Den Haag
The Hague is the Dutch seat of government and a city of museums on the North Sea. Go for Vermeer in the morning and the sand in the afternoon.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
The Hague, known in Dutch as Den Haag, is a city in South Holland on the west coast of the Netherlands. It is the seat of the Dutch government and parliament, although Amsterdam is the capital. The medieval Binnenhof, the parliament complex, sits in the city centre. Visitors come for the Mauritshuis, which holds Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, and for the Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice.
Scheveningen, the seaside district, has a long sandy beach on the North Sea, with a pier and a promenade. A trip here often pairs museum mornings with beach afternoons. Late spring to early autumn suits the beach best, while the museums work in cooler or wetter weather. Trains link The Hague with Rotterdam, about 20 minutes away, and Amsterdam, about an hour, so it fits easily into a wider Dutch route.
Den Haag in five
- Book the Peace Palace as a guided tourThe grounds can only be visited with a guided tour: inside, outside or the garden. Tour tickets go on sale on the palace website about two weeks ahead, so build the day around a slot.
- Check the Mauritshuis hours and loan listOpen every day: Monday 13:00 to 18:00, Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00. The museum recommends buying a time slot online. Vermeer's works go on loan, so check before you plan around one.
- Plan Mondays around closed museumsEscher in Het Paleis and Panorama Mesdag are open Tuesday to Sunday only. On a Monday, spend the afternoon at the Mauritshuis, then walk the Noordeinde palace street or go to the beach.
- Choose a base before you bookCentrum suits museum days, Scheveningen the beach and Statenkwartier quiet streets. The stay guide compares four bases, including the station districts for early trains.Where to stay in The Hague
- Check the Binnenhof renovation pageDenHaag.com says the Binnenhof renovation is in full swing and that you can walk or cycle through the complex. Its renovation information center page shows what is open.
Things to do in Den Haag
See all attractions in Den Haag
Need to know
- Airport
- Schiphol (AMS); Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) for some short-haul flights
- Getting there
- NS trains from Amsterdam, Schiphol, Delft and Rotterdam to Den Haag Centraal
- Getting around
- Tram and bus with a contactless card; walk the center, cycle to the coast
- Best base
- Centrum for the museums, Scheveningen for the sea
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with Delft or a full beach day
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh7°Low4°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°ColdFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Cool, brightMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, bright
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Spring, King's DayAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, King's Day
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, beach opensMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, beach opens
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, busy beachJulyRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy beach
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Warm, busy beachAugustRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy beach
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Wet, windyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Wet, windyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Dark, short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, short days
Average daily high and low in The Hague, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Den Haag
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 85%
- Wind
- 18 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
Den Haag
01:53 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today11°6°2%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed10°5°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°2°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat7°1°7%Saturday: Fog. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sun11°5°12%Sunday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 12%.
Updated 01:50 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Delfta short train or tram rideCanals, Delft Blue and the Vermeer Centre in a small old town.Read the guide
- Leidena short train rideA university town of canals and museums, easy to pair with the coast.Read the guide
- Rotterdama short train rideModern architecture and a working harbor, the opposite of the palace quarter.Read the guide
Before you go to Den Haag
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Den Haag, checked
- Peace Palace: the grounds can only be visited with a guided tour; tour tickets go on sale about two weeks ahead on the palace website.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
- Mauritshuis: Girl with a Pearl Earring returns from loan on 5 October 2026; View of Delft is in Madrid until 10 January 2027.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
- Escher in Het Paleis: open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00; the cash register closes at 16:30. Lange Voorhout 74.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
- Museum Panorama Mesdag: open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00. Tickets are sold through its online ticket shop.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Plan around Den Haag
Den Haag FAQ
Is The Hague worth visiting?
Yes, if you want museums, a government quarter and a city beach in one place. It has fewer crowds than Amsterdam, and the Mauritshuis and Escher in Het Paleis are reasons to come on their own.
How many days do you need in The Hague?
Two days cover the Mauritshuis, the Binnenhof area, one more museum and an afternoon at Scheveningen. Add a third day for Delft or a full beach day in summer.
Is The Hague the same as Den Haag?
Yes. Den Haag is the Dutch name and The Hague the English one. The city is the seat of the Dutch government, while Amsterdam is the capital.
Can you visit the Peace Palace without a tour?
No for the grounds. The palace website states they can only be visited with a guided tour, and tour tickets appear about two weeks ahead. It also runs a visitors centre with audio tours.
Should you stay in The Hague or Amsterdam?
Stay in The Hague if museums, sea and calm evenings matter and Amsterdam is one day out. Stay in Amsterdam if it is the main event. The two cities are linked by frequent NS trains.