copy of peace treaty of Münster with Spain, marking the end of the 80-year Dutch independence war in 1648, and the original sales act of the Dutch purchase of Manhattan from the Indians.

• Haagse Toren

  phone: +31 70 305-1000
  address: Rijswijkseplein 786
  The tallest apartment tower in The Hague, nicknamed "the flatiron" in Dutch for its elongated triangular shape, has a viewing platform, café, bar and restaurant at the top. A drink is included in the ticket for the elevator that takes you to the top two floors, alternatively you can opt for a lunch, dinner or Highest Tea at the restaurant. The views are indeed impressive, especially at good weather and at sunset, as The Hague does not have many tall buildings to obscure them.

• Paleis Huis ten BoschIt is one of three official residences of the Dutch Royal Family. While the surrounding park is open, the palace itself is not open to visitors.

• Louwman Museum

  phone: +31 70 304-7373
  address: Leidsestraatweg 57
  Opened in juli 2010. This private collection contains a century of history of the car.

• Haags Openbaar Vervoer Museum

  phone: +31 70 4451559
  address: Parallelweg 224, Schilderswijk
  History of public transit in The Hague with exhibits of old trams and buses. Also 90-minute rides are available at 13:30 and 15:00 from the museum using an old tram or bus.

Statenkwartier Area

The Statenkwartier area, located between the dunes and the centre, has leafy avenues and 19th century housing and is very popular with The Hague's large expatriate community. The area is nice for walking tours of the 19th-century mansions, which showcase architectural diversity in The Hague. All kinds of neo- and modern-styles are represented here, especially Art Nouveau architecture. Good shops, delicatessens and restaurants are to be found on Statenkwartier's main street, Frederik Hendriklaan, or 'Fred'. The area also has a number of tourist attractions, which make it worth a visit, most of them being clustered around the Gemeentemuseum on Stadhouderslaan.

• Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

  phone: +31 70 3381111
  address: Stadhouderslaan 41
  The Gemeentemuseum (Municipal Museum) has a small collection of classical modern art (Van Gogh, Kandinsky, Monet, Sisley, Degas, Bacon). It boasts an especially large collection of Mondrians, showcasing the entire career of this painter known for his works with red, blue and yellow shapes. The Gemeentemuseum also has a large selection of paintings of the Hague School, a 19th century movement of landscape artists, in addition to period rooms and collections of fashion, musical instruments and decorative arts. Rotating exhibitions on 19th and early 20th century art held here are also quite popular. The museum is housed in a yellow brick building built in 1938 by Dutch architect Hendrik Berlage, a pioneer in modern architecture and best known for his Beurs van Berlage - the exchange building on the Damrak in Amsterdam. Next to the Gemeentemuseum are the GEM, a museum with rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, and the Fotomuseum Den Haag, which has rotating photography exhibitions.

Since The Hague was founded on a former hunting manor, there are a variety of parks and green spaces that are ideal for exploration. Like the majority of cities in the Netherlands, The Hague is extremely bike friendly and it's easy to get from one place to another on a bicycle if you feel like stepping outside the city centre. Scheveningen (and to a lesser extent Kijkduin) is a busy seaside resort filled with boardwalk cafes and close to the dunes. The prime months to get out and see The Hague on foot or by pedal are in the late spring, summer, and early fall months. The beachfront area can get extremely crowded as vacationers from all over Europe come to visit and bask along the North Sea coastline.

Parks

• Park ClingendaelA part of a former estate, the park is best known for its Japanese garden, one of the oldest (1910) in Europe. While the garden is open only a short period of time, the surrounding area is open all year long.

• WestbroekparkAn English-style park from the 1920s. Renowned for its Rosarium or rose garden, with 20,000 different varieties of roses blooming from June until November. The park includes a restaurant with lovely views.

• Haagse BosThis park is the oldest forested area in the country. It stretches from the suburb of Wassenaar to the northeast and goes right to the doorstep of Centraal Station, where there is a small fenced off area with deer. Haagse Bos also has a large birds-nest built on top of a pole with which the local municipality has succeeded in attracting a pair of storks, since the stork is in the city's emblem. Huis ten Bosch, the King's palace (not open to the public), is located there.

Other attractions

• Museon

  phone: +31 70 3381338
  address: Stadhouderslaan 37
  An interactive science museum, very popular with school groups and younger crowds.

• Omniversum

  phone: +0900-6664837
  address: President Kennedylaan 5
  Cinema with a round screen, offering a 360 degree viewing experience. Runs IMAX/Discovery-style documentaries; some are aimed at children.

• Madurodam

  phone: +31 70 416 2400
  address: George Maduroplein 1
  This miniature city contains a selection of Dutch architecture, ranging from Amsterdam's canals and church spires from Utrecht and Den Bosch, to modern architecture from Rotterdam and the enormous Delta works that protect the country from the sea. Madurodam also has an airport, a seaport, beaches, and little cars, trams and trains running through the entire town. A great attraction for kids (but a tourist trap for adults). Madurodam is open year round.

• Watch football

  address: Haags Kwartier 55
  ie soccer at ADO Den Haag, who play in Eredivisie, the top tier of Dutch football. Their home ground is Cars Jeans Stadion, capacity 15,000.

• DuinrellThis amusement park is mainly aimed at children but has accommodation as well for longer stays since it is right near the beach. The surrounding dunes and forested areas are great for walking, cycling and mountain biking.

• Boat trips The Hague

  address: Spui / Zieken
  Enjoy The Hague during a boat trip on the canals.

• The North Sea coast resortsResort facilities at Scheveningen and at Kijkduin have access to the beach, the dunes, as well as seaside restaurants and cafes. Be sure to check out the Scheveningen Pier, the largest pier in the Netherlands, which has a 60 m (200 ft) lookout tower, bungee jumping, and a casino and restaurant. Scheveningen gets crowded in the summer, so try Kijkduin if you're looking for something a little more peaceful.

Events

• Life I Live FestivalEvening of the 26th of April. While Amsterdam is generally known for having country's largest celebration of Dutch King's Day on the 27th of April, in recent years The Hague has held the largest anticipatory party the night before. KoningsNach (Kings' Night in The Hague dialect) has bands and DJ's giving shows in 5 different locations in the city centre.

• ParkpopLast Sunday of June. Huge, free, one-day pop music festival held in Zuiderpark. Attracts nearly 400.000 visitors each year, nearly as many people as actually live in the city, making the festival the largest of its kind in the world.

• Tong Tong FairEnd of May/beginning of June. This claims to be the largest Eurasian festival in the world. Since its first edition in 1958 it has been the quintessential event and meeting place for the country's sizable Dutch-East-Indian community. The festival also attracts lots of outsiders though, who come to sample Indonesian cuisine in the huge food halls, listen to music, buy foodstuffs, Indonesian clothes and paraphernalia and inform themselves about Indonesian culture. The festival is held in large tents on the Malieveld, opposite Centraal.

• Den Haag SculptuurJune, July and August. Free sculpture exposition on Lange Voorhout with different themes each year.

• Prinsjesdag. Third Tuesday in September. Prinsjesdag or 'Princes Day' marks the beginning of the new parliamentary year. On this day, large crowds are drawn by the traditional journey that King Willem-Alexander makes from his palace at Noordeinde to the Knight's Hall at the Binnenhof. He makes the trip in the Gouden Koets (Golden Carriage), a gift from the people of Amsterdam to his great-grandmother Wilhelmina from 1903. The carriage is used only for this special occasion. However the Gouden koets undergoes a restoration and is replaced by the Glazen Koets (Glass Carriage) during the years 2016-2019. In the Knight's Hall, the King then performs his duty as the formal head of state by reading out the Troonrede (Throne Speech) to the gathered chambers of the parliament. The throne speech contains a summary of the policies the cabinet is planning to implement over the next year.

• Crossing Border FestivalNovember.

• TodaysArt FestivalLast weekend of September. International Festival Beyond Art.

Many people move to the Randstad area (including The Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam) either for a year out, work (as an Expatriate) or to join partners (who are mostly either Expatriates or Dutch). There are specialist websites for English and non-Dutch speakers looking to work in The Hague (and Randstad area) and a good place to start; Blue Lynx - Employment by Language.
Immigration matters are dealt with by the Immigration Service IND. Registration is done by both police and municipalities. Immigration policy is restrictive and deliberately bureaucratic. That is especially true for non-EU citizens.
European Union citizens do not require a work permit. Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians are afforded a one year working-holiday visa. In general the employer must apply for work permits. Immigration is easier for "knowledge migrants" earning a gross annual salary of over €45 000 (over €33 000 for those under 30).

The lively and historical centre of The Hague is perfect for a day of shopping. The shopping area around the Spuistraat and Grote Marktstraat is busy seven days a week. You can find the best shopping in The Hague on the side streets that circle out from the city centre. While lots of them are upscale, you can find a few bargain stores dotted here and there.

• De Bijenkorf

  address: Wagenstraat 32
  The only extant department store in The Hague is housed in a large building from 1924, built in a unique expressionist style with brick and copper. Have a look at the glass-stained windows in the staircase. The restaurant 'La Ruche' in the third floor has a good view of the surrounding area.

• De PassageA unique covered shopping gallery built in 1882, with a sister-building in Brussels. Here you can find specialty and upmarket fashion shopping. Check out the outdoor cafes just outside on Buitenhof.

• Snoeptrommel winkelsThis building is near the up-market Hoogstraat shopping area. Locals call it "The Candy Box" because of its unique exterior. Completed in 2000, it's one of the newer building in the city

• The American Book Center

  phone: +31 70 3642742
  address: Lange Poten 23
  This unique store sells new and used English titles and caters to both expats and locals. If you're dragging extra copies of books across Europe, but don't want to throw them away, try trading them in here.

• PrinsestraatSpecialty shops, delicatessens and restaurants in the area around this street, located between Grote Kerk and Noordeinde palace.

• Spuistraat. Pedestrianized, shopping streets with mainly small chain stores. Other streets bordering the area with similar shops are Vlamingstraat, Venestraat and Wagenstraat.
• Denneweg and Noordeinde. These shopping streets lie parallel to one another from either side of the Binnenhof. The former has antiques, bric-à-brac, and several interesting restaurants and specialty food shops, while the latter is known for its boutiques and haute couture.

Just as Indian restaurants abound in the UK, the Netherlands has an excellent tradition in Indonesian and colonial Dutch-Indies cuisine. After Indonesia became independent from the Netherlands in 1945, the country received a large number of former colonials from Dutch and mixed descent who had been forced to leave the newly independent colony. The Hague received a relatively large number of these people and is still a centre of the Dutch-Indonesian community.

• Haagsche brood- en banketbakkerij Hans en Frans

  address: Denneweg 186
  Famous local bakery. Try their Haagse Kakker, which is a big sweet bread filled with raisins and nuts. Great to bring home as a gift. Other specialties include Haagsche Ooievaartjes (cookies) and Haags Jantje (chocolate). They are also located at Weissenbruchstraat 150, Theresiastraat 131 and Reinkenstraat 50.

• Restaurant Alexander The Hague

  phone: +31 70 36 48 175
  address: Denneweg 138 2514 CL

• Burgerz

  phone: +31 70 3560062
  address: Prinsestraat 23
  Funky gourmet hamburger restaurant serving 25 home-made and pure burgers: beef, lamb chicken, salmon, tuna and vegetarian. Also for take-away and from sept 2011 also in Delft.

• 't Achterommetje

  address: Achterom, 71
  A nice place for a standard Dutch lunch or a coffee.

Indonesian, city centre

• Garoeda

  phone: +31 70 3648175
  address: Kneuterdijk 18 A
  Historic place (founded 1949) with waiters in traditional costumes, spread out over two floors.

• Poentjak

  phone: +31 70 3600522
  address: Kneuterdijk 16
  Next to Garoeda. Interior is a time-warp to the 1920s.

• Istana

  phone: +31 70 3600997
  address: Wagenstraat 71
  Small restaurant with somewhat minimalist decor. Excellent sateh.

Indonesian, out of the centre

• Bogor

  phone: +31 70 3461628
  address: Van Swietenstraat 2
  Known by the in-crowd as traditionally the best place in town. Simple but excellent food, has been around for over 40 years and has not changed.

• Palembang

  phone: +31 70 3653881
  address: Thomsonlaan 17
  Cosy place with excellent food. Lots of pictures on the wall with local celebrities who visited here.

• Keraton Damai

  phone: +31 70 3639371
  address: Groot Hertoginnelaan 57
  Small 'living-room style restaurant' with very personal and attentive service. Small but excellent choice of dishes.

• Isaku Iki

  phone: +31 70 3920033
  address: Anna Paulownastraat 17
  This place has restaurant area and take-away service.

Michelin-starred restaurants

• Hanting Cuisine

  phone: +31 70 3620828
  address: Prinsestraat 33
  Chef Han merges Oriental and French cuisines. Han uses famous ingredients from both worlds and combines traditional preparation methods and techniques.

• Calla's

  phone: +31 70 3455866
  address: Laan van Roos en Doorn 51A
  Modern and with painstaking preparation techniques. Shorter, concentration on cuisson, light sauces and rich in taste. Food at Calla's is in the classical French tradition stripped of all frills and furbelows.

Organic

• Water & Brood

  phone: +31 70 3997455
  address: Beatrijsstraat 12
  An ex-squat, organic and vegetarian diner.

Other

• NOH Sushi & Sake

  phone: +31 70 3633320
  address: Prinsestraat 77
  NOH is one of the most relaxing and finest Japanese sushi restaurants in The Hague, providing all the basics for an enjoyable evening. They regularly serve Toro and Uni and have a sushibar for single (travelling) people.

• Kiraku

  phone: +31 70 3454288
  address: Toussaintkade 31
  Open since 1992. It's a small restaurant with a sushibar, the sushi taste excellent so make a reservation or come in early for dinner

• Dudok

  phone: +31 70 8900100
  address: Hofweg 1a
  Dudok lies right opposite the Binnenhof and is quite popular with politicians and the public out shopping.

• Irodion

  phone: +31 70 3636623
  address: Grote Markt 19
  Greek restaurant in the city centre. It is made up of two restaurants; the first one is fast food take out, where you can get the ubiquitous giros and tzatziki, with a generous portion of French fries. The second part is a fancier eat-in restaurant. Highly recommended.

• Bodega de Posthoorn

  phone: +31 70 3604906
  address: Lange Voorhout 39A
  A grand cafe at the centre of The Hague, near tourist attractions such as Maurtishuis, Hofvijver, Binnenhof, Historical Museum and Escher Museum. It is a unique eating and drinking establishment with typical Dutch grandeur. You should at least have a cup of coffee here, to experience the grandeur.

• Florencia Ice

  phone: +31 70 3630214
  address: Torenstraat 44
  Near the Grote Kerk the best ice cream parlor in town.
• Chinatown. The town has dubbed the area around Gedempte Gracht, Gedempte Burgwal and Wagenstraat as its local Chinatown, and added street signs in Chinese and all that. The area is not particularly spectacular, but good Chinese food is to be found around here. There seem to be three real popular Chinese restaurants in 'Chinatown'. Two of these restaurant have the same owner, but the restaurants are quite different. There is Fat Kee (preferred by Indian, Dutch and people from Suriname), which has a superb chicken and broccoli dish, though most 'local' Chinese people seem to go to the restaurants Kee Lun Palace and Restaurant Long Ting. Both have really good Chinese food for a relatively low price, though the service is generally rated below average. Another reasonable place is Harvest, which is in the heart of Chinatown; it's usually visited by Dutch people and Chinese people seem somehow to avoid it.

• Rebelz

  phone: +3170-216 17 98
  address: Junostraat 127 2516 BR

Bars and pubs

• De Grote MarktThroughout the centuries the market square of The Hague has transformed into a grand outdoor café surrounded by bars and clubs. From early in the morning, until late at night you’ll find people having a good time here. In the summertime, the ‘Grote Markt’ is often home to musical events.

• BoterwaagOpposite September, housed in a former weighing building it's a spacious and atmospheric venue. The Boterwaag is a wheelchair-accessible cafe.

• SeptemberLocate next to De Zwarte Ruiter.

• SupermarktA bar cum live rock venue, next to September and De Zwarte Ruiter.

• VaVoom Tikiroomalternative, surf style bar run by tattooed people

• Zeta

  address: Grote Markt 28
  Located between De Zwarte Ruiter and VaVoom Tikiroom.

• Zwarte Ruiter

  address: Grote Markt 27
  Located between Zeta and Supermarkt.

27 Club

phone: +31 6 48104541

address: Achterom 8

Named after artists who died 27 years old, among who Brian Jones, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse.

Cafe Momfer de Mol

phone: +31 70 4278733

address: Oude Molstraat 19

Cafe Momfer de Mol is located in the centre of the old Hague a place steeped in history. The cafe in its present form has been in existence since 2003, and is one of the finest laid-back cafe-bars of the city. The warm interiors and the informal ambiance at the cafe, are ideal allies to its delightful snack menu.

Cafe Madeleine

phone: +31 70 3630609

address: Valkenbosplein 10

Just outside the centre. Take tram 3 to Valkenbosplein and have a coffee and something sweet.

Coffee shops

As everywhere in the Netherlands, the possession (of small quantities) and use of cannabis (hash and weed) is tolerated in The Hague. Since Amsterdam draws more coffee-shop tourism prices are lower in The Hague. Some renowned places:

• Cafe Cremers

  address: Prinsestraat 84
  A great pub and coffeeshop with great DJs. The one place where international visitors gather to smoke and drink. Don't miss it.

• Ceylon

  address: Edisonstraat 98

• Fly High

  address: Rijswijkseweg 229

• Seventh Planet

  address: Loosduinseweg 741

Possessing large quantities of hashish or cannabis is a crime in the Netherlands. Do not take stuff with you when leaving the Netherlands (you can be punished severely in neighbouring countries). It's also unwise to buy for someone else, especially if it's a foreigner as you can be punished in his or her country of origin.
Smoking tobacco is banned inside food and drink establishments — even coffeeshops! That being said, tobacco smoking appears to be tolerated in coffee shops, and their rolled joints are often mixed with tobacco.

Nightclubs

• Paard van Troje and Paard CaféAlso a venue for concerts and such. Prinsegracht 12.

Despite its size and international prominence, The Hague has few hotels. Most of them are geared towards business guests, although there is a fair selection across price ranges. As the Randstad is very well connected with frequent train services, trams and buses, you may also consider accommodation in the neighbouring cities of Delft, Leiden, Zoetermeer, Rijswijk or even Rotterdam.

Budget

• easyHotel den HaageasyHotels are a sister hotel chain to the no-frills airline easyJet, and run along similar principles - only the accommodation in the (very simple) rooms are included in the base price, and everything else is charged extra. The location, however, is really central. The front faces the busy Parkstraat with trams.

• Holiday Inn Express The Hague - ParliamentThe HIExpress is right off the Plein and has breakfast and WiFi included in the room prices. Be aware that some rooms face the rather small inner atrium rather than the outside.

• Ibis Den Haag City CentreA fairly standard ibis hotel with a central location, with some rooms overlooking the busy Jan Hendrikstraat with trams, while others the peaceful courtyard garden (Nutstuin)

• Stayokay Den Haag

  phone: +31 70 3157888
  address: Scheepmakersstraat 27
  This standard but relatively soulless and uninspiring backpacking hostel has double rooms with individual toilet and shower facilities, and 8-bed dorms. It is huge, quite corporate so don't expect too much of a personal touch here. The hostel has a good location, being close to the Hollands Spoor train station (a 5 minute walk). Hostelling International members get discounts at Stayokay, and you can get a one-year membership card that is useful if you're staying at other HI Hostels. There are internet facilities available to lodgers at a reasonable fee.

• The Golden Stork

  phone: +31 70 415 8959
  address: Bierkade 22
  A newly opened hostel which began operating in June 2017 from Bierkade, a riverfront area in The Hague. Has a variety of mixed dorm facilities, 8, 9 and 15 bed, as well as a cafe and locker area for your valuables. Breakfast available at €4.50, bedding and towels are thrown in free of charge (deposit required for towels, returned when you leave). You need to pay a deposit of €5 also for your room card (the door keys are RFID based) which is returned upon departure. If you book, remember that The Hague charges a tourist tax (Toeristenbelasting) of €3.35 per night, which is not included in the cost of your stay - you have to pay that on arrival.

Mid-range

• Mercure Den Haag Centraal

  phone: +31 70 2039002
  address: Spui 180
  The main upside for staying at the Mercure is actually not having to see the outside of the building, which is an ugly block clad in blueish plastic. Otherwise, this Mercure is a business-oriented hotel with very modern appointments and a brilliantly central location, not leaving much to be desired - and charging for that appropriately.

• NH Den Haag

  phone: +31 70 3812345
  address: Prinses Margrietplantsoen 100
  Located at the heart of the Beatrixkwartier business district and within some distance from the old town and most tourist attractions. That said, being right at the tram stop within the spectacular Netkous, getting from it to any place in the city should not be a problem. It is one of the few hotels in the city located in a tall tower, so you can choose a room on one of the upper floors and enjoy sweeping vistas.

• Novotel Den Haag Centrum

  address: Hofweg 5-7
  Located in the Passage shopping centre and right across the street from the Binnenhof.

• Novotel Suites Den Haag City Centre

  phone: +31 70 8505180
  address: Grote Marktstraat 46
  Located in a funky-looking new shopping passage between the Spui and the Grote Markt, this Novotel is composed of single-room "suites" offering facilities for long-term stays, such as in-room kitchenettes and an extra "daytime" area in the room. There is a fitness room and a cosy lounge overlooking De Bijenkorf.

• Novotel The Hague World ForumThe other Novotel in The Hague is within the World Forum Convention Centre, away from the main centre but close to the cluster of museums around the Gementemuseum. Most of its rooms have been renovated to the new Novotel standards.

Splurge

• Hotel des Indes

  address: Lange Voorhout 54-56
  A former residence of a seventeenth century aristocrat, this über-luxury hotel opened its doors in 1881 and has been serving artists, musicians, and other celebrities ever since. It is located down the street from some of the major diplomatic missions such as the American and French embassies, and has also hosted heads of state such as Dwight Eisenhower and Jacques Chirac. Be sure to check out the ultra-luxurious bar and lounge.

• Hilton The Hague

  phone: +31 70 7107000
  address: Zeestraat 35
  The Hilton’s 195 rooms are the most spacious in the city (minimal 32 m²). This Hilton is located in the historic centre, right next to the Panorama Mesdag.

• Carlton Ambassador Hotel

  phone: +31 70 3630363
  address: Sophialaan 2
  Like Hilton The Hague, this hotel is located in the Willemspark, a fitting environment for this quiet, elegant boutique hotel with its tasteful interior and superb service.

• Crowne Plaza The Hague - Promenade

  phone: +31 70 3525161
  address: Van Stolkweg 1
  The Crowne Plaza is in the middle of the woodlands separating The Hague proper from Scheveningen, and thus a tram ride from either, but a short stroll from most of the international institutions located in The Hague and the Madurodam.

You should take normal precautions against pickpockets and baggage theft, especially in the main shopping streets, in trams and trains, at stations, and anywhere where tourists congregate. Street begging is common around the Hollands Spoor train station and at the Grote Markt. Most of them are homeless and non-aggressive and a simple 'no' will be enough. At night, the city centre is quite safe because of the large number of police cameras monitoring this area. Neighbourhoods southwest of the centre are less affluent and may not be as safe. The area between Zuiderpark and Hollands Spoor has a bad reputation due to the increasing number of street gangs. Schilderswijk and Transvaal areas are blocks that should be avoided after dark. If you are unsure, take a taxi to your destination. Taking a tram is also considered safe, as the so-called 'risky lines' in this area now have a security team on board from 8PM till 1AM.

Embassies

Quaint cities like Delft, known for its famous blue pottery, and the university town of Leiden are just 15 minutes by train.

• Scheveningen - Closest sea resort to the city.
• • • Delft - Arguably the country's most picturesque canal-lined town. Home of the famous Delft Blue pottery (or Delftware), and the home of Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer. Trains leave from Centraal Station or Hollands Spoor every 15 min; the trip takes 12 or 8 min respectively. Tram 1 also reaches the Delft city centre.
    • Leiden - This town lays claim to the oldest university in the Netherlands, Leiden University, which was founded in 1575. It is the second largest 17th-century town centre after Amsterdam. Home to many interesting museums. Trains from Centraal Station or Hollands Spoor every 15 minutes, with each trip taking 13 or 10 minutes respectively.