Welcome to the city where every day is King’s Day. Dive into the many local festivals at the City by the Sea, sample great local delicacies of The Hague, the nearby greenhouses and cheese farms and gaze at royal palaces and typical Dutch icons. Go celebrate The Hague area water, windmills and local food.
Activities in The Hague
Green City by the Sea
The Hague is dubbed as green City by the Sea. There is a direct cycling route from the historical city centre to beach resort Scheveningen. The bike ride to the North Sea takes about 20 minutes. The Hague has a dazzling 11 kilometres of beach. At The Hague beach you can join different water sport workshops: from sailing lessons with your team to family surf classes.
Greenhouses near The Hague
From Scheveningen follow the coastline south and you’ll get into the Westland. This area is also called the Glass City: the centre of greenhouse horticulture. It has over 2.000 hectares of glassed houses and the biggest expertise in horticulture in the Netherlands. For centuries locals grow fruit and vegetables here. The greenhouse area becomes one big open air market in spring and summer. Growers place stalls full of fresh fruit and vegetables outside their greenhouses. In winter and autumn the flower auction and the many flower farms offer a warm place for new discoveries.
Royal estates The Hague region
Follow the shore in the other direction – north- and you’ll spot the residence of the Dutch King and his family. Thanks to the strong link with the royal family you can find many palaces, castles and estates in this part of The Hague area. Many of the castles date from the Golden Age, are in the middle of the countryside and connected by parks, forest and dunes. Cycling paths run through these nature areas, making it an relaxing way to get used to cycling in the Netherlands and explore The Hague area by bike.
The beating heart of the City of Peace and Justice
In the 13th century a count fell in love with The Hague area and its surrounding forest. He built a beautiful castle which now is the Knight’s Hall and part of the Houses of Parliament. It’s the main scene for the opening of the Budget Year: Prince’s Day.
The political heart of the Netherlands has expanded. Ministeries and embassies are all around. Follow the embassies and they will lead to the Peace Palace: symbol of The Hague as the international City of Peace and Justice.
The Hague windmills
When the count arrived in The Hague area in the Middle Ages it was all woods, sand and marshland. Like in many other parts in the Netherlands, The Hague locals used windmills to drain the water from the land. Land that would become the Dutch polder. In the Golden Age there were 10 windmills in The Hague. Not all of them used as polder windmill. Some were used for the industry, like the industrial mills you see in Zaanse Schans. Many of the saw mills, flour mills and polder mills have been destroyed, only few survived. A visit to one of the surviving windmills is like a journey back in time. A fabulous experience!
The Golden Age in The Hague region
Each city there are a good amount of activities in The Hague and surroundings. The historical city makes a great base for daytrips to Delft, Leiden and Amsterdam. The Dutch city centres are compact and full of monuments and museums.
Like in the 17th century, take the boat to get from The Hague to Vermeer’s city for a real View on Delft. Join a Delft blue painting workshop in an authentic Delftware factory and find out what happened to Carel Fabritius, painter of the Goldfinch.
Taste The Hague food
Stroopwafels and bitterballen are typical Dutch food. Typical Hague food is herring. Every year in June the beach town Scheveningen, district of The Hague, celebrates the first catch of the new herring. A local festival full of Hague/ Dutch tradition and fantastic food. Herring is not the only typical local Hague food. There is a great choice for sweet tooth as well as those in for a savory bite. Made with local love and/ or local products. Wander through the cosy streets of The Hague and you’ll find these delicacies for sure. Looking for fresh farmers cheese? Head towards Delft or Leiden!
The Hague area Water, windmill and local food tours
Verita’s Visit team events & group activities in the Hague area are creative and interactive:
- find fantastic local places to have a drink or a bite
- challenge yourself during a traditional festival at City of Peace, City by the Sea
- meet the local miller or cheese farmer
- Tour the greenhouse horticulture
- Feel like a king and stay in a castle
- Experience the Golden Age and paint Delft blue
- Taste regional and local delicacies
The Hague area group activities take place all year through.
Contact me for a custom- made program at veritasvisit (@) gmail .com or via the contact form and check all other options in Delft, Leiden, Gouda or Keukenhof area.