If you think about canals, The Hague is probably not the first Dutch city that springs to mind. We do have some beautiful ones though! A few years ago the city decided to revive the canals that remain. Since then, dams have been replaced by bridges, touring companies have sprung up and more and more of my friends have bought their own small boats. Even I bought one, but it was so tiny it just kept sinking when we had a week of heavy rain. Fortunately for me, someone had the bright idea to start a canoe rental, just a short bike ride from my house. On a nice summer evening, I can think of few better things than taking out a canoe or kayak and paddling the canals.

There are several good routes you can take while boating in The Hague. You can even reach Scheveningen, close to the beach. For me, a tour around the city center is usually enough. It will take you about an hour and a half. On your way you’ll pass lots of nice cafés and other stops. My kids particularly like the ice cream shop on the Veenkade, where you can moor your boat and order a cone.