How to Spend One Day in The Hague, Netherlands

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One day in The Hague is the perfect amount of time to dip your toe in and get to know this gorgeous city in The Netherlands. It is also very easily accessible from bigger cities, Amsterdam (just 45 minutes away) and Rotterdam. You can take the NS Dutch train service very often between cities. So if you are within the Netherlands, you can easily take a day trip to the Hague

The Hague, known in The Netherlands as “Den Haag” (and thankfully spoken just as you’d think, unlike much of the dutch language!) is a multicultural European city, boasting its top marks as the International Court of Justice.

If you are planning a trip to the Netherlands, I would recommend at least one day in The Hague as it offers a much different experience to that of Amsterdam (and no I’m not talking about Amsterdam’s Red Light District).

Without further ado, here’s my itinerary for one day in The Hague:

How to spend one day in The Hague

Upon arriving at Den Haag Centraal, jump on a tram and ride as far as the very central and perfectly located ‘Plaats’. Here you can grab a caffeine fix at Hometown Coffee before heading over to the Binnenhof.

Binnenhof

The Binnenhof, or ‘Inner Court’ is a must-see when visiting The Hague. It is the oldest Houses of Parliament still in use within the whole world! And here is where history was made, as well as the future – since it is also still parliament, and where the Dutch Prime Minister holds office.

Whilst its grandeur can be admired from all around and across the lake, make sure you walk through the old gate and admire the inner courtyard, where the Knight’s Hall is. If you see nothing else on your one day in the Hague, you must see this!

Shopping streets

After discovering the Binnenhof, go wandering through the cute streets of the Hague’s centre. What I fell in love with was the amount of locally-owned shops located down picturesque cobble-stone streets. From gorgeous galleries to beautiful boutiques, the shopping in the Hague definitely had me at hello!

Sint Jacobs Grote Kerk

As you check out the many cute streets within the centre of The Hague, you’ll surely stumble upon the Grote Kerk, or Big Church. As the name suggests, it’s big. So big, you won’t be able to miss it! It is possible to climb the Church tower for views over the Hague, something I’ve not yet done! I’ve heard you can see as far as the beach-side town of Scheveningen. This is certainly on my list for things to do in the Hague next time I am there for a day.

After your visit to the church it’s time to walk over to a lovely cafe for lunch – and I have just the spot in mind!

Lunch at Pistache Cafe

Pistache cafe backs onto the palace gardens and serves fantastic coffee paired with the perfect lunchtime items, from acai bowls to delicious salads and tasty sandwiches. Pistache also offers picnic baskets made up which you can purchase and take over to the Palace Gardens for your very own Dutch Picnic!

Palace Gardens

After you’ve re-energised, head into the Hagués Palace Gardens, right next to Pistache Cafe. The Palace Gardens are STUNNING and being right in the centre of the city, are a great way to get away from any hustle and bustle of city life! From within the park, you can see the Royal Palace and the Royal Stables.

Palace Noordeinde

After leaving the park, walk down Noordeinde towards the palace. Palace Noordeinde is in the centre of the Hague, surrounded by the beautiful shopping streets. It is the working palace of the King of The Netherlands, King Willem Alexander. Whilst Palace Noordeinde is not open to the public, it is still worth admiring from the outside, as it has been the residence of the House of Orange for 400 years.

Lange Voorhout

After admiring the palace, take the first left, which will lead you to the most beautiful street in The Hague – the Lange Voorhout. Walking along this beautifully tree-lined street, you can feel the age of the city! I could almost picture horses pulling coaches housing the rich and famous. At the end of the promenade are two important buildings. Hotel des Indes and the Escher Museum.

Mauritshuis

As the Lange Voorhout curves into an L shape, follow this over to the Mauritshuis. This building is a masterpiece in its own right! From the Dutch Classicism architecture to the beautiful interior to the Dutch classic paintings [Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring is housed here] – I loved it all!

Mauritshuis website.

Plein

After all of that walking, it’s time to enjoy a Dutch beer in a Dutch square. Perfectly located is ‘Plein’, which is next door to the Mauitshuis. There are a few main centres of nightlife in the Hague, and this is one of them!

Impossible to miss is the towering skyscrapers of the business district which can be seen behind the old town square. During the day the cafes and bars spill into the square with outdoor seating areas, no matter the season!

Grote Markt

Grote Markt is another of the main squares for nightlife in the Hague. From early in the morning until late at night you’ll find people enjoying themselves here in this square – so on your day trip to The Hague, try to grab at least one drink at the Markt!

Dinner in The Hague

Dinnertime calls for the new kid on the block – Bleyenberg. This place is as good as people tell you. We dined on the ground floor, surrounded by cosy and eclectic, yet stylish design furniture. The food at Bleyenberg is share style, and you’ll be glad of it, as there’s too many delicious dishes to try on your own!

After dinner, it’s to the rooftop! The Bleyenberg rooftop looks over the Grote Markt square and is the first true rooftop bar in the city.

Extra: Scheveningen Beach

If you arrive into Den Haag early enough, you can fit in numerous museum visits, OR, you can go to the beach! The beach along Scheveningen (“Skay-ven-ing-en”) is a short tram ride away and is classified as part of The Hague. It’s a lovely and big beach so if you are taking a day trip to the Hague I highly recommend heading to it!

So there you have it, the perfect one day itinerary for how to spend a day in the Hague! Let me know if you’d add anything else to this itinerary, or if you used and loved this itinerary!

Find out more about what you can do in The Hague on Visit Holland's website.

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About Lesley

Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!