Overview
The Hague (Den Haag) is where power and art converge — the seat of the Dutch government, home to the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, and guardian of some of the world s greatest paintings. The Mauritshuis museum houses Vermeer s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt s Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp in an intimate Golden Age palace. The city blends political gravitas with sandy beach vibes at Scheveningen, elegant shopping on the Noordeinde, and a cosmopolitan dining scene fueled by its international community. The euro is the currency.
Daily Budget Breakdown
Budget travelers ($70/day): Stay in hostels or budget hotels, eat Indonesian food (The Hague has the best in the Netherlands) and market fare, ride the efficient tram system, and enjoy free attractions like the Binnenhof, Peace Palace exterior, and Scheveningen beach.
Mid-range travelers ($170/day): Book a hotel near the center, visit the Mauritshuis and Escher Museum, dine at The Hague s excellent restaurants, take the tram to Scheveningen beach, and explore the Noordeinde royal palace neighborhood.
Luxury travelers ($420+/day): Stay at Hotel Des Indes, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, book a private art tour of the Mauritshuis, and enjoy the Kurhaus spa hotel at Scheveningen.
Where to Save
The Binnenhof (Dutch parliament complex) and its surrounding Hofvijver lake are free and stunning. The Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice, is free to admire from outside. Scheveningen beach is free and accessible by tram. Indonesian food — rijsttafel, nasi goreng, satay — is The Hague s specialty and remarkably affordable. The Haagse Markt is one of the largest outdoor markets in Europe. Trams cover the entire city efficiently. The Escher Museum offers a unique art experience at a moderate entry price.
Where to Splurge
The Mauritshuis is one of the most perfect small museums in the world — every painting is a masterpiece, and standing face to face with Vermeer s Girl with a Pearl Earring is an intimate experience impossible in larger museums. The Panorama Mesdag, a massive 360-degree painting of Scheveningen in 1881, is a unique optical illusion worth experiencing. The Kurhaus hotel at Scheveningen offers grand Belle Epoque dining and cocktails overlooking the North Sea. Madurodam, a miniature park of the entire Netherlands, is charming and informative. A seafood dinner at a Scheveningen harbor restaurant, watching fishing boats return with the day s catch, captures the Dutch coast perfectly.
