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Voykit pocket guide · Netherlands
The Hague
Den Haag
Give The Hague 2 nights: Mauritshuis and the Binnenhof on day one, Scheveningen beach or Madurodam on day two. Skip it only if you have 3 days total.
The Hague is the Dutch seat of government and the judicial capital, with the Mauritshuis, the Binnenhof and 11 km of North Sea coast at Scheveningen inside the same tram network. It is calmer and more spread out than Amsterdam, and pairs naturally with Delft or Rotterdam on the same rail line.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Local name
- Den Haag
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (wind, rain, short days)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards dominate; some shops and cafés are card-only and a few supermarkets accept debit cards but not all credit cards, so carry both.
- Daily spend
- Budget €55–85 excl. bed · Mid €90–150 excl. bed · High €160+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- KPN, Vodafone and Odido run the networks; Lebara and Lyca sell cheap prepaid SIMs in supermarkets and at Schiphol.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard continental two-pin; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: 5–10% for good service; tell the server the total when paying by card.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Not expected.
- Water
- Tap water is among the best in Europe; restaurants may charge for it, so ask.
- Toilets
- Stations charge about €0.70–1; cafés expect you to buy something; free urinals (and a few public toilets) in city centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2.50–4 |
| Lunch, sandwich or soup | €8–15 |
| Indonesian rice table (rijsttafel), per person | €25–40 |
| Beer: draught in a café / supermarket can | €4–6 / €1–2 |
| HTM 2-hour ticket / day card | €4.00 / €7.10 |
| Museum entry (Mauritshuis, Madurodam) | €15–25 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €8–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RTM · Rotterdam The Hague Airport
- Closest airport; metro line E to Meijersplein, then bus 33 to the terminal.
- AMS · Amsterdam Schiphol
- Direct trains to Den Haag Centraal in about 30 min and to Hollands Spoor; hourly night train to Hollands Spoor.
Typical fares
- Schiphol → Den Haag Centraal, train
- about €12, about 30 min
- Tram 9 Centraal → Scheveningen
- 2-hour ticket €4.00, about 20–25 min
- Taxi Centraal → city centre
- €10–15
Get around
HTM runs trams, buses and RandstadRail light rail across the city; service is roughly 06:00–00:00 (from 07:00 Sat, 08:00 Sun). Tram 9 links Centraal, Madurodam and Scheveningen. The centre is compact and walkable — Centraal to the Binnenhof is about a 10-min walk. Buy a 2-hour ticket from the driver or a day card from HTM service points; check in and out with a bank card or OV-chipkaart.HTM runs trams, buses and RandstadRail light rail across the city; service is roughly 6:00 AM–12:00 AM (from 7:00 AM Sat, 8:00 AM Sun). Tram 9 links Centraal, Madurodam and Scheveningen. The centre is compact and walkable — Centraal to the Binnenhof is about a 10-min walk. Buy a 2-hour ticket from the driver or a day card from HTM service points; check in and out with a bank card or OV-chipkaart.
See and do
Known for
- Mauritshuis and Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring
- Binnenhof and Hofvijver
- International Court of Justice and the Peace Palace
- Scheveningen beach
- Madurodam
- Indonesian restaurants
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Delft | Intercity from Den Haag Centraal or Hollands Spoor, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Rotterdam | Intercity from Centraal or Hollands Spoor, about 25 min; metro line E also runs between the cities | About 40 min |
| Scheveningen | Tram 9 from Den Haag Centraal, about 20–25 min | About 30 min |
| Zoetermeer | RandstadRail from Centraal, about 20–25 min | About 35 min |
| Schiedam | Intercity to Schiedam Centrum, about 30 min, then walk | About 45 min |
| Vlaardingen | Intercity to Vlaardingen Centrum, about 35 min | About 50 min |
Sleep
- City centre (Binnenhof, Spui, Grote Markt)
- Walk to the Mauritshuis, Binnenhof and shopping streets; tram 9 to Scheveningen from nearby. Best for a first visit.
- Around Den Haag Centraal
- Trains, trams and buses under one roof; 5–10 min walk to the centre. Best for one night with bags or a rail-based trip.
- Statenkwartier / World Forum
- Quiet, near the Peace Palace and museums; tram 1 or 16 to the centre and Scheveningen.
- Scheveningen
- Beach, pier and promenade on the doorstep; 20–25 min by tram 9 from Centraal. Best in summer, quieter and windier off-season.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HalloHAH-loh |
| Thank you | Dank je weldahnk yuh vel |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpar-DON |
| Do you speak English? | Spreekt u Engels?spraykt ew ENG-uls |
| How much is it? | Hoeveel kost het?hoo-VAYL kost ut |
| Can I pay by card? | Kan ik met kaart betalen?kan ik met kart buh-TAH-lun |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Hugging new acquaintances
- Directness: Say what you mean; expect honest, blunt answers; avoid: Taking bluntness as rudeness
- Punctuality: Be on time; diaries plan weeks ahead; avoid: Dropping in unannounced
- Money: Split bills; pay your share; avoid: Showing off wealth
- Homes: Bring flowers or a small gift; congratulate everyone at a birthday; avoid: Expecting dinner if invited for coffee
Scams and watch-outs
- Riding without a valid ticket costs €50 plus the fare; inspectors board at random in plain clothes.
- Hot summer days send heavy traffic to Scheveningen — jams of up to 50 km have been reported; take tram 9 instead of driving.
- Hollands Spoor station sits in a less pleasant area at night; use Centraal unless you need the Antwerp/Brussels trains.
- Coastal weather changes fast: wind and rain arrive with little warning even in summer.
One of the safer Dutch cities; the real risks are pickpockets around Centraal and Grote Marktstraat, bikes on tram tracks, and the Hollands Spoor area after dark. 112 for emergencies, 0900-8844 for non-urgent police.
One and two days
No timed day plan for The Hague yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mauritshuis and Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring
- Binnenhof and Hofvijver
- International Court of Justice and the Peace Palace
- Scheveningen beach
- Madurodam
- Indonesian restaurants
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Den Haag official tourism site: denhaag.com/en
- Municipality of The Hague: www.denhaag.nl/
- HTM — public transport in The Hague: www.htm.nl/en/
- Wikivoyage: The Hague, revision 5309684 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5309684
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
The HagueDen Haag
Naar dit adres, alstublieft
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance112
The US Embassy is in The Hague; most other countries keep embassies here or in Amsterdam.
Tipping is optional: round up or add 5–10% for good service.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/the-hague). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.