Emma’s Hof — stadstuin voor vrijwilligers, meaning “city garden for volunteers”— is a true slice of heaven. You might have been to a city garden before, but this one is special. You’d miss it if you didn’t know it’s there and, actually, I walked and cycled past it myself at least a dozen times before being told about it. Located in the beautiful Regentessekwartier of The Hague, Emma’s Hof was an old, empty building until the locals of the area came up with the idea of making use of the space. It took them about 5 years to realize their dream: a garden and recuperation area for the neighborhood instead of an unused building. They had to collect donations, find an architect, and finally opened their garden in 2011.
Emma’s Hof has a free library, a playground for kids, lots of benches and sunchairs, an abundance of flowers and herbs, and more and more birds who’ll provide ambient background music. Maintained solely by volunteers, the garden has flourished and is a true hidden gem in the area. You can organize your birthday party there, stroll through during your shopping routine or simply come to enjoy a 10-minute break time in meditative surroundings. The opening hours vary according to the season of the year: make sure to check out their website.
Find your way with 117 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Café Blossom is a lovely spot for breakfast, coffee and lunch. They offer interesting menu items for breakfast and lunch, like açaí bowls and pancakes.
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Their lunch menu includes nice basics with a special touch of something unexpected, for example, creamy eggs with caramelized radicchio.
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Oma Toos, overlooking the picturesque harbour, gives you a delicious taste of Dutch cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere without paying “tourist prices”.
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I think it certainly makes for a cute and spontaneous photo opportunity.
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"Clingendael Bos" in The Hague is one of several large forests in the city. This one has bunkers left over from WWII where I love playing with my kids!
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"Museum Rijswijk" in The Hague is a fine example of what makes Dutch museum often so worthwhile: it's a commitment to the local...
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"Spellenhuis Den Haag" is what I wish had existed when I was a kid: a games shop with a full slate of daily activities where you can play for hours on end!
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"O'Casey's Irish Pub" in The Hague brings together nations in a way that everyone feels at home. There's an intimate feeling I can't find elsewhere!
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"1646" in The Hague is a project space where you can view, and often participate in, art that runs towards the intellectual and the avant-garde...
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"Skatepark De Kuil" in The Hague is not just a playground for all ages and yes, a cool skatepark - it's an essential component of a vibrant community!
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"Clingendael Pet Cemetery" in The Hague has about a dozen headstones that mark the lives and deaths of pooches from the turn of the 20th century...
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