The Hague (Netherlands) in 1 day – Travel diary

We had always wanted to see the tulips in bloom in the Netherlands, but the opportunity never arose. It was only in 2023 that we finally got motivated to come see the blooming tulips, and to optimize costs, we decided to stay in The Hague, not far from Lisse and Amsterdam.

Part 1: Travel Journal
Part 2: Practical Tips

Part 1: Travel Journal

We left Serbia very early heading to Amsterdam, then took a train to The Hague. From the plane, I was very excited to see fields as far as the eye could see, but was very worried to see that only a few were in bloom. Finally, we saw plenty.

Transport

Now we need to do: Schiphol Airport (in Amsterdam) => The Hague Central Station => our hotel

• Schiphol Airport – The Hague Central Station: While we waited for our luggage, there was a ticket machine right next to us. Buying tickets directly from the machine, we couldn’t benefit from the “off-peak” fare, whereas on the NS app, you can take advantage of it. So we advise you to buy your train tickets on the app. The journey costs €9.80 normally and €5.88 during off-peak hours. Note: The Hague is called “Den Haag” in Dutch, so if you’re looking for train tickets, enter Den Haag.
• The Hague Central Station => our hotel: it’s a 15-minute walk, but since we had suitcases, we preferred to take the tram. Impossible to buy a ticket. They told us that inside the tram, we could pay. Indeed, in the second carriage there’s always a machine, but the tickets are overpriced: €4 for 2 hours of transport. Same story even if you’re only going two stops, as in our case.

Our hotel ibis Styles Den Haag

Our hotel ibis Styles The Hague (Booking link) is in a very stylish old building (the red building in the photo). The room is spacious enough (about 25m²), and you can access common areas to work, have a coffee/tea (free machine available). There are many restaurants nearby; it’s a bit noisy on weekend evenings, but otherwise it’s very quiet. I think it’s good value for money even in high season because we paid €90/night (it costs double or even triple in Amsterdam during tulip season).

City center

We’ve all heard of The Hague in the news. It’s the only UN body not based in New York. It’s here that the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Courtare established. These two buildings are a bit outside the city center, but you can walk there. JB tells me you can attend trials at the International Criminal Court. I’m surprised there are that many dictators to put on trial all day, but it’s not the number of dictators that matters, it’s that the trials last a long time.

The Hague’s city center is very lively, with plenty of restaurants and shops. Special attention is paid to design and window displays; it’s a real feast for the eyes.

I see lots of leather bags shaped like tulips. Small and large, they’re very cute.

The Binnenhof is under renovation right now, so you can only see part of the courtyard and the exterior. This building is massive and very pretty, viewed from the other side…

With the sun, the tulips in bloom… beautiful buildings before our eyes, we feel great. Everywhere in the Netherlands there are bike lanes, so pedestrians must be careful to walk only on the sidewalk reserved for them. There are huge bicycle parking lots next to the stations, sometimes on multiple levels. Hotels offer rental bikes if you want, but I find it’s small enough to do everything on foot.

True to its role as a defender of “free thought,” the Netherlands legalizes the sale and purchase of certain substances banned elsewhere in the world. The drug and psychedelic shops are discreet but very accessible. Here you can see the “microdosing” trend (taking a very small amount of drugs daily), very popular in Silicon Valley. A microdose of magic mushroom is sold for €1.75 and, according to users, brings good humor and a flash of genius to work well. Recently, I realized that for someone who has never taken drugs, I’ve read a lot and watched many documentaries on psychedelics. It was while looking at the books sold in this drug shop that I thought: “I’ve read that, I know that, I know who he is” 😀 hahaha The more I read, the less I want to try, but at least I understand why people do it.

Mauritshuis Museum

Vermeer fans can’t just settle for the Vermeer collection in Amsterdam. Because the famous painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague. Tickets sell out quickly, so it’s best to book at least a day in advance (€19, on the official website). If there are no tickets left on the official site, you can still try GetYourGuide (link) which offers more time slots for the same day.

Mauritshuis is a very small museum that takes barely an hour to visit. The lighting is kept minimal, but the paintings are in excellent condition, and it’s home to many famous works. For example, I didn’t know that this portrait of Jane Seymour, which you see everywhere on the internet, was kept here.

I’m showing you the photos so you know what paintings you can find here, but my photos don’t do them justice; they’re much more beautiful in person.

It’s on the upper floor that you can see Girl with a Pearl Earring. There’s always a crowd in front of this painting, even though it’s small. It’s protected by a thin layer of glass, but honestly, you don’t notice it, unlike the Mona Lisa which is clearly behind glass.

In the same room, you’ll see modern interpretations of Girl with a Pearl Earring (an initiative launched by the museum). It’s very pretty and sometimes hilarious.

This humorous touch continues in the museum shop. The book “Cats Galore” is hilarious (Amazon link). It features all the famous paintings, but all the characters have been replaced with cats.

Peace Palace

You can visit the inside of the Palace a few days a year; the rest of the time, you can either visit the Visitor Center or take a little photo from behind the fence. The Peace Palace in The Hague houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, and the Hague Academy of International Law. These institutions are supported by the Peace Palace Library, one of the most prestigious libraries in its field. It is consulted by lawyers, scientists, and students from around the world. The Carnegie Foundation owns and manages the Peace Palace.

Recommended Restaurants

Well, our hotel recommended eating “international,” so we didn’t get to try Dutch specialties even once. Here are the restaurants we tested and loved, near our hotel:

Anne & Max Den Haag Kerkplein

Very nice, the menu is “brunch,” the food is simple but organic and healthy. Budget around €15/person.

Vietstreet

Very good Vietnamese restaurant for Vietnamese people. The standard dishes (for Westerners) are not very good (spring rolls, bo bun), but the dishes reserved for connoisseurs (i.e., Vietnamese) are excellent: Bun bo Hue, mango salad. Budget around €20/person

Restaurant SET

I really liked this Japanese restaurant, decorated in Japanese style. You can find “hot pot,” but also ramen, sushi, tempura. Budget around €25/person.

We really liked Falafel en Hummus (€10/person, simple but effective) and Le Café (€22/person, a French restaurant with French specialties for those who are homesick).

Having spent too much time in Asia, we are no longer used to European restaurant prices, but that’s the price now. At least €22 for a main course. And since tap water isn’t offered in the Netherlands, you’ll pay €3 just for a small bottle of water, and €7 for a large bottle. Anyway, don’t be too thirsty when you go to a restaurant here 😀

In short, in one day, you can visit all of this on foot. Just remember to book the museum in advance. It’s a very nice and quiet city. As everywhere in the Netherlands, it’s a bit expensive, so if you can book accommodation in advance, it will be more affordable. Everyone speaks perfect English, and there are English menus in most restaurants. From The Hague, we visited the famous Keukenhof Park and tulip fields (see our travel diary and our practical guide here).

Part 2: Practical Tips

Budget

• Accommodation: ibis Styles The Hague (Booking link): €10/night for two, without breakfast
• Mauritshuis Museum: €19 (booking on Getyourguide)
• Transport:
  • Schiphol Airport – The Hague Central: €9.8 normally and €5.88 during off-peak hours (weekends, and on weekdays: before 6:30 AM, and from 9 AM to 4 PM, or after 6:30 PM). Ticket to buy on the NS app
  • Tram in The Hague: €4 for a 2-hour ticket, which you can buy on the tram, usually in the second car

Enjoyed this post? Check out our other articles on the Netherlands here

Planning a trip to the Netherlands? Our partner Get Your Guide offers entry tickets and guided tours with French-speaking guides at very reasonable rates. Click here to see what they offer and book online.