Things to Do in The Hague
Discover 19 activities and experiences in The Hague, Netherlands — from outdoor adventures to cultural events. Curated from real traveler recommendations.
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Tong Tong Fair
''End 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.
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Haagse Bos
This 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 Queen's palace (not open to the public), is located there.
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Madurodam
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.
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- George Maduroplein 1
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- 9AM-6PM daily
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- €14.50 for adults, €10.50 for children
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The North Sea coast resorts
Resort 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.
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Life I Live Festival
''Evening of the 29th of April.'' While Amsterdam is generally known for having country's largest celebration of Dutch Queen's Day on the 30th of April, in recent years The Hague has held the largest anticipatory party the night before. ''KoninginneNach'' (Queens' Night in The Hague dialect) has bands and DJ's giving shows in 5 different locations in the city centre.
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Parkpop
''Last 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.
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Duinrell
This 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.
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Park Clingendael
A 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.
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- Japanese Garden: late April to mid-June and 2 weeks in mid-October
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- Free admission
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Westbroekpark
An 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.
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Nieuwjaarsduik
''January 1'' The first and largest location for the annual New Years Dive; every year, 10,000 people plunge into the freezing waters of the North Sea at noon on New Years Day.
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Omniversum
Cinema with a round screen, offering a 360 degree viewing experience. Runs IMAX/Discovery-style documentaries; some are aimed at children.
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- President Kennedylaan 5
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- € 10,75
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Den Haag Sculptuur
''June, July and August.'' Free sculpture exposition on Lange Voorhout with different themes each year.
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North Sea Regatta
''End of May / Beginning of June''. International sailing contest, held off the coast of Scheveningen.
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Museon
An interactive science museum, very popular with school groups and younger crowds.
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- Stadhouderslaan 37
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- T-Su 11AM-5PM
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- €7.50
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Exploring The Hague: A Traveler's Guide to Activities
The Hague rewards curious travelers with an exceptional range of experiences. Whether you have a weekend or several weeks, the city's 19 documented activities cover the full spectrum — architectural landmarks and world-class museums at one end, local neighborhood festivals and underground cultural scenes at the other. The activities listed on this page come from Wikivoyage contributors who have personally explored The Hague and written detailed, practical descriptions to help you plan your visit.
The most rewarding way to experience The Hague's activities is with company. Solo travelers who arrive without plans often find that meeting a fellow traveler at a hostel, cafe, or through the Nomax app opens up entirely new itineraries — a museum visit becomes a half-day exploration, a street food crawl turns into an evening of discovery, a day trip to a nearby site becomes an adventure. The Hague has an active traveler community, and the city is designed to reward those who explore it with open curiosity.
When planning what to do in The Hague, consider mixing well-known attractions with neighborhood-level experiences. The city's most photographed sights are popular for good reason, but The Hague's character lives in its quieter corners too — the local markets, the parks where residents spend their weekends, the small performance venues where the next generation of artists and musicians are finding their voice. The 19 activities on this page include both categories, ordered by the richness of their traveler-written descriptions.
How to Get the Most from The Hague's Activities
Timing matters in The Hague. Many of the city's best attractions have shorter queues and better atmospheres on weekday mornings. Major cultural sites — museums, galleries, historic monuments — often run free admission windows on certain days or evenings; check before booking. Outdoor activities and walking tours are best enjoyed in the morning before the city heats up or fills with tour groups.
Budget-conscious travelers will find that The Hague has a strong free-to-access layer. Public parks, open-air markets, architectural walking routes, and many community events cost nothing. The price information included with activities on this page (where available) helps you plan a realistic daily budget. A mix of free and paid activities across a week in The Hague is entirely feasible for most traveler budgets.
For travelers who want to do more than just sightseeing, The Hague offers organized activities through local guides, tour companies, and traveler apps like Nomax. Group activities — cooking classes, cycling tours, kayaking excursions, photography walks — are a natural way to meet people while experiencing the city. Many travelers who use Nomax in The Hague coordinate these types of group experiences together, splitting costs and building memories that last beyond the trip itself.
Activities for Different Travel Styles
Not every traveler wants the same experience. History enthusiasts will gravitate toward The Hague's museums, heritage sites, and guided historical walks that reveal the layers of the city's past. Outdoor and adventure travelers will focus on the parks, cycling routes, climbing areas, and day trips to surrounding natural areas. Food travelers will treat The Hague's markets, restaurants, and food tours as the primary activities of each day. Culture seekers will fill evenings with concerts, theater, gallery openings, and street performances.
The 19 activities documented on this page span all these categories. Use the numbered list above to browse in order of description quality — longer descriptions generally mean more detailed, firsthand traveler knowledge. For each activity, the address and opening hours (where available) give you everything you need to plan your visit without needing to search elsewhere.
Connecting with Travelers in The Hague
One of the best things about traveling to The Hague is the community of international travelers already there. Backpackers, digital nomads, long-term expats, and short-trip tourists all share the same city at any given moment. Nomax makes it easy to find who is in The Hague right now, see what activities they are joining, and coordinate plans. Whether you want a hiking companion, someone to split museum entry with, or a group for an evening out — the app connects you to people with the same itinerary in minutes.
Download Nomax before your trip to The Hague to set your travel dates and start discovering who else will be there at the same time. The app is free, requires no subscription, and works across all the major traveler destinations worldwide — meaning the community you build in The Hague often extends to your next destination too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in The Hague?
The Hague offers 19+ activities and experiences for travelers. Top highlights include Tong Tong Fair, Haagse Bos, Madurodam, and much more. This page lists every documented activity in order of description quality, so you can find both the major attractions and the hidden gems.
Are there free things to do in The Hague?
Yes — The Hague has a strong selection of free activities. Public parks, open-air markets, walking routes through historic neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions offer free admission on specific days. Scroll through the list above and look for activities marked with free or no price information — these are often the city's most authentic experiences.
How do I meet other travelers while exploring The Hague?
Download Nomax — a free travel companion app that shows you other solo travelers currently in The Hague. You can join group activities, chat with travelers at the same spots, and plan outings together. Many travelers in The Hague use Nomax to find companions for day trips, museum visits, and evening activities.
What activities can I do with travel companions I meet in The Hague?
The Hague has activities for every interest — guided tours, food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural events, and nightlife. Use Nomax to coordinate with other travelers: join a group for a walking tour, split a day-trip cost, or simply explore the city together. The app makes spontaneous plans easy.
Explore The Hague with fellow travelers
Download Nomax — find travel companions, join group activities, and chat with solo travelers in The Hague right now. Free forever.
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Content may have been updated since publication.