The Hague travel guide

Amsterdam may be the Netherlands' commercial capital, but the seat of government and royalty has always remained in the country's original first city, The Hague.

Unlike the tightly-clustered, canal-punctuated nature of many Dutch cities, The Hague has an altogether more airy feel. The classical facades of government buildings stand around wide open green spaces, creating a serene atmosphere and an escape from the pulsating activity of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht.

There is modern architecture too, as befits The Hague’s current status as one of the most important UN centres and home of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, among numerous other worldwide institutions.

The Hague offers a great and varied choice of things to see and do, not least in summer at the city's resort districts of Scheveningen and Kijkduin, which boast some of the North Sea's finest beaches.