Government seat, art city and North Sea resort all in one. This is where Girl with a Pearl Earring hangs alongside Rembrandt’s masterpieces, the Dutch Parliament meets in a 13th-century complex just around the corner, and the beach is only a short bike ride away. Here’s how to make the most of 48 hours in The Hague – including parking, getting around and the best places to eat:

• Day 1 – Binnenhof, Mauritshuis & Peace Palace
• Day 2 – Scheveningen & Haagse Bos
• Guided Tour of The Hague
• Travel Tips – Accommodation, Parking & Getting Around
• All Highlights at a Glance – Google My Map

Day 1 – Binnenhof, Mauritshuis & Peace Palace

9:00 AM – Brunch at Café Blossom

Start the day at Café Blossom with bowls, avocado toast and more – an easy, relaxed beginning before heading into the government district.

10:00 AM – Noordeinde & Noordeinde Palace

Your first stop is Noordeinde, one of The Hague’s most elegant shopping streets, lined with fashion boutiques and galleries housed in beautiful Art Nouveau buildings. Right in the middle stands Noordeinde Palace, known as King Willem-Alexander’s “working palace” – despite its name, the royal family does not live here but uses the palace exclusively as an office.

Fun Fact: On some Wednesday mornings, a small royal ceremony takes place here, when newly appointed ambassadors arrive in a horse-drawn procession accompanied by the mounted Marechaussee to present their credentials. The famous Golden Coach also traditionally starts and ends its Prinsjesdag journey here. The palace gardens behind the building are open to the public and are a popular spot for office workers to enjoy their lunch on sunny days.

11:45 AM – Hidden Gem: Binnenhof Viewing Tower & Ice Cream at Het IJskabinet

Right on the Buitenhof, at the site of the equestrian statue of William II, you’ll find a true hidden gem: the bright yellow Binnenhof Viewing Tower. The climb up the yellow stairs and platforms is completely free, and from the top, 28 metres above ground, you’ll get a unique 360-degree view across the Binnenhof and the city centre – on a clear day, you can even see as far as the coast. It is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, although there is no elevator. On warm days, make time for an ice cream at Het IJskabinet before or after your visit – it’s just a few minutes’ walk away.

12:30 PM – Mauritshuis

Just steps from the Hofvijver sits the Mauritshuis, housed in one of the Netherlands’ most beautiful neoclassical buildings. The star of the collection is Jan Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, often referred to as the “Mona Lisa of the North”. The museum also houses works by Rembrandt and other masters of the Dutch Golden Age.

Fun Fact: The museum takes its name from Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, who was once governor of the Dutch colonial territory in Brazil. Much of the palace’s construction was financed through wealth connected to this period – a history the museum now addresses openly as part of its own story. Admission is around €17.50, and the museum stays open later on Thursdays.

2:00 PM – Venestraat

Continue through Venestraat, one of the city centre’s main pedestrian streets, lined with small boutiques and cafés.

2:30 PM – Poffertjes or Something Fried

This is the perfect moment to choose between two Dutch classics: warm poffertjes at Van Schaik Stroopwafels, right on Venestraat, or something savoury from Friet District, conveniently located on the way towards the Peace Palace.

3:30 PM – Peace Palace

Continue to the neoclassical Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration – and probably the city’s most photographed building. The visitor centre is open daily from 12 PM to 5 PM, with free admission and a free audio tour. For a look inside the palace itself, book one of the guided tours, which cost around €11. Advance booking is recommended as they often sell out.

Fun Fact: Numerous countries donated building materials and works of art for the construction of the Peace Palace as symbols of world peace. In the adjacent park, the World Peace Path leads past 196 stones from around the world, including a piece of the Berlin Wall and a stone from Robben Island.

7:00 PM – Dinner at Sapori d’Italia

End the day with Italian cuisine at Sapori d’Italia before taking a relaxed stroll back towards your hotel.

Day 2 – Scheveningen & Haagse Bos

9:30 AM – Head to the Sea

Day two takes you to the North Sea coast and Scheveningen – ideally by bike, by tram (line 11 runs directly to Scheveningen Haven), or even on foot if you’re staying close to the city centre.

10:00 AM – Scheveningen Pier

The 382-metre-long pier stretches far out into the North Sea and offers sweeping views of the coastline from the SkyView Ferris wheel, which reaches around 50 metres above the water. For an adrenaline rush, try a bungee jump or zipline across the North Sea. Alternatively, the pier’s food court has plenty of snack stands to choose from.

11:00 AM – Lighthouse & Kurhaus

Take a stroll along the boulevard past Scheveningen’s iconic lighthouse and towards the historic Kurhaus, built in 1885. The elegant Grand Hotel lobby is freely accessible and well worth a quick look at the glamour of Scheveningen’s golden age as a seaside resort.

12:30 PM – Panorama Mesdag

Panorama Mesdag is home to the oldest surviving panorama painting still in its original location anywhere in the world. Painted by Hendrik Willem Mesdag in 1881, the circular painting measures 120 metres in circumference and 14 metres in height, immersing visitors in a 360-degree view of Scheveningen. Even Vincent van Gogh is said to have stood here and admired the panorama at its opening.

2:00 PM – Walk Through Haagse Bos

On your way back towards the city centre, walk through Haagse Bos, one of the oldest forests in the Netherlands and a remarkable green space right in the middle of the city. From the paths, you can also catch a glimpse of Huis ten Bosch Palace, the current residence of King Willem-Alexander and his family. The palace itself is not open to visitors.

7:00 PM – De Bistrooh

If you’d like to take another evening stroll through the city, De Bistrooh is a good choice for a relaxed dinner.

Guided Tour of The Hague

Alongside exploring the city independently, this tour fits perfectly into a 48-hour itinerary:

The Hague 2-Hour Walking Tour – Discover the City with a Local

Daily at 10:30 AM, duration 2 hours, meeting point: Mauritshuis.

A local guide leads a small group of up to five people through the streets of The Hague, introducing highlights such as Noordeinde Palace, the Ridderzaal, Grote Kerk and the statue of “Hague Harry” – with background stories about the city’s history, culture and architecture.

Travel Tips – Accommodation, Parking & Getting Around

Accommodation: Hotel Kobalt

For an overnight stay, the highly rated Hotel Kobalt is a convenient option close to the city centre, making it a good base for both days.

Parking, Getting Around & Infrastructure

• Parking: The Hague city centre has several multi-storey car parks that are convenient for exploring the centre. A real insider tip is parking around Scheveningse Bosjes and the Archipelbuurt neighbourhood. Parking fees apply only between 9 AM and 2 PM – after that, parking is free. This area is particularly convenient because both the city centre and the beach can be reached easily on foot or by bike.
• Bike: As in most Dutch cities, cycling is one of the easiest ways to get around The Hague. The route between the city centre and the beach takes around 20–25 minutes by bike. Rental bikes are available through the nationwide OV-fiets system, including at Hollands Spoor station, which also has a free bicycle parking facility for more than 2,500 bikes.
• Tram & bus: The extensive tram and bus network is operated by HTM. For a trip to the coast, tram line 11 is particularly convenient, running directly from Hollands Spoor station to Scheveningen Haven.
• RandstadRail: The RandstadRail rapid transit network also connects The Hague with neighbouring cities such as Zoetermeer, Delft and Rotterdam. Its lines run through a tunnel beneath Grote Marktstraat, right through the city centre.
• Tickets: The easiest option is OVpay, which lets you tap in and out directly with a debit or credit card or smartphone. Alternatively, you can use an OV-chipkaart, available at HTM service points at both main railway stations – Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag Hollands Spoor.

All Highlights at a Glance – Google My Map

For easy trip planning, we’ve collected all the places from this guide in a Google My Map – perfect for navigating sights, restaurants, parking areas and all the practical stops directly from your phone:

Our conclusion: Between the government district, world-class art at the Mauritshuis and a morning on the North Sea beach at Scheveningen, 48 hours in The Hague reveal why this city is much more than a seat of government – political history, art and the sea are all surprisingly close together.

What will be your highlight in The Hague – seeing Girl with a Pearl Earring at the Mauritshuis, spending a morning on Scheveningen Beach, or stepping into Panorama Mesdag?
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