The Hague (or Den Haag as it is known by the locals) in the Netherlands was the first place I stopped on my one-year sabbatical road trip. The Dutch have a work hard and play hard mentality and having lived in the Netherlands for almost two years I fell in love with the outdoor sporting culture. The Hague is in a great location to try just about every activity on the list, so if you are thinking about visiting the Hague it is an opportunity to try something you may not have done before. Here is my short list of the top 8 fun things to do in The Hague.
1. Visit Hart Beach and Surf
The Netherlands is well known for its picturesque landscapes and charming windmills, but the Dutch also have beautiful beaches which have great water sports. Hart Beach is 15 minutes from the Hague city centre and has two fantastic surf schools which provide private and group surfing lessons all year round. Both rent surf boards, paddle boards, bodyboards and wetsuits. They also have a great hang out area with an impressive food and beer menu. To get to Hart Beach from The Hague’s centre you can either hire a bike (see no. 2 below) or catch a short tram ride (number 9 tram) from The Hague Central station which takes 7-9 minutes.
2. Hire a Bike
Over 25% of journeys are taken by bike in the Netherlands (in the UK it is 2%!) which means our Dutch neighbours have built a vast network of smooth cycle paths. It is so popular in fact there are more bikes than people! Get in the saddle of Dutch culture and hire a bike to tour the city and beaches. The price will depend on the type of bike and time of year. See the more information below.
Bike Hire Company’s
The Hague Bike Hire – Blacks Bikes
The Beach Bike Hire – Haagschestads Bikes
3. The Mauritshuis & The Binnenhof
The Mauritshuis
The Mauritshuis is a 17th century listed heritage building and art museum. The gallery displays one of the world most valuable paintings ‘Girl with the Pearl Earring’ by Johanne Vermeer, a number of paintings by Rembrandt and 850+ other historical pieces.
The Binnenhof
Next door to the Mauritshuis is the Binnenhof (the ‘Inner Court’ in English), another heritage building. This building was erected in the 13th century as a castle of the counts of Holland. Throughout the ages the Binnenhof has been the centre of politics in the Netherlands.
Today the gothic building houses the meeting place of the Netherlands Prime Minster and Government and is amongst the oldest Parliament buildings in the world still in use. It is possible to walk through the courtyard of the building or you can arrange a guided tour through the ‘Hall of Knights’ and the Chamber of Parliament. Binnenhof in The Hague – Take a guided tour – Holland.com
4. Skiing and Snowboarding
The Netherlands is a very flat country so in order to fore fill their winter sport addiction the Dutch have built 61 indoor ski slopes. Most of them are open all year round during the day and late into the evening.
Six miles outside of Den Haag centre in Zoetermeer you will find Snowworld which has 4 slopes all on real snow including the longest indoor slope in Europe at 210m and 20% gradient. If you are a beginner, you can start on the smaller slopes and book a private or group lesson. They hire all the equipment and are open from 9am until 11pm. To find more information including prices see Ski slope SnowWorld Zoetermeer | SnowWorld Zoetermeer
5. Westduinpark Sand Dunes
Sand from the northern dunes comes from the Sea, blown here 10,000 years ago during the last glacial period by the wind when the North Sea lay exposed. Westduinpark sand dunes run along the coast between Scheveningen and Kijkduin and thanks to many hiking, cycling and horse-riding paths they are an ideal nature reserve to explore. In the dunes you will find dense forests, open spaces, dune valleys, bunkers from World War II and Scottish Highland Cows roaming freely.
Westduinpark has various entrances with a number of bike parks. If you come by car, you are better parking in Kijkduin which is free of charge. For public transport you can take the 1, 12 or 22 tram, or the 23, 24 or 26 bus to Kijkduin.
6. Delft
Delft’s enchanting ambience is what makes the place my personal favourite town in the Netherlands. It has a charming historic setting where you can wander past canals, medieval churches, mansions and courtyards. Top sites in Delft.
- Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) – 1300 church famous for the tomb of Royal Tombs
- Royal Delft – 1700s internationally famous blue painted pottery factory
- Markt – Market Square with a gorgeous city hall and church
- Vermeer Centrum – Display and historic background to Vermeer’s paintings
- Besstenmark – Used to be where livestock was sold back in the day. Now it is a place to try a local beer.
- Saturday Flea Market – Selling cheese, waffles and tulip seeds
7. De Pier
The famous Pier in Scheveningen is an icon on the Dutch coast. Here you can enjoy the serenity of nature in a warm ambience, filled with food, drinks, shops, markets, weekly events and a ferris wheel. For the daredevils and speed freaks the Pier also has a zipline and a bungy jump. For more information on prices and events see The Pier Website
8. Kitesurfing
The rush of kitesurfing comes from the wind power and loss of gravity when flying across the ocean and nature that surround you. There are a number of prime locations with highly professional coaches. See a 5* kitesurf school in Den Haag Kitesurf School
I do hope this blog exposes the possibilities and fun to be had in the under rated city of Den Haag. I loved my time living here and you can never find enough time to enjoy all what it has to offer.
If you would like to see my recommendations for other cities I have visited go to City Breaks
Much love Emma xx