The Hague, the Netherlands | City guide for expats
The city of The Hague, or Den Haag to the Dutch, is a high-brow, international city, perfect for boutique shopping, a day at the beach or some fine dining. Find out more about what there is to see and do in The Hague, as well as how it came to be such an important city both in the Netherlands and worldwide.
The Hague city guide
The Hague is the administrative centre of the Netherlands, with not only national institutions such as the Dutch parliament and monarchy residing here, but also numerous international organisations, including Europol, the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. In fact, many countries around the world simply refer to the International Criminal Court as “The Hague”, which feels a little unfair to the rest of the city.
With so many international organisations, not to mention the lion’s share of embassies and consulates, The Hague is home to people from all over the world, and has a dining scene and cultural calendar to match.
The history of The Hague
While The Hague has evidence of earlier settlement, it truly became The Hague in 1248, when William II, Count of Holland and Zeeland, was elected King of the Romans. He immediately came to The Hague and built the Binnenhof, which is still where the Dutch government is seated today.
Seat of power
In 1358, the Binnenhof became the primary residence of the Counts of Holland, and thus an important local base. In 1432, it became home to the first Stadholder of the States of Holland and West Friesland, expanding the area that it controlled.
During the Eighty Years’ War, the Spanish occupied The Hague, and the government of the States of Holland temporarily moved to Delft. Following several Dutch victories over the Spanish, The Hague was made the permanent seat of the government of the Dutch Republic in 1588.
Scandalous scenes
In 1672, Johann de Witt was the Grand Pensionary of Holland. While, in theory, this only meant he was the leader of one of the Dutch provinces, in practice, whoever controlled Holland controlled the country. He had been in charge for 20 years, but faced vocal opposition from those who wanted the House of Orange to be in charge.
When the French invaded, Johann de Witt resigned, but this wasn’t enough to placate his enemies. His brother was arrested on flimsy charges and held in prison and tortured, before being exiled from the Netherlands.
Johann went to meet him in prison to help him on his journey, but an angry mob seized the brothers and killed them both. According to some accounts, the crowd was so worked up that the men were stripped, mutilated and even had their livers eaten right there in the street; not what you would expect from the even-tempered Dutch of today.
Why The Hague isn’t the capital city of the Netherlands
After the Netherlands regained its independence from France in 1813, it became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, which incorporated modern-day Belgium. This was an uneasy compromise of a country, put in place to be a buffer against potential French invasions.
In order to keep both the Belgians and the Dutch happy, the capital city moved every two years between Brussels and Amsterdam. Holland was still the most prosperous part of the Dutch territory, and Amsterdam was the capital of that region, so it became the de facto Dutch capital. However, all the apparatus of government remained in The Hague.
Following Belgium's secession from the Kingdom in 1830, Amsterdam became the official capital city of the Netherlands.
The Hague during WWII
The Hague was badly affected by WWII, both from the Nazi occupation and Allied bombing raids. The city is situated on the north-west coast of the Netherlands, and as a result, the Atlantic Wall defence system that the Nazis built ran right through the town, razing whole districts to the ground.
One neighbourhood, Bezuidenhout, was accidentally bombed by the Allies, who were aiming for a V-2 installation 500 metres away. The bombing was extensive, with over 500 civilian deaths, and the area lay in ruins right through until the 1960s. It’s now the site of The Hague Central train station and its surroundings.
These days, The Hague is an exciting and multicultural city, a place where futuristic glass skyscrapers sit alongside historic buildings. It’s undoubtedly the international centre of the Netherlands, and has managed to retain its history and traditions while remaining unashamedly modern.
Groups and clubs in The Hague
People living in The Hague love nothing more than a meet-up. There are dozens of groups and clubs, catering to every hobby and demographic. From art and language cafes to football and athletics, you’ll find the perfect place to meet people and make friends at these groups and clubs in The Hague.
Jobs in The Hague
Being the governmental seat of the Netherlands has influenced the other organisations that have found a home in The Hague. If you want to work with the global community, you’ll find plenty of international NGOs and intergovernmental organisations located in The Hague, such as Oxfam, EUROPOL, NATO, UNICEF Netherlands, the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. Find your perfect role on The Hague job board.
Housing in The Hague
From the kinds of houses you see in fancy magazines to student flats, and from leafy streets near the beach to buzzing streets that foodies dream of, The Hague has somewhere for everyone. Take a moment to discover your ideal home on the housing listings for The Hague.
Sights and activities
The Hague has much to offer its visitors, whether you want an adventurous outdoorsy-day in the woods or at the beach, or a relaxing stroll around the shops and a pleasant lunch. Here’s a shortlist of the top things to see and do in The Hague.
Museums and galleries
The star of all the museums and galleries in The Hague is undoubtedly the Mauritshuis. People come from across the world just to visit this gallery, located in a historic building and packed to the rafters with masterpieces. Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring is the most famous piece on display, but you can find works by Rembrandt, Rubens and Frans Hals here as well.
Other art galleries in The Hague include Escher in the Palace, dedicated to the mathematically tricksy world of Dutch artist M.C. Escher; the Kunstmuseum, which is housed in a fabulous Art Deco building that is worth a visit in itself; and the beachside Museum Beelden aan Zee, which has ever-changing indoor and outdoor displays of sculptures.
If you want to find out more about the criminal past of the Netherlands, take a trip to the Prison Gate Museum. This is the very building in which the unfortunate Cornelius de Witt was imprisoned before his death at the hands of the mob on the streets just metres from the prison door.
Just a short distance from the city centre, you’ll find the unique Louwman Museum. Started back in 1934 by a forward-thinking family who could already see how the motor car was going to change society, the museum now houses over 275 examples of automobiles, tracing the evolution of cars from their very beginnings.
Go to the beach
The seaside district of Scheveningen may feel like a world away from The Hague’s city centre, but, in reality, it’s just a short tram ride away. The vibe is classic seaside fare - an aquarium, arcade machines, a stroll along the pier, fighting seagulls for your chips - but the area itself doesn’t feel dated at all. The sandy beach is inviting, and swimming is possible, although always chilly, even in the height of summer. That doesn’t stop the Dutch, though, even on New Year’s Day!
See the whole of the Netherlands
One of the most unique attractions in The Hague is Madurodam, a model village where you can visit all the best bits of the Netherlands in an hour, although you can easily spend far more time there too. While diminutive in scale, the models are big enough that you can roam the streets and enjoy peering in the windows or watching the planes taxiing around Schiphol Airport.
There are also plenty of opportunities for the kids to get involved in typical Dutch jobs and pastimes, such as weighing cheese or guarding the dykes. Go and see if your house is included!
Dress snappily and eat well
The shopping opportunities in The Hague are excellent. Browse the books and art for sale in the elegant, Parisian-inspired indoor shopping arcade De Passage, or enjoy the sunshine as you explore the boutique clothing shops of Noordeinde. With so many diplomats, government officials and ambassadors in town, you know the tailoring is going to be good!
In the evening, take advantage of the wide range of nationalities that live in The Hague to eat some delicious international cuisine. From rich French food to authentic Afghan dishes and spicy Filipino meals, it’s all available in The Hague.
Annual events
There are many events in The Hague every year, from music festivals to the Prince’s Day Parade. Here are some of the highlights.
Embassy Day
The embassies in The Hague are here to fulfil an important diplomatic and administrative function, but they also act as promoters and champions of their disparate homelands. At Embassy Day, dozens of stalls are organised with the local diasporas to showcase food, clothing, music and dancing from all over the world. It’s completely free to wander around the stalls, but you won’t be able to resist purchasing some of the unusual and delicious food on offer!
Prince’s Day
In most places, the opening of Parliament (Prinsjesdag) isn’t a reason for a party, but The Hague is different. The core of the event is the Prince’s Day ride of the King in his glass coach, where people line the streets to catch a glimpse as he passes, on his way to make a balcony speech to the public.
For those who need more than the sight of their King to have a good time, Prince’s Festival is a series of events and parties that typically take place in the week before Prince’s Day, and get the whole of The Hague in a festive spirit.
Flag Day
Another extremely Dutch event that you can attend every June in The Hague is Flag Day. This is the day that the first catch of the new herring is brought back from sea, and people gather at the harbour to celebrate the return of the boats. There are craft stalls, live music and, of course, lots and lots of herring to be eaten!
Red Bull Steel Horse
If you’ve ever wanted to see grown adults throwing themselves down a steep ramp in a home-made vehicle, come to The Hague for the Red Bull Steel Horse event. A narrow course is set up, over a stretch of water, and teams take turns to try to ride their home-made vehicles along the course and ring a bell at the end.
The vehicles generally take the form of adapted bicycles, and, in addition to prizes for reaching the end of the course, there are additional winnings for the best costumes and the best team theme. It’s free to watch, but the best seats go fast, so get there early to nab a prime spot.
International city
With beaches, forests, shopping and museums, The Hague makes an excellent place for the whole family to visit. Its diverse population has helped create a multi-faceted and exciting city, with something new around every corner.