The Hague is an urban center full of surprises and its reputation as a "business" city is justified. In fact, the first impression you get of Den Haag (as it is called in Dutch) is that it is a very different city compared to Amsterdam or nearby Delft.
The Dutch Royal Family lives in The Hague. There are also several embassies. For this reason it is also understood as a center of Dutch diplomacy. Also the Old Town it deserves adequate attention, as it is full of unique places and monuments. Starting from the huge parks to cycle through and ending with the nightlife, the youthful aspect of this city is not to be overlooked at all. Not to be missed, the buildings of medieval origin, among which the Binnenhof stands out, a very beautiful Gothic palace that represents the center of the country's political life.
As in other Dutch urban centres, the houses deserve special attention. They are a very fun mix of colors and styles. In The Hague, like everywhere in Holland, you can also find the “hipster” type coffee, which have the peculiarity of serving "homemade" food. Furthermore, here it is possible to find many works of art such as the famous one Girl with a pearl earring by Jan Vermeer. The many neighborhoods into which the city is divided also deserve a good deal of attention. For example, the Scheveningen neighborhood is a real icing on the cake. It is a seaside neighborhood that extends along the coast.
Here you can meet local surfers, attend concerts, parties, traditional markets and more. The beach is popular and is one of the favorite places where locals go to relax. It is not uncommon that, walking along the seafront, you can see many young people lying under umbrellas in one hot summer day. And if you get tired of resting, you can always buy a surfboard and throw yourself into the waves. Obviously, they will never be as high as those in Hawaii, but they are still sufficient for surfing. During the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics this beach has been transformed into the Olympic Experience Den Haag.
To admire the city you can rent a boat and explore the canals. The ticket doesn't cost much and the trip gives a lot of satisfaction. Otherwise you can take a bicycle, in Holland they are a distinctive feature. The Hague, in fact, is considered one of the "greenest" cities in the world.
By venturing into the historic center and relying on a tourist guide or taking this guide with you, you can discover that The Hague it was also the capital of Holland until 1806, the year in which the Royal Family decided to move the capital to Amsterdam. But the true administrative center it has always remained here, while Amsterdam plays secondary roles. Some very important institutions are still based in The Hague, starting with the International Criminal Court.
Source: 123rf
