Depending on where you are from you might have come across little, free libraries before. Little boxes or shelves where people leave their old books for others to use behind and pick up new ones. I have come across them in various cities, but never have I seen such an abundance of them in a city nor each single one of them in such a neat and clean condition. The locals call them Minibieb, and unsurprisingly almost all of them in The Hague have little doors or glass covers to protect the books from rain and wind. For obvious reasons most of the books in The Hague’s Minibiebs are in Dutch, but there is one Minibieb located in the city centre which often has an abundance of English language books. The last time I checked, at least half of the books were in English, and they even had CDs and DVDs. Minibiebsdon’t have opening hours and are always available for you. Some of them come up on Google Maps but it is handy to know that there is also a website, making it easier to search for the closest Minibieb near you.
If you want to use the Minibieb the rules are clear: keep it dry, clean and neat, only leave books that are in a good condition behind and if you’re taking something with you, just make sure you don’t empty the whole Minibieb.
Find your way with 117 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
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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"Het Balihuisje" is The Hague's attempt to keep up with the 21st-century version of urban chic. It aspires to be a hub of creativity as well as a cafe!
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This is The Hague's Holocaust Memorial - the way it's set up, once cannot avoid seeing it. History must be remembered or it will be repeated...
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