I wasn't born in The Hague. When I was sixteen, I stayed in the city for three days and immediately decided that I would come to live here as an adult. For me the city had everything: big city vibes, a village feel, the beaches and the sea, and lots of parks and green areas surrounding it.
One of the best green areas of The Hague is the ‘Haagse bos’, or in English: ‘The Hague Forest’. It’s just what the name says: a large natural area not far from the city center with footpaths, cycle lanes, lakes and grassy fields and a fantastic natural playground. I always feel privileged to cycle through the woods and still be so close to the city center. The forest has a very enthusiastic forester: Jenny, my namesake! She shares her little stories about the forest on twitter (@boswachterjenny).
In the middle of the woods is a palace, Huis ten Bosch, that was built in 1645. The former queen Beatrix, mother to the present day King of The Netherlands, used to live here. The pond behind the building is where her son, King Willem-Alexander proposed to his wife Maxima while ice-skating in winter.
Nowadays, the king, his wife and three daughters live in the palace. That means you can't visit it. Still want to see the inside? On Google Street View you can visit the big ballroom, the Oranjezaal. It is particularly beautiful, with floor-to-ceiling paintings.
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All around Koningsplein are houses built in the neo-renaissance style typical for the area, beautifully maintained with their front doors in bright colors.
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For breakfast, Petit offers croissants or granola with fruit, for lunch there are two tosti options (the Dutch version of a grilled sandwich).
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Apart from its obvious significance, it's an interesting place to visit because each of the 197 countries contributed a special stone to the monument.
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Whether you enjoy your cappuccino with cow’s milk or oat milk—Tigershark’s baristas perform their magic and make it taste absolutely delicious.
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Papan serves outstanding coffee, grilled cheese toasties and breakfast burgers. It's spacious and relaxed, there's wifi and you can work on your laptop.
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The "Louwman Museum" in The Hague houses the world's largest pre-1910 automobiles, and more than a few specialty cars from the period after!
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Its a restaurant and wine bar in the modern French-Mediterranean style. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner or even just drinks.
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De Vulkaan is the highest peak of the picturesque Westduin Park, located to the west of the city and one of my favorite lookout spots in The Hague.
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Try the “Loft breakfast” between 10:00 and 11:30 for a delicious, nourishing start to the day. If you’re swinging by later, make sure to try out the “Loftini” cocktail.
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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...
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Pompernikkel is where you walk past in the mornings, spontaneously grab a coffee, devour an artisanal pastry, and bump into your neighbours.
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The place is stylish yet comfy, and the staff make you feel welcome. Most importantly, their pastries look exquisite and they make their own boterkoek!
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121 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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