Cafe de Paas is one of several bistros and craft beer pubs along the appropriately named ‘Bierkade.’ But de Paas is my favourite! This street, which is a pleasant walk from Chinatown or Holland Spoor, is one of the oldest in The Hague. And the surrounding neighbourhood is a melting pot of ethnicities with plenty of bustle. But Cafe de Paas is an oasis of calm–or at least as much calm as one can expect from a pub with 190 bottled beer selections and another 13 beers on tap.

With an old-school interior and a large boat resting along the canal that faces the pub, patrons can choose between living the barfly life inside (you won’t be alone, trust me), or taking a table on the boat and enjoying instant waterfront dining. The food is casual, the vibe is colourful, and even during Corona Times, you can usually find seating without a reservation.

My recommendation: do your drinking and snacking on the water, but go inside the darkened bar and place your orders yourself. You’ll be a big hit with the busy waitstaff, and you’ll get to rub shoulders with a very local, and very Dutch clientele.