When you think of Den Haag, "cars" does not immediately come to mind. Yet the Louwman Museum, located 10-15 minutes from the city centre (by bicycle--remember, we may have a car museum but we're still Dutch), houses the world's largest collection of pre-1910 automobiles, and more than a few specialty cars from the period after. While the cars that supposedly belonged to Elvis and Bond (James Bond) are interesting decorations to be sure, this is not a novelty museum: some of automobiles were the personal possessions of Winston Churchill and even a couple of Habsburg royals, while entire floors of this museum display a comprehensive history of the evolution of very concept of an automobile, from 18th-century horse drawn carriages all the way to the first (and failed) iterations of an electric car.
Just as enticing are the building and grounds itself. Sky-high ceilings, spacious interiors, and well-considered set pieces (my daughters still talk about "the swan car" admittedly a novelty, but what a novelty!) make for a pleasurable afternoon, while the grounds outside are perfect for quiet walks or biking in tree groves that let you forget about all things car, and city until you're ready to return to them both.
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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