There is no shortage of things to see or do in Amsterdam, from the highlights covered in our Amsterdam travel blog to the top Amsterdam landmarks, or even our 1 day in Amsterdam itinerary for those pressed for time in the city. However, if you have an extra day in Amsterdam, are a returning visitor eager to venture off the beaten tourist path, or are looking to take a day trip to a smaller Dutch town, it is well worth considering a day trip to The Hague!
A day trip to The Hague (Den Haag as it is known in Dutch) offers a completely different perspective on the Netherlands. As the country's political center, it combines historic architecture with one of the world's best museums, all while offering a quieter, calmer change of pace from Amsterdam. The best part? The Hague is only 49 minutes by train from Amsterdam.
While a day trip to The Hague is not always the first destination that travelers think of visiting from Amsterdam, especially compared to seasonal favorites like Keukenhof, it was easily one of my favorite places in the Netherlands. It offers a quieter, more local alternative to Amsterdam without sacrificing the things that make visiting the Netherlands so memorable.
In this guide, I will walk you through how to plan your day trip to The Hague, what to see once you arrive, and whether it makes sense for your Amsterdam itinerary.
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Is a day trip to The Hague worth it? Yes, a resounding yes! Not only that, The Hague is a destination we would recommend to almost anyone visiting Amsterdam with extra time in their itinerary.
While Amsterdam is larger and more well known internationally, The Hague offers a different side of the Netherlands. It is still incredibly scenic, with canals, historic architecture, bicycles everywhere, and beautiful streets. However, it feels smaller and noticeably quieter than Amsterdam. That said, quieter should not be confused with empty. The Hague is very much on the tourist map, particularly during the peak spring and summer travel seasons, yet it still manages to feel more relaxed and less overwhelming than Amsterdam.
For art lovers especially, a day trip to The Hague is more than worth the effort. The Mauritshuis Museum alone justifies making the trek from Amsterdam. Home to Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, often referred to as the "Dutch Mona Lisa," the museum houses one of the most famous paintings in the world. Seeing it in person is genuinely special. The painting itself is magnificent, but so is the rest of the collection, which includes works by the best Dutch and Flemish masters. Even if you are only taking the short train ride from Amsterdam to see Girl with a Pearl Earring, a day trip to The Hague from Amsterdam is worth every ounce of energy it takes to plan the trip and get there.
Traveling to The Hague from Amsterdam is incredibly easy, which is part of what makes this such a great day trip option. The most convenient way to reach the city is by train, with direct routes running frequently throughout the day between Amsterdam Centraal and Den Haag Centraal.
The train ride takes anywhere from 49 to 53 minutes, depending on the specific train you take.
Train tickets can be purchased online in advance through the Dutch railway, NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen), at the ticket machines located at the train station, or through third-parties like Rail Europe.
Rail Europe is one of our affiliate partners, but it is also a platform that we genuinely use when booking train travel in Europe. We like that the website is easy to navigate, fares can be viewed and purchased in U.S. Dollars, and the booking fee is small. If you are planning multiple train journeys during your trip to Amsterdam, having everything organized in one place can be especially convenient!
If you opt to purchase your train tickets through NS, I recommend using the NS smartphone app (available for both iPhone and Android). The app is available in English and is a convenient way to buy tickets, track departure times, and access your tickets digitally throughout your journey.
For most travelers, there is no need to book your train tickets weeks in advance. Trains between Amsterdam and The Hague run frequently throughout the day, making it easy to add a day trip to The Hague from Amsterdam to your itinerary.
One of the best things about visiting The Hague is how easy it is to explore once you arrive. Unlike in some other European cities where getting around relies on figuring out public transportation, most of The Hague's top attractions are concentrated within the historic center and can easily be reached on foot.
The Hague's historic center is walking distance from Den Haag Centraal. The Mauritshuis Museum, home to Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, is only about a 10-minute walk from the train station, while the Binnenhof sits just next-door. Many of the city's most attractive streets, squares, and historic buildings are all clustered within this same area, making them walking distance of both the train station and one another. This means less time spent figuring out public transportation and more time actually enjoying the city.
To help you visualize how close everything is in The Hague, the map below highlights the key attractions covered in this day trip to The Hague from Amsterdam guide. You will notice that most of The Hague's historic center is concentrated within a relatively small area, making it really easy to navigate the city after arriving at Den Haag Centraal.
Of course, if you want to venture out to the coast and Scheveningen Beach, the Japanese Garden, or the Peace Palace, you may want to take public transportation. Otherwise, all of the attractions mentioned within this day trip to The Hague from Amsterdam guide are within walking distance of one another and the train station.
We chose to take a day trip to The Hague from Amsterdam for one reason: to see Vermeer's masterpiece, Girl with a Pearl Earring. The painting absolutely lived up to our expectations, as did the Mauritshuis Museum, but what we did not expect was to fall in love with the city itself. Between its walkable historic center, impressive museums, and elegant architecture, The Hague turned out to be one of our favorite places we visited in the Netherlands. While you won't have time to see everything in a single day, the attractions below are the ones we think are worth prioritizing.
If you've read any of our travel guides, you have probably noticed that I have a soft spot for art and art museums. Whether it's the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Louvre in Paris, or the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, I always make time to visit them.
My desire to see Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring goes back much further than planning this trip. In elementary school, I even dressed up as the subject of the painting, so seeing it in person had been on my travel bucket list for years. Thankfully, it exceeded every expectation!
Unlike viewing the Mona Lisa in Paris or Botticelli's The Birth of Venus in Florence, where you are surrounded by crowds of people trying to catch a glimpse, I found myself standing almost alone with Girl with a Pearl Earring at the Mauritshuis Museum. It gave me the opportunity to appreciate the remarkable detail, use of color and light, and subtle expression in a way that is difficult to experience at many of Europe's more famous museums. It was, without question, one of the most memorable museum experiences I have ever had.
2026 Travel Update: If you are planning to visit the Mauritshuis in late summer, please be aware that the museum will be closed for maintenance from Monday, August 24 through Sunday, September 20, 2026. In addition, Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring will not be on display from Saturday, August 15 through Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Beyond Girl with a Pearl Earring, the Mauritshuis is one of the finest art museums in the Netherlands. Housed inside a beautifully preserved 17th-century mansion overlooking the Hofvijver, the museum is home to an extraordinary collection of Dutch Golden Age masterpieces by artists including Vermeer, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, and Rachel Ruysch.
If you have visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, think of the Mauritshuis as a smaller, more intimate version. Instead of spending an entire day navigating countless galleries, you can comfortably explore the museum in a couple of hours while still seeing many of the Netherlands' most celebrated works of art. In our opinion, that makes it one of the most rewarding museums in Europe!
Other Works Worth Seeing:
The Mauritshuis is located about a 10-minute walk from Den Haag Centraal Station and just steps from the Binnenhof, making it one of the easiest attractions to include on your day trip itinerary.
We recommend purchasing your museum tickets in advance of your visit, particularly if you are visiting during the spring, summer, or around major holidays. Tickets are for dedicated time slots to keep crowds manageable and can be purchased online via third-party ticket providers, including GetYourGuide, as well as the official Mauritshuis Museum website.
You should plan to spend approximately 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the museum. While it is certainly possible to move through the galleries more quickly, between Girl with a Pearl Earring and the museum's remarkable collection of Dutch Golden Age masterpieces, you will likely find yourself lingering longer than expected.
One of our favorite parts of visiting the Mauritshuis was using the museum's free audio guide, available through the Mauritshuis app. It provides fascinating insight into the paintings, the artists, and the museum's history, making the collection feel much more approachable. We highly recommend downloading the app before your visit. Just don't forget to bring a pair of headphones!
Before You Visit:
After leaving the Mauritshuis, take a few minutes to walk over to the Binnenhof. While you won't need to spend as much time here as you did in the museum, it is a worthwhile stop thanks to its history and beautiful setting along the Hofvijver.
The Binnenhof is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Netherlands and the historic center of Dutch politics. For centuries, this medieval complex has served as the seat of the Dutch government, making it one of the oldest parliamentary centers in the world still in use today.
Even if politics is not your thing, the Binnenhof is worth visiting for its beautiful architecture and historic setting alone. Between the Gothic buildings, cobblestone courtyards, and waterfront views, it is easy to see why this is one of the city's most photographed locations.
While portions of the complex are closed to the public, you can still admire many of the historic buildings from the surrounding streets and along the Hofvijver.
The view across the Hofvijver, the picturesque lake that sits beside the complex, is one of the prettiest in The Hague. Framed by historic government buildings, tree-lined paths, and elegant bridges, it is a wonderful place to slow down for a few minutes and take in the city's atmosphere. If you are visiting on a sunny summer day, you will likely find locals enjoying lunch along the water while visitors stop to admire the scenery and snap photos.
After visiting the Mauritshuis and strolling past the Binnenhof, take some time to simply explore The Hague's historic center. This ended up being one of our favorite parts of the day. The city is incredibly walkable, and wandering through its elegant streets, charming squares, and shopping districts gives you a chance to experience a quieter side of the Netherlands that feels distinctly different from Amsterdam.
This is also the perfect time to stop for lunch. Whether you are looking for a quick café, a relaxed terrace, or a sit-down restaurant, you will find plenty of options scattered throughout the historic center.
We had a wonderful, relaxing late lunch at Luden Den Haag in the Plein and would happily recommend it to anyone visiting the city. With plenty of outdoor seating and a chill atmosphere, it was the perfect place to recharge before heading back to Amsterdam.
While you explore The Hague's historic center, keep an eye out for the following landmarks, streets, and plazas.
Although the palace is not open to the public, it is still worth walking past. It serves as one of the Dutch royal family's working palaces and is surrounded by one of the city's most attractive streets.
Lined with boutiques, galleries, cafés, and restaurants, Noordeinde is one of the nicest streets to wander in The Hague.
Built between 1882 and 1885, this beautiful covered shopping arcade is the oldest in the Netherlands and makes for a pleasant stop while exploring the city center.
A lively square surrounded by cafés and restaurants that's perfect for people-watching, grabbing lunch, or enjoying a drink if the weather is nice.
While we found the Mauritshuis, Binnenhof, and historic center to be the perfect way to spend a half-day in The Hague, there is plenty more to see if you would like to make it a full-day excursion from Amsterdam. We do not recommend trying to fit every attraction into a single visit. Instead, choose one or two additional stops based on your interests and how you would like to spend the rest of your afternoon in The Hague.
If you are fascinated by optical illusions or traveling with older children, Escher in The Palace (Escher in Het Paleis) is well worth a visit. Located inside a former royal palace, the museum showcases the imaginative works of Dutch artist M. C. Escher and offers a completely different experience from the Mauritshuis.
One of The Hague's most notable landmarks, the Peace Palace is home to the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. While most visitors admire the building from the outside, guided tours are available on select days for those interested in its history and international significance. For more information, please visit the official Peace Palace website.
If you are visiting The Hague during the spring or fall seasons, the Japanese Garden is one of the city's hidden gems. Located within Clingendael Park, it is one of the oldest and largest Japanese gardens in Europe. However, since the garden is only open for a limited number of weeks each year, be sure to check opening dates before adding it to your itinerary.
If the weather is nice, consider ending your day at Scheveningen Beach. Just a short tram ride from the city center, Scheveningen is one of the Netherlands' most popular seaside destinations, with a long sandy beach, a lively promenade, restaurants, and the famous pier. It is a relaxing way to wrap up your visit before catching the train back to Amsterdam.
A day trip to The Hague from Amsterdam is one of the easiest excursions you can take on a trip to the Netherlands, but a little planning can make the experience even more enjoyable. Whether you are hoping to dive deeper into the city's history or simply keep your itinerary as flexible as possible, these tips will help you make the most of your visit.
While The Hague is easy to explore independently, a guided walking tour is a great option if you would like to learn more about the city's history, architecture, and role as the political center of the Netherlands. It is also an easy way to discover places you might otherwise walk right past.
Book a guided walking tour of The Hague with GetYourGuide →
While it may be tempting to catch one of the first trains of the morning, we found that commuter trains between Amsterdam and The Hague can be quite busy. Unless you are trying to maximize every minute of your day, consider heading out a little later in the morning instead. A mid-morning train departure still leaves plenty of time to visit the Mauritshuis, enjoy lunch in the historic center, and explore the rest of The Hague at a relaxed pace before returning to Amsterdam in the evening.
One of the biggest advantages of traveling by train is the flexibility it offers. Since trains between Amsterdam and The Hague run frequently throughout the day, consider leaving your return journey open instead of committing to a specific departure time. That way, you can stay a little longer if you find yourself lingering in the Mauritshuis, enjoying lunch in the Plein, or simply wandering the historic center.
Browse train schedules and book tickets with Rail Europe →
If your itinerary allows, consider spending a night in The Hague instead of treating it solely as a day trip from Amsterdam. While one day is enough to see the city's highlights, an overnight stay gives you more time to visit additional museums, enjoy dinner in the city center, or experience Scheveningen Beach without feeling rushed.
Find the best hotel deals in The Hague on Hotels.com →
If you are visiting the Netherlands from abroad, I highly recommend purchasing an eSIM before your trip so you have mobile data as soon as you arrive. Having reliable service makes it easy to access train schedules, navigate around The Hague, download museum tickets, and use the Mauritshuis audio guide without relying on public Wi-Fi.
Stay connected with an Airalo eSIM →
If you are deciding between The Hague and another popular day trip destination from Amsterdam, there really isn't a wrong choice. It simply comes down to what you are hoping to experience.
If you are visiting the Netherlands during the spring, we would put Keukenhof Gardens at the top of your list. The colorful displays of millions of blooming tulips are unlike anything else in the world, and it is one of those destinations that truly lives up to the hype! If you are planning a visit to Amsterdam in spring, be sure to check out our guide on how to get to Keukenhof from Amsterdam, where we cover everything you need to know before you go.
Outside of tulip season, however, The Hague is one of our favorite day trips from Amsterdam. We came to see Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, but left with a much deeper appreciation for the city itself. Between the world-class Mauritshuis Museum, the picturesque views along the Hofvijver, and the relaxed atmosphere of the historic center, The Hague offers a side of the Netherlands that feels distinctly different from Amsterdam while being incredibly easy to reach.
If you are looking for a day trip that combines art, history, architecture, and a slower pace, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Hague! It exceeded our expectations, and we have a feeling it might exceed yours, too!
If you are still planning the rest of your trip, be sure to explore our Amsterdam Travel Blog, where we have put together our favorite attractions, seasonal guides, and travel tips to help you make the most of your time in Amsterdam. Whether you are spending one day or one week in Amsterdam, you will find plenty of inspiration for your itinerary.
Have questions about planning your day trip to The Hague? Leave a comment below, and we'll be happy to help. If you've already visited, we'd love to hear about your experience and any recommendations you'd add for future travelers.