Things to do in  The Hague

Few places showcase the Netherlands’ iconic tulips better than Keukenhof Gardens, a colorful sea of flowers with millions of new bulbs planted every year. An easy day trip from Amsterdam, the gardens are perfect for leisurely strolls and snapping photos of flowers in bloom. It’s a Holland tradition that attracts visitors from around the globe—and one you certainly won’t want to miss.

Built using funds donated by American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, Peace Palace (Vredespaleis) is one of The Hague’s best-known landmarks. The grand neo-Renaissance building is home to the UN’s International Court of Justice, which hears legal disputes between states.

The Hague’s 13th-century Binnenhof (Inner Court) complex encompasses several landmarks, including the Gothic Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights)—a state building characterized by medieval-style turrets. Now home to the Dutch Parliament, the heritage site attracts visitors with a blend of courtly features and political significance.

Transformed from a farmhouse into a stately home in 1533, Noordeinde Palace (Paleis Noordeinde) in The Hague was presented to William of Orange’s widow in recognition of her husband’s service to the Netherlands. Noordeinde Palace is one of four palaces across the country owned by the Dutch royal family and serves as the office of King Willem-Alexander.

Mauritshuis is home to one of the best collections of Dutch and Flemish paintings in the world. Often referred to as "the jewel box," the ornately elegant 17th-century mansion is a textbook example of Dutch classical architecture, built as the private residence of John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen.

Madurodam, a mini-Holland on a 1:25 scale, lets you tour the entirety of the Netherlands in an hour. One of Holland’s most popular attractions since its development in the Hague in 1952, it highlights the epitomes of Dutch culture in scale-model replicas of perfectly ornamented bridges, canals, windmills, and major national landmarks.

Dating back to 1653, Royal Delft (Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles) is the world’s best-known manufacturer of the Netherlands’ iconic blue-and-white porcelain goods. The factory—the only such manufactory that remains from the 17th century—is open to travelers looking to learn about this one-of-a-kind hand-painted stoneware.

Famed for its namesake blue-and-white pottery and for being the birthplace of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, Delft is ringed by scenic canals and offers a much more tranquil atmosphere than nearby Amsterdam. The quaint Dutch town is also notable for its medieval buildings and its lively market, which is the perfect place to people-watch and enjoy a traditional stroopwafel (caramel-smothered waffle).

With a history dating back to the 13th century, the Great Church of St. James is one of the oldest buildings in The Hague. Dutch Royals such as King Willem-Alexander and Princess Catharina-Amalia were baptized here, but the Gothic-style church is best known for its imposing bell tower, one of the highest in the Netherlands.

Behind the 17th-century façade of this palace—formerly the winter home of Queen Emma of the Netherlands—lies a series of lavishly appointed rooms plus an ornate Art Nouveau staircase and stained-glass skylights. It’s also home to a startlingly eccentric collection of works of Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher.

Art fans in Delft flock to the Museum Prinsenhof to see its large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. Other museum highlights include tapestries, period furniture, housewares, and plenty of fine examples of Delft's blue-and-white ceramics. The museum's 15th-century building holds interest, too.

The Hague’s Square 1813 (Plein 1813) consists of a 2-lane roundabout that surrounds the country’s largest 19th-century statue. Named the Independence Monument, it commemorates two significant 1813 events: the Netherlands’ victory over Napolean and the consequent establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Prison Gate Museum (Gevangenpoort) is the former prison of the Court of Holland, and housed both criminals and innocents for four centuries beginning in 1428. Visitors today can view the medieval cells and interrogation chambers, instruments of torture, and other vestiges of this prison’s grisly past.

Johannes Vermeer is among the most celebrated Dutch Masters, particularly at the Delft Vermeer Centre (Vermeer Centrum). Here, the artist behind the "Girl With the Pearl Earring" is honored through exhibits focusing on both his work and his life in Delft.

The Hague’s seaside suburb of Scheveningen is a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer promenade backing a sandy beach and the waters of the North Sea. This popular resort community had its heyday in the 19th century but recent injections of cash have spruced the town up to its former gentility.