Dear Wandering Spirit,
If you are looking for a very elegant Dutch city, consider spending 12 hours in The Hague (Den Haag)!
Home to the Dutch Royal Family
The Hague is the royal capital city of the Netherlands. Next to the Noordeinde Palace, one of the official premises of the Dutch royal family 🏰, The Hague hosts the International Court of Justice at the Peace Palace.
Reaching many places in the Netherlands is not difficult, as the country is relatively small, and the cities are all near. The Hague is linked to Rotterdam through a light rail system (Randstad Rail), combining into a metropolitan area of over 6.6 million people.
Dutch Historic and Artistic Heritage
You can walk around the city centre of The Hague and discover many incredible hotspots not far away from each other. The still active Parliament building, Binnenhof, is the fulcrum of cultural life, belonging to the Top 100 Dutch heritage sites.
Next to it, you will admire the Buitenhof square cafés and restaurants, the Prison Gate and the unforgettable Mauritshuis. Originally the residence of the Prince of Nassau in the 17th century, Mauritshuis is now an art museum hosting over 800 Dutch Golden Age paintings.
Some of these works are real masterpieces 🎨, like Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, and Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson. Make sure you find time to visit this museum, as it is one of the most important in the country. Take some queuing time into account, as it is usually remarkably busy.
12 Hours in The Hague (at least!)
The Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) and Saint James Church are also essential to visit when you explore The Hague. At the end of the day, pay a visit to the coast just outside the city 🏖️.
I was amazed by the vast 11 km long sandy beach, the pedestrian areas and the huge cycle paths that offer leisure time activities for visitors of all kinds. You will find two main resorts just next to The Hague: Scheveningen and Kijkduin.
Wide Beaches and Water Activities
Scheveningen, with its pier built in 1901, is the place for tourists and young people looking for fun, crowned by a visit to the Grand Hotel, Amrath Kurhaus. Yes, you will take some really good pictures here! 📸
On the other side, Kijkduin is more family-oriented and crowded with locals enjoying their free time. At both, you will find a variety of cafés and restaurants, stunning views, lovely boutiques and also several activities, like bungee-jumping, surfing, and SUP.
Will you be visiting The Hague soon? Feel free to let me know in the comments below.
Also, check out my Holland travel journal.
