The Hague is a city known as the seat of the government of the Netherlands and as the residence of the regent. The city’s history goes back to Count Floris IV and his son, Willem II, who established and expanded their residence in the city. A village soon arose around the residence, and it was mentioned as Die Haghe in 1242. From 1358, The Hague became the primary residence of the counts of Holland, and therefore many government institutions were established in the city.

In the 16th century, Spanish troops invaded the city, which in 1588 became the seat of the assembly in the Netherlands. The Hague only gained city status in 1806, when Louis Bonaparte granted the city these privileges. After the division of the Netherlands into Holland and Belgium, Amsterdam remained the capital and The Hague the city of government. Since then, the city has grown significantly, and from 1945 the city was also known for housing the International Court of Justice.

Today, there are many sights to explore on a stroll through cozy The Hague, where you can start at Het Plein square. You can notice the Binnenhof, a collection of buildings dating from the 13th century, where Count Floris IV bought the land and built his residence in 1229. The most famous building in the Binnenhof is the Ridderzaal from the 13th century, and the complex now forms part of the country’s government administration.

There is a museum here that depicts the country’s political history, and you can see the parliament buildings on a tour. Next to the Binnenhof is the Mauritshuis museum, which is one of the finest art museums of the Netherlands. The museum building was built in the 17th century and contains, among other things, the royal Oranje family’s painting collection with works by Rembrandt, Frans Hals and others.

You can also visit The Hague’s Historisch Museum, which tells the story of the city’s development through archaeological finds and many fine objects from recent centuries. On the tour through The Hague, you will find Paleis Noordeinde, a 17th-century mansion that houses the offices of the Dutch regent. This is where new ambassadors are received, and on such an occasion this and other ceremonies can be followed from the street. The regent does not live in Palais Nooreinde, but rather in Huis Ten Bosch, which is located a little outside the center of The Hague. The small castle was built in 1645, but there is no public access to it.

It is also possible to see a bit more of both The Hague and many other parts of the Netherlands from above The Hague. You can do that in Madurodam, which is a finely constructed miniature country, where you can see a wide range of the country’s sights with cities, canals, etc., and everything is clear in miniature. Close to this is the castle-like Vredespaleis, which is the seat of the International Court of Justice, and from here you can continue to the suburb and seaside resort of Scheveningen.

In Scheveningen you can see the impressive Kurhaus from 1885. The long pier runs from the beach, from which you can enjoy a beautiful view from the lookout tower 400 meters out. By the sea in Scheveningen, you can also visit the Sea Life Center, which is a large aquarium with many fascinating animals and a closer look at the local and international maritime environment.