colour etching of a street in The Hague.
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A portrait of The Hague

7 sights to see when visiting The Hague

What are the sights in The Hague that you should definitely see?

by
Wiebe de Jager (opens in new window)

There is a famous Dutch song by Harry Jekkers, called Oh Oh Den Haag. Its chorus translates to 'Oh Oh The Hague, beautiful city, behind the dunes'. And indeed, Den Haag, as the Dutch say it (with a ‘g’ that is unpronounceable ‘g’ for many foreigners) is a nice city to live and work in. And we should know - it's where the offices of Europeana Foundation are located!

The Hague is well-known as the seat of the Dutch government, and also has a long history and many beautiful museums. The city was home to writers such as Louis Couperus and Spinoza, and painters including Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Vincent van Gogh.

In this blog, we’ll give you a short introduction to The Hague, the capital city of the province of South Holland.

The heart of Dutch politics

As of today, the Dutch Parliament convenes near the historical Binnenhof, most of which was built in the 13th century.

This complex of buildings has been at the centre of Dutch politics for centuries. The whole city of The Hague grew up around the Binnenhof, with workers and administrators settling nearby over the centuries.

colour photograph of cobblestoned courtyard, with a building with two steeples in the background.

The biggest painting in the Netherlands

While visiting The Hague, be sure to go to the Panorama Mesdag, which gives you a view of the seaside (the town of Scheveningen to be exact) as it was in 1881.

It is the biggest painting in The Netherlands, measuring 14 metres in height and a circumference of 120 metres.

painting of a beach landscape.

The canal for beer

Den Haag is less known for its canals than other Dutch cities. This is a shame: there is still a canal system which allows you to see much of the inner city by boat.

The Bierkade ('beer quay') is an interesting canal – this is the place where beer was brought into the city from Delft, as beer brewing was forbidden in The Hague during the 17th century.

colour photograph of a canal with buildings and boats on each side.

The seat of international law

For those interested in architecture, the Vredespaleis (The Peace Palace) is certainly worth a visit.

The building is often called the seat of international law because it houses the International Court of Justice. The building of the Peace Palace commenced in 1907, after receiving funding from Andrew Carnegie. It was officially opened in August 1913.

colour photograph of the Peace Palace building, seen from behind a bridge.

The largest Mondrian collection in the world

Another landmark building in The Hague is the Kunstmuseum Den Haag.

The building was designed by the famous architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage. It was his last big work before he died in 1934. The museum has a large collection - with Dutch old masters, modern art, fashion and musical instruments. In particular, it has a large collection of paintings and drawings by Piet Mondrian, the largest in the world.

colour photograph of a museum building behind a large pond.

The museum that's a work of art

The Mauritshuis is a world-class museum in The Hague.

It is home to world-famous artworks such as The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer and the Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius. It houses many works of art from the 17th century, known by some as the Golden Age of Dutch art, by painters such as Rembrandt, Steen and Frans Hals.

The building is a work of art in itself. It dates from the 17th century and was the residence of Count John Maurice of Nassau. It has a Dutch Classicist design, and has many symmetrical elements.

painting of a large two-storey building with two figures walking in front of it.

The protected green space

The first place many visitors to The Hague see when they enter the city is the Malieveld, a big grass-covered terrain on the edge of the Haagse Bos (the Hague forest).

In the 19th century, the area was used for horse trading. Today, it is well-known across the Netherlands as a location for festivals and demonstrations. According to a 16th century decree from the Eighty Years' War, the Malieveld cannot be built on and so remains a prominent green space in the city.

painting, a number of men stand by some horses in an open green field with trees.

Hopefully you liked this short introduction to Den Haag. If you would like to see more of the city, don’t forget to search Europeana

You'll find many historical documents, paintings and photos of the city. Oh, and if you do come, Europeana even has a free map of The Hague. Just keep in mind that it dates from 1570!