What to See in The Hague
Explore 20 landmarks, monuments, and attractions in The Hague, Netherlands. From iconic sights to hidden gems — curated from real traveler experiences.
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Binnenhof
Official websiteThe 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.…
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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.
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Gemeentemuseum Den Haag
Official websiteThe 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.…
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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.
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Lange Voorhout
This 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.…
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Every summer, the square hosts [http://www.denhaagsculptuur.nl/ 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.
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Plein
This 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.…
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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.
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Mauritshuis
Official websiteHoused 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.…
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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.
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Stadhuis
In 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.…
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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.
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Vredespaleis
Official websiteThe 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.…
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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.
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Haagse Toren
Official websiteThe 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 coffee or tea 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.…
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The views are indeed impressive, especially at good weather and at sunset, as the Hague does not have many tall buildings to obscure them.
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Escher in Het Paleis
Official websiteThis former royal townhouse was recently converted into a museum dedicated to the famous Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher. The first three floors display prints, sketches and archive material showing how Escher progressed from realistic pictures to his later works of optical illusion and geometrical pattern.…
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The top floor offers a trip through Escher's worlds through 3D graphic headsets.
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Oude Stadhuis
The 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 fu…
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nctions as an exhibition space.
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Gevangenpoort
Official websiteBuilt 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.…
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For a taste of medieval justice, have a look at their collection of torture instruments and get locked inside an original medieval cell block.
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Panorama Mesdag
Official websiteThe 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.…
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It is the oldest 19th-century panorama in the world that's still in its original site.
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De Verdieping van Nederland
A 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…
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Indians.
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Denneweg
This 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.
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Paleis Noordeinde
Official websiteThis 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.
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Bredius Museum
Official websiteThe private collection of Abraham Bredius, a 19th-century art historian contains Dutch Baroque art, as well as drawings, porcelain and crafted silver.
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Paleis Huis ten Bosch
It 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.
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Galerij Prins Willem V
Official websiteThis gallery essentially is a part of Mauritshuis. A collection of 18th century paintings from the Mauritshuis is on display there.
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Louwman Museum
Official websiteOpened in juli 2010. This private collection contains a century of history of the car.
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Grote Kerk
Now a meetings' venue.
Exploring The Hague: A Guide for Solo Travelers
The Hague is one of Netherlands's most rewarding cities to explore on foot. With 20 documented sightseeing spots — from grand monuments and historic churches to hidden squares and local museums — the city rewards curiosity at every turn. This guide covers everything you need to plan a great sightseeing day in The Hague, whether you have a single afternoon or an entire week.
How to See The Hague Like a Traveler, Not a Tourist
The best way to discover The Hague is on foot, moving between neighborhoods rather than rushing between landmarks on a tour bus. Start your day early — most major sights in The Hague are significantly less crowded before 9am. Many iconic spots, such as Binnenhof and Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, look entirely different at dawn versus midday, and you'll get far better photographs without the crowds.
Budget at least 30–45 minutes for each major attraction in The Hague, and don't underestimate walking distances between them. The city's neighborhoods are best experienced by wandering rather than following a rigid itinerary. If something unexpected catches your eye — a courtyard, a street market, a viewpoint — follow it. The most memorable moments in The Hague rarely appear on any official list.
Planning Your Sightseeing in The Hague
Before you visit major paid attractions in The Hague, check whether they offer discounts for students, young travelers, or EU residents. Many museums and monuments have free admission on the first Sunday of the month, or offer combined tickets with nearby sites that save significant money. Some of The Hague's best sights are entirely free — outdoor landmarks, historic streets, and public spaces cost nothing to explore and can be more atmospheric than ticketed attractions.
If you're visiting The Hague as a solo traveler, consider joining a free walking tour. They typically depart from main squares in the morning and cover the city's most important sights in 2–3 hours with a knowledgeable local guide. These tours are also excellent for meeting other travelers — you'll often find the group ends up exploring The Hague together for the rest of the day.
Sightseeing in The Hague with Fellow Travelers
Solo sightseeing in The Hague is perfectly enjoyable, but exploring with others can transform the experience. When you share a landmark with a fellow traveler, you see it through their eyes — their questions, their stories, their cultural context. A French traveler will notice different things about The Hague's architecture than a Japanese one. That exchange of perspectives is what makes travel memorable.
Nomax is a free travel companion app that helps solo travelers in The Hague find each other and plan sightseeing together. Browse profiles of travelers currently in The Hague, join group activities like city walks and museum visits, or post your own sightseeing plan and invite others to join. Many travelers in The Hague use Nomax to find companions for specific attractions — someone to split a taxi to an outlying monument, or a walking partner for the old town.
What Makes The Hague Worth Seeing
The Hague offers 20 documented sights in this guide alone — and that's only the beginning. Binnenhof, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Lange Voorhout are among the most visited, but the city's lesser-known neighborhoods and viewpoints are equally rewarding for the traveler willing to explore beyond the main itinerary. Netherlands's history, culture, and architecture are all visible in The Hague's streets and buildings, making it one of the best cities in the region for sightseeing.
Whether you're spending a single day or a full week in The Hague, this guide gives you a starting point for building your own itinerary. The sights are ordered by the richness of their documentation, with the most detailed descriptions at the top. Use the coordinates to navigate with any map app, and check the hours and entry prices before visiting to avoid disappointment.
Sightseeing in other Netherlands cities
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the must-see attractions in The Hague?
The Hague has 20 notable sights including Binnenhof, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Lange Voorhout. This guide covers landmarks, monuments, churches, museums, and hidden gems curated from traveler experiences and editorial sources.
How many days do you need to see The Hague?
Most travelers spend 3–5 days exploring The Hague to cover the major sights comfortably. A focused itinerary can cover the top 10–15 highlights in 2 days. Download Nomax to connect with other travelers and plan a shared sightseeing itinerary for The Hague.
Are there free things to see in The Hague?
Yes — many of The Hague's best sights are free or low-cost. Several POIs in this guide are listed as free entry. Check individual entries above for price information.
What is the best time to visit The Hague's sightseeing spots?
Early mornings (before 9am) are the best time to visit popular sights in The Hague to avoid crowds. Many monuments and outdoor attractions are also magical at dusk. Use Nomax to find fellow travelers who can share timing tips and join you for a sightseeing day.
How do I meet other travelers to explore The Hague with?
Download Nomax — the free travel companion app — to instantly see solo travelers near you in The Hague. Join sightseeing activities, meet travelers at the same landmarks, and chat before you meet up. It's the easiest way to explore The Hague with company.
Is The Hague good for solo travelers?
The Hague is popular with solo travelers for its rich sightseeing, accessible public transport, and welcoming atmosphere. The Nomax app helps solo travelers find companions in The Hague so you never have to explore alone — from guided walks to museum visits to spontaneous meetups.
Explore The Hague with fellow travelers
Download Nomax to find travel companions in The Hague, join sightseeing activities, and make your trip unforgettable.
Download Nomax — FreeAvailable on iOS and Android. Free forever.
Travel tips from Wikivoyage contributors, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
