One of the best known icons in The Hague's city center is Florencia, an old-fashioned Italian ice cream shop. This description is not doing it justice; Florencia is so much more. The shop and ice cream factory were founded in 1932 by Eduardo Talamini. The ‘gelateria’ started small but grew steadily. Not only the ice cream, also the Italian coffee found a loving clientele. By 1964, the shop served 6,000 cups of coffee a day and opened at 4:30 each morning! Nowadays Florencia doesn’t open until 7:30. A steady group of loyal customers still start their day with a cheap coffee here. If you want to meet some authentic locals, just visit Florencia in the early morning.
Personally, I prefer other coffee places to Florencia. But I do love their ice cream. And I love how almost everyone in The Hague has memories about Florencia. Fond childhood memories, but also more dramatic stories that people tell each other about the place. Like the story about the founder, Eduardo, who lost his life in 1964 when his tie got caught in the ice cream machine. There are so many stories about Florencia that even a play and a book were made about the place.
Nowadays, the Italian family still run the shop. One of the great grandsons even started his own ‘gelateria’: Riva, a few streets away. Conveniently, even closer to where I live…
Find your way with 119 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
After you place your order, you can watch the crepe being prepared at the counter, which is interesting to see. And the portion sizes are very generous...
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The menu includes different types of milk tea, fruit tea, matcha lattes, and coffee. They also serve seasonal drinks and croffles (a type of Korean waffle with either sweet or savory toppings).
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It is always busy at Viswinkel de Lange and as it is quite a small shop it can feel like you are like sardines in a can, which fits the theme somehow.
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When looking through the window you can see people rushing by, but inside the store it is quiet and customers take their time to browse through the books.
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The restaurant is specialized in Korean barbecue and therefore, every table has its own grill and they also offer separate dishes or all-you-can-eat.
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The views are sensational, as you are surrounded by water and the sun sets into the sea. It is quiet and there are usually some other people who are enjoying the sunset or fishing in the harbor.
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When you walk around the Park Belvedere it feels like you are in the middle of the dunes, because of the rolling landscape and the trees.
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Another of my favorite places to visit during a stroll through Scheveningen is the Meteotoren, a sensational viewpoint that offers a 360-degree view of many different sights of The Hague.
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When you enter it feels cosy and you are greeted by friendly personnel. There is an open kitchen concept, so you can see the chefs preparing meals.
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You can take a lovely stroll through the park, or go for a run and there is also a big playground for children and a large field where you can play outdoor sports, such as soccer or frisbee.
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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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119 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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