The Hague: a first-timer's guide to the royal city and Delft

Why go

The Hague has one of the finest small art museums in the world, the Mauritshuis, where Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft hang alongside Rembrandt and Fabritius's Goldfinch. The Binnenhof, the medieval parliament complex, is under a long renovation, so check what can be seen on the ProDemos tour. The Peace Palace houses the International Court of Justice, and its visitor centre explains the city's role as an international city of peace and justice. Then you can go to the beach.

Areas to know

The **city centre** around the Binnenhof, Lange Voorhout and the Plein has museums, government buildings and café terraces. **Chinatown** and the Grote Markt have casual food and nightlife. **Zeeheldenkwartier** is a creative neighbourhood with independent shops. **Statenkwartier** has grand homes and Kunstmuseum Den Haag, which holds the world's largest Mondrian collection. **Scheveningen** is the beach resort, with a pier, a fishing harbour full of fish restaurants and beach clubs in summer. **Kijkduin** is a quieter beach to the south, backed by dunes.

What to do

See the Mauritshuis, Kunstmuseum Den Haag, Escher in the Palace and the Panorama Mesdag, a vast circular painting of Scheveningen in 1881. Walk or cycle through the dunes of Meijendel or Westduinpark. Children love Madurodam, a miniature Netherlands. In early summer, the city hosts the Parkpop festival, and the beach clubs open from spring.

Delft

Delft is the home of Vermeer and of Delft Blue pottery. Its market square sits between the New Church, where Dutch royals are buried, and the town hall, and its canals are quieter than Amsterdam's. Visit Royal Delft, the last remaining seventeenth century pottery factory, the Prinsenhof museum where William of Orange was assassinated, and the Vermeer Centrum. It is a short train or tram ride from The Hague and makes a lovely place to stay in its own right.

Food and drink

Eat fresh fish in Scheveningen harbour, Indonesian food (The Hague has deep ties to the former Dutch East Indies and hosts the Tong Tong Fair), and Surinamese and Turkish food in the Schilderswijk and around the Haagse Markt, one of Europe's largest outdoor markets.

Where to stay

For culture, stay in the city centre near the Mauritshuis, Lange Voorhout and the Plein, where grand old hotels sit beside cafés and museums. For the seaside, Scheveningen has hotels on the boulevard, including the landmark Kurhaus, and is lively in summer but quiet in winter. Delft is a charming alternative, with small hotels in historic buildings, and it is only minutes from The Hague and Rotterdam by train or tram. Business travel keeps weekday rates in The Hague higher, so weekends can be better value.

A simple first day

Begin at the Mauritshuis when it opens, then walk around the Hofvijver pond for the classic view of the Binnenhof. Have lunch at a terrace on the Plein or the Grote Markt, then visit the Panorama Mesdag or Escher in the Palace. In the late afternoon, take tram 1 to Scheveningen for a beach walk and fresh fish in the harbour. On a second day, spend the morning in Delft at Royal Delft and the market square, and the afternoon in Kunstmuseum Den Haag or walking in the dunes of Meijendel.

Practical tips

Den Haag Centraal is the main station; some intercity trains only stop at Den Haag HS, a short tram ride away. Tram 1 links Delft, the centre and Scheveningen. Tap in and out with a contactless card. See our places to visit for more picks.