The Hague Travel Guide – Visit The Hague – Budget Travel In The Netherlands

Visit The Hague (Den Haag) to experience museums, galleries and even a beach. Whilst it might not have the same appeal as Amsterdam, there are easily enough attractions here to justify at least a day visit.

During more recent trips to Amsterdam, I took day trips to Delft, Leiden, Volendam and Edam. It was nice to see more of the Netherlands. It’s a beautiful country. I definitely recommend getting out of Amsterdam and seeing more of it.

How To Get To Den Hague From Amsterdam

It is easy to get to Den Haag from Amsterdam. There are direct trains that leave Central Station every 30 minutes and it takes just 51 minutes.

Where To Stay In Den Haag

These are some of the best budget hostels in Den Haag, according to user reviews. These are affiliate links to the Agoda web site. I receive a small amount for any bookings made through these links at no extra cost to you.

• Stayokay Den Haag
• Pink Flaming Boutique Hostel
• Youth Hostel The Hague
• Kingkool The Hague City Hostel
• Hostel The Golden Stork

Arriving In Den Haag

I took the train to Den Haag Central and headed towards the city centre. Immediately, the city felt much more modern than central Amsterdam.

I was heading to a museum and my route took me near the entrance of ‘Haagse Bos’ (map) which is one of the oldest remaining forests in the Netherlands. I would hve liked to explore this area further but I was pushed for time.

Escher In Het Paleis

I was excited to discover an Escher museum in Den Haag and it was my first destination upon arrival. The exhibition is located in an old winter palace of Queen Mother Emma (map).

Inside the museum are many of Escher’s artworks on display from his early work and through to his ‘impossible paintings’ that he became known for.

There were also interactive pieces that created illusions if you managed to stand in exactly the right position or hold the item in a particular way.

There were also movies which were very psychedelic and fit in perfectly with my mood.

Escher In Het Paleis Opening Times: 11 am – 5 pm, Tue – Sun.
Escher In Het Paleis Entrance Fee: 10 Euro.

Kibberling

After leaving the museum, it was time to wander the city and find some food. I came across a small snack bar called ‘Snack Vis Kiosk’ (map) that sold Dutch fish dishes at reasonable prices.

The owner asked where I was from.  When I replied that I was English, he said “England? Oh, you don’t know how to make fried fish, your batter is not right! This will be the best fish you ever had!”

This seemed quite a brave statement to say to someone from the land of fish and chips! I fully expected the food to fall short of his claims. Thankfully, he was right. I had wonderfully white cod in crispy batter and he even gave me free chips. “See you tomorrow!” he shouted as I left. Great food served by a great guy.

Madurodam

Madurodam (map) is an interactive park of miniature models showing famous Dutch buildings, landmarks and everyday life. I had read that it was great for kids so I figured it would be fun for me too. Luckily, the weather was good and I spent well over an hour in the park.

Click here for opening times and ticket information.

Den Haag Coffee Shops

I then headed to a coffee shop called ‘Coffeeshop Dizzy Duck’ (map) which was a High Life award winner. This was followed by a visit to another coffee-shop where you could also drink alcohol, ‘Cremers’ (map). Unfortunately, that was all I had time for in Den Haag

Is Den Haag Worth Visiting?

There is more than enough in Den Haag to justify a longer stay. I never even got to the beach as I simply ran out of time. I would definitely visit again for 2 or even 3 nights.

For more information, visit https://denhaag.com/en