The Hague has a House of Hats and it’s a joy to visit. Located on the Papestraat for just over a year, it’s a definite eye-catcher. Upon entering, you have an instant overview of the hats on display and this combined with the wooden floor, Persian carpet, background music and Pedro the shop dog, feels instantly welcoming. Owner and milliner Susan Dekker has combined her previous retail experience, extensive network in the millinery world and her own hat-making skills to create a shop which is unique and charming.

Brands on offer are: Stetson, Mayser, Borsalino & Panama but also newer brands like Re-Hats from Berlin that make caps from repurposed materials. At the back of the shop is a small, well organised workplace where Susan makes custom designs or repairs. Regular customers pop by to see what’s new or put in a request or just to see how Pedro is doing. Susan is always happy to help new customers interested in trying out a hat. I don’t own any hats except for the knitted kind but the wonderful thing about House of Hats is that you don’t feel obliged to buy. I’ve learnt all about hat Sun Protection Factor and how the shop gets busier in the run up to Prinsjesdag in September. It’s also fun to try a hat and Susan makes an effort to have a range of hats on offer for different budgets. Some people though really have a head for hats, have a look here.