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The Hague

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Royal Palaces, Art and North Sea

The Hague serves as the political heart of the Netherlands, home to the Dutch government and international courts like the International Court of Justice. Its compact size makes walking easy between landmarks such as the Binnenhof building and the Peace Palace. The city balances historic sites with modern art spaces at the Mauritshuis, where Vermeer’s paintings draw visitors. Canals wind through neighborhoods lined with cafes and shops selling Dutch cheeses or tulip bulbs. Public transport connects key areas efficiently, supporting both daily life and tourism without overwhelming crowds.

City in Netherlands
Climate zone: Mild oceanic

Mild oceanic: Marine-influenced climates with cool summers, mild winters and frequent precipitation year-round, typical of western coasts at mid-latitudes.

See climate table
Price level: $$$
$Cheap
$$Medium
$$$Expensive, upscale
$$$+Very expensive, luxury
See price details
Safety: 8.3
General Safety:8
Health & medical:9
Accessibility:8
Tap water:9
Read details
Tourist English: 4/5
English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and museums. Most signs and menus are available in English, and locals are used to international visitors, so getting around is easy.
Last update: 12 Oct 2026
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The Hague Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
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Excellent for international institutions and coastal city life. Visit major museums, explore royal palaces, cycle elegant streets and relax at nearby beaches.
Place score
7.6
Best at:
Walkable
8
Spotless
8
Museums
8
Sea
7
Architecture
7
Personal score
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Suited for
👶 7
Families
🧓 7
Seniors
🛡️ 8
Travel Beginners
❤️ 8
Couples
Netherlands – Quick facts
Power Grid: 230 V, 50 Hz
Plug: Type C , Type F
Type C:
Diagram of a Type C power plug
Type F:
Diagram of a Type F power plug

Read about power adapters
Currency: Euro (EUR)
£1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info: Rating 5/5
The Netherlands is highly cashless, with almost all businesses accepting card payments. Contactless payments and mobile apps are widely used, and cash is not always necessary.

Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers: Best value: Saily
Flexibility: Airalo
Read our in-depth comparison
Tipping: Tipping is appreciated but not compulsory in the Netherlands. In restaurants, a tip of 5-10% is standard. Taxi drivers usually expect a small tip or rounding up, and hotel staff appreciate small tips.
Public drinking: Public drinking is allowed in most places in the Netherlands, including parks and on the streets. However, there are some restrictions in specific areas or during festivals.
Public smoking: Smoking is banned indoors in public spaces, including bars, restaurants, and public transport. Smoking areas are designated in many public places.
King's Day
(April)
A national holiday with celebrations, parades, and festivals. Expect large crowds, especially in cities like Amsterdam.
Christmas
(December)
Festivities are widespread, but cities can be crowded, and prices for accommodation may rise.
Sinterklaas
(December)
Celebrations for the Dutch Christmas tradition, expect family-oriented events and high demand for accommodation.
Emergency contact: Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps: Uber, Bolt, Ola
Other: The Netherlands has a well-developed infrastructure and public transport system. Be prepared for high bike usage in cities like Amsterdam, and expect occasional rain throughout the year.
Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for The Hague, Netherlands
🌬️
Jan
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Feb
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Mar
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Apr
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May
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Jun
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Jul
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Aug
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Sep
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Oct
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Nov
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Dec
High season: May - Sep.
Shoulder season: April, Oct.
Crowdedness: 7 (Many tourists)
Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info
Scheveningen beach season runs May to September; many beach clubs close or shrink in winter
Prinsjesdag, third Tuesday in September: royal procession, central streets closed and very busy

Why travel to The Hague?

The Hague is a place where you can start your day with Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ at the Mauritshuis, wander through medieval government buildings at the Binnenhof and end up with your feet in the sand at Scheveningen Beach. The city is packed with museums, trendy boutiques and lively squares like Plein and Grote Markt. You’ll find a cosmopolitan buzz, but also plenty of quiet corners and leafy parks. Just a heads up: the weather can be unpredictable – wind and rain are common, even in summer. Some areas, especially around the central station and busy nightlife spots, can get rowdy late at night, so keep an eye on your belongings and stick to well-lit areas after dark.

🏯Places worth seeing
  • 1 Peace Palace
  • 2 Madurodam
  • 3 Binnenhof
  • 4 Escher in Het Paleis
  • 5 Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk (The Hague)
  • 6 Kunstmuseum Den Haag
  • 7 Panorama Mesdag
  • 8 Ridderzaal
  • 9 Mauritshuis
  • 10 Rotterdamsebaan
  • 11 Hotel Indigo The Hague - Palace Noordeinde
🎡Places for activities
  • 1 Pierplein
  • 2 De Uithof
🏞️Natural landmarks
  • 1 Zuiderstrand
  • 2 Landgoed Clingendael
  • 3 Haagse Bos
  • 4 Scheveningse Bosjes
  • 5 Westbroekpark
  • 6 Zuiderpark
  • 7 Malieveld
  • 8 Habana Beach
  • 9 Carlton Beach Hotel
  • 10 Wapendal
🛍️Shopping
  • 1 Lange Poten
  • 2 De Bijenkorf
  • 3 De Passage
  • 4 Spuistraat
  • 5 Westfield Mall of the Netherlands
  • 6 Denneweg
  • 7 Noordeinde
  • 8 Prinsestraat
  • 9 Haagsche Bluf
  • 10 Grote Marktstraat
  • 11 Frederik Hendriklaan
  • 12 Bartine Bakery & Market
🎈Events
  • Tong Tong Fair
  • North Sea Regatta
  • The Hague International Model United Nations
  • Vlaggetjesdag (Flag Day)
  • Jazz in de Gracht
  • Parkpop
  • The Hague Cultural Night
  • Prinsjesdag (Prince's Day)
  • The Hague International Fireworks Festival
  • Winter Wonderland
  • The Hague Jazz Festival
  • Flag Day (Vlaggetjesdag)
  • Parkpop Music Festival
  • Prinsjesdag (Prince’s Day)
  • Scheveningen International Fireworks Festival
  • Crossing Border Festival
  • International Film Festival
  • Kite Festival
  • Christmas Market at Lange Voorhout

Knowledge before you go

  • Bring a windproof jacket; the sea breeze surprises visitors.
  • Use trams to move quickly between centre and Scheveningen beach; tickets are easy to tap-pay.
  • Book popular museums ahead, especially Mauritshuis and pair it with a Binnenhof-area walk nearby.
  • For local flavour, browse De Haagse Markt midweek; it’s huge, multicultural and great for cheap eats.

How to travel to The Hague

The Hague is well connected by train – just 30 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam. There are two main stations: Den Haag Centraal and Hollands Spoor. International trains and buses also serve the city. Rotterdam The Hague Airport is the nearest for flights, but Schiphol is the main international gateway.

Access summary

  • From Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS): Direct trains to Den Haag Centraal, about 30–40 minutes.
  • From Rotterdam: Train or metro line E to The Hague, roughly 25–35 minutes.
  • From Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM): Bus 33 plus metro E, around 40–60 minutes.

Where to stay in The Hague

You’ll find everything from grand hotels and boutique stays in the city center to beach resorts in Scheveningen. For a local vibe, try a guesthouse in the Zeeheldenkwartier or a modern hotel near the station. Book ahead in summer or during major festivals.

How to get around The Hague

The Hague is easy to explore by foot, bike or public transport. Trams and buses connect the city center with the beach, museums and neighborhoods. OV-chipkaart is used for all public transport. Cycling is popular and safe, with dedicated bike lanes everywhere. Parking is expensive – use public transport or park-and-ride lots if driving.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+23 %
Daily expenses in The Hague are around 23% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably more on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %
Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

Backpacker Mid-range Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation
£69
£159
£447
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person
£23
£60
£150
🍝 Food per day
£34
£84
£244
🚕 Transportation per day
£12
£14
£53
Food & Drink
🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person
£36
🍛 Lunch Set, per person
£16
🍟 Fast food combo
£11
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day
£11.50
☕ Cappuccino
£3.50
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l
£5.50
Transportation
🚌 Public transport ticket
£3
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi
£31
⛽ Petrol, 1 l
£1.80
Other
🎞️ Cinema ticket
£13
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult
£30
🤧 Cold medication
£6
💇 Basic haircut
£19

Safety information overview

General safety
8
The Hague is generally safe, but pickpocketing can occur in busy areas and on public transport. Stick to well-lit streets at night and keep valuables secure, especially around nightlife spots and the central station.
Health & Medical
9
Excellent healthcare is available, with clinics and pharmacies throughout the city. Emergency care is reliable. Bring any personal medication, as some pharmacies close early on weekends.
Accessi­bility
8
Most attractions, shops and public transport are accessible, but some historic buildings have steps or cobblestones. Trams and buses are wheelchair-friendly and the city is generally flat and easy to navigate.
Tap water
9
Tap water is safe and of high quality. Public fountains are available in parks and at the beach. Carry a reusable bottle to stay hydrated while exploring.

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