I don't have a garden, but I always think of the Palace Garden as my backyard. I go there on a sunny day, my children learned to ride their bikes there, it’s my walking route to work. To be honest, it’s not my backyard, but the king’s. His working palace, the Noordeinde, can be seen from this park. His mother was so kind to open the garden up to the public years ago.
When I came to live in The Hague, the garden was rather derelict and in bad shape. Nowadays it is buzzing with life! It’s a popular picnic spot, a great place to go with children and every Sunday morning (when the weather is nice) there’s a huge yoga class in the park.
There are lots of little stories (and rumors) about the park. In 1785, the first commercial balloon flight in the Netherlands took off from here. It’s remembered by a monument in the garden. Among the citizens of The Hague there is a persistent rumor that a secret passageway runs under the garden to evacuate the royal family, if necessary.
And my absolute favorite: there is a tiny alley in the right back corner of the garden that leads to a plain, anonymous door. Ring the bell next to the door and the guards will let you through. You’ll end up under a beautiful archway that leads you right into the city center. My secret short cut on my way to work!
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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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