Car rental The Hague? The third largest city in the Netherlands is no less important or beautiful than its bigger brothers Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It houses the Dutch parliament and as such is the political center of the country. Besides the parliament you will also find most embassies and ministries are located in The Hague, as well as many international institutions of law. Most notably the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
As such The Hague (Den Haag) has a rich cultural and national heritage, which you will constantly come across when sightseeing in the city. The best way to do so is with a rental car, because there is simply so much to see that you can’t get everywhere on foot. We would like to introduce you to some of the must-visit spots that the city has to offer, to offer some inspiration and make you excited for your travels. Landed at Amsterdam Airport or Rotterdam The Hague Airport? Let’s see how we can help you right away!
Politics
Most of the important Dutch political institutions are based in The Hague, specifically in the area called the Binnenhof. Here you will find the parliament which is divided into the first and second chamber, where policy and laws are developed and debated. Besides those there is the so called Ridderzaal. Originally this was a party palace for the court of counts, but currently the Gothic structure is used as location for important events. Most notably the yearly king’s speech, where the administration’s budget and plans for the coming year are presented. The Binnenhof as such is the best place to learn about the Dutch political system, since it houses its most important organs. There are tours available during which you can view all the rooms and buildings from both inside and out.
Madurodam
Dedicated to the Dutch World War II war hero George Maduro, Madurodam is a miniature version of the Netherlands. You will find all the highlights of the country, sized down into nice snackable bites. If you want to see all the things that the Netherlands are proud of in a single afternoon, Madurodam is the best and only way to do so. From the flower fields of the Keukenhof to the palaces of Amsterdam, Madurodam has it all.
Escher in the palace
In a former royal palace you will find a beautiful collection of the works by the world famous artist M.C. Escher. Mostly known for his intricate optical illusions in etchings and carvings, his work always speaks to the imagination of those who see it. As one of the most famous graphic artists of all time, Escher made a lot of pieces. Over 400 litho’s and carvings and more than 2000 drawings and sketches, many of which are on display in both the permanent and changing collections in the museum. A fun fact is that, just like many of his predecessors such as Da Vinci and Michelangelo, Escher was left handed. Be sure to visit this museum when you are in The Hague for it is very impressive.
Louwman museum
This museum is of an entirely different kind. It houses the world oldest private collection of automobiles. It was collected by just two generations of the Louwman family and currently consists of over 250 different vehicles. The ages range from 1886 all the way op to 2013 and shows just how far the development of motorized cars has come in the past 150 years. Nearly a century ago, P.W. Louwman started importing Dodge and Chrysler cars to the Netherlands and began building his collection of cars out of sheer passion. The museum itself was specifically designed for its current use by the American architect Michael Graves and has become the perfect place for the collection. It was created in harmony with the historical surroundings and nature, making the modern building stand out in a very non-intrusive way. This unique museum is very much worth your time, whether you are a vehicle enthusiast, lover of history or generally like seeing interesting collections.
Peace Palace
The Peace Palace is known around the world as the temple of peace and justice. The beautiful and authentic building in which it is situated was sponsored by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who built hundreds of libraries around the world. He agreed to finance the construction of the Peace Palace on the condition that it would also house a library. That library currently holds one of the largest collections of books about international law in the world and the Andrew Carnegie Foundation sees that the Peace Palace and its library will retain their purpose with great success.
The Peace Palace houses two important international courts of law. Those are the Permanent Court of Arbitration, for which the palace was originally built, and the International Court of Justice. Besides those courts, the palace is also home to The Hague Academy of International Justice, the Peace Palace Library of course, and the Carnegie Institution. The people who work here try hard to make the palace serve as a temple of peace for the world and to educate people on the value of making peace through law. As such there are educational programs, public activities and a visitor center open to all people. Besides the marvelous purpose the institutions here serve, the building itself is also quite fascinating. Therefore the Peace Palace should be high on your list of sights when you visit The Hague.
Estate Clingendael
This beautiful park is situated on the edge of The Hague and offers a nice reprieve from the busy city and its surroundings. You will find a Dutch garden, a Japanese garden as well as a former mansion all within the estate. As such it has some nice history. An example of that is the graveyard for dogs, which was built for the dogs of one of the ladies who lived in the mansion. During World War II the state commissioner Seyss-Inquart lived in the mansion. He ordered the dogs’ tombstones to be laid flat, for he feared snipers might hide behind them. He was later convicted during the trials of Nuremberg and convicted to death for crimes against humanity. This is just one of the many examples of history which you can find on the estate.
The beach, Scheveningen and the pier
The Hague is the only Dutch city which is located at the coast, directly by the sea. Along its two beaches, Scheveningen and Kijkduin, is over 11 kilometres of coast line. Here both the Dutch and tourists alike enjoy all the beach has to offer. There are many festivals, restaurants, activities and concerts throughout the year and the Scheveningen pier is a great place to experience it all. It also features a nice boulevard on which you can stroll and enjoy the view. Make sure to visit the beach, wind down and get some sand in your shoes.
Royalty and palaces
Since the Dutch governmental organs have historically always been located in The Hague, the Royal family has been as well. They built many different palaces and residences in and around the city, most of which did not stand through the test of time. Two of them, however, are currently still in good condition and still used to this day. With your car rental The Hague you will surely get around to these easily.
Palace Huis ten Bosch
First off is Palace Huis ten Bosch. Situated on the edge of a beautiful park, from which you can get a very good view of the palace. Unfortunately you cannot enter the palace grounds. This is because the current king of the Netherlands lives there with the queen and their three daughters. They moved in from their residence outside of the city after thorough renovations of the palace. Before him, his mother lived there during her reign and many others before that. When you get there, you might even be able to catch a glimpse of the royal family!
Palace Noordeinde
This palace is located in the heart of The Hague. You will most likely see it when strolling through the city center. It is the current working palace of the king, made available to him by the state. It is open to the public a few times each year, but the park that belongs to the palace is open to the public during the day throughout the year. The palace grounds also hold the royal stables. There the famous golden chariot is kept and maintained, as well as the royal vehicles and horses. In addition to the stables, the royal archives are also on the palace grounds. Fun to know is that when the king is at the palace, you will be able to tell so because the flag on top of it will be raised. Be sure to keep an eye out for that if you want to spot the Dutch monarch.
Gemeentemuseum
The Gemeentemuseum translates into the municipality museum. The building itself is gorgeous, with large halls and an extremely large variety of art. It boasts one of the largest museum collections in Europe with over 160.000 different pieces. At the same time it is the international home port of Piet Mondriaan with approximately 300 pieces of his work on display. His works are in the right place, for they are surrounded by those of his predecessors and contemporaries like Kandinsky, Monet and Picasso as well as those who came after him like Louise Bourgeois and Sol Lewitt.
Drievliet
The family theme park Drievliet is well known among the citizens of The Hague. Many of them have fond childhood memories of the place, whether it be the thrilling rides or the fun thematic areas. When you are visiting The Hague with children, be sure to treat them to a visit to this theme park. They will never forget it.
Choosing car rental The Hague
We hope to have made you excited for your visit to one of the Netherlands’ most lively and important cities. There are plenty of things to do and see, that is for sure. If you want to squeeze as many of them into your visit as possible, we advise you to rent a car in which you can drive around. This is not only a very comfortable way to see all the sights and experience all that the city has to offer, but also offers you a lot more time you would otherwise spend waiting at bus stops and other public transport stations. On our website you can compare different car rental companies to easily and effectively choose the one that is right for you. Would you like a big car because you are traveling with a group? A small one for easy parking? Should it include navigation or is that a non-issue for you? With our search tool you can define all the metrics you find important and as such find the car rental The Hague that is perfect for you. We wish you good luck and safe travels! Lets chose for car rental Den Haag!