Tips for your city trip

At Haagse Schatten, we roam all over The Hague in search of the city’s hidden treasures. To do this, we love to stray off the beaten path, as this is often where you make the most unique discoveries and find the most beautiful stories behind the entrepreneurs of our lovely city. In this blog, we also share some true treasures of The Hague with you.

And this time, we are not doing it in the well-known Zeeheldenkwartier or Scheveningen, but in the neighborhoods behind and on either side of The Hague Central Station. Here, you will find an emerging neighborhood (the Binckhorst), a quiet 1930s neighborhood with hidden treasures (Bezuidenhout) and a neighborhood that has existed for centuries but continues to renew itself (Zuidwal). And all of this is thanks to the efforts of local entrepreneurs. So, put the Haagse Schatkaart in your bag (you can find it at all our The Hague treasures) and head out!

We start in the Binckhorst, an area that was formerly mainly an industrial and business park but is increasingly becoming a modern, creative, and innovative urban district. Since 2016, the industrial area of the Binckhorst has been slowly transformed into a green and water-rich area. The rugged, tough, and raw atmosphere that the Binckhorst originally had is preserved.

Brutal ‘bakkies’

The Hague treasure Brute Bonen fits perfectly with the new ‘Binck’. This espresso bar has a great view of the old Trekvliet, and with its interior and plants, it’s a real green oasis. Speaking of green: at Brute Bonen, they only use their own 100% Forest Grown coffee. In other words, coffee from the forest. Better for people, animals, and the environment.

Brute Bonen is open nice and early every morning. So, start your city trip in The Hague here. We promise you it’s a wonderful place to be, both on the terrace and inside, and that you’ll be served a delicious ‘Haags bakkie’ (cup of coffee).

Through the forest to Baardman

In addition to industrial neighborhoods with rugged vibes, nature is never far away in The Hague. For example, from Central Station, you can walk straight through Malieveld into the oldest forest in the Netherlands, the Haagse Bos. This area, approximately 100 hectares in size, is the perfect place for a walk, picnic, or sporty activity. In the forest, you’ll find the Huis ten Bosch palace, which was built in 1644 as a summer residence for Frederick Henry of Orange. Since the palace became the property of the Dutch State in 1815, it has been used as a residence for kings and queens. Princess Beatrix lived there from 1980 to 2014, and now King Willem-Alexander lives there with Máxima and the princesses.

Close to the Haagse Bos, also known colloquially as the ‘hout’ (wood), you will find the Bezuidenhout neighborhood. If you find yourself here, we have a great tip for you: go have lunch at Baardman! This bustling neighborhood restaurant with a Mediterranean menu has a lovely red terrace, and inside it’s cozy with a view into the open kitchen. There is a relaxed atmosphere, and the food you get is really very good. A top combination and the best reason to head towards Theresiastraat.

The Old Centre

In the Old Center of The Hague, with its well-known streets like Wagenstraat, Boekhorststraat and the (now filled-in) Brouwersgracht, you can still find many beautiful old buildings from the seventeenth century. For example, the famous distellery Van Kleef has been located here since 1872. You can also find many beautiful hidden courtyards, with the Heilige Geest Hofje being the oldest courtyard in The Hague.

Until World War II, the Old Center was primarily a Jewish neighborhood. With 17,000 Jewish residents, it was home to the largest Jewish community in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. After the war, only 2,000 of them returned. Due to this vacancy, the Old Center fell into disrepair and became known as a rough area. The municipality has done a lot to make the Old Center a vibrant place again, where rich history meets new, trendy, and sustainable initiatives. You will also find a mix of various cultures here, with the notable Chinatown as an example. Truly a place of the present!

Shameless shopping

In a cozy corner building with cheerful yellow window frames, you will find The Hague treasure SWAPS. A boutique full of second-hand items. When you step over the threshold, you find yourself in a paradise full of pre-loved treasures. Here, you can shamelessly continue your shopping hobby! From women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing to accessories and shoes: the whole family can be dressed ‘new’ from head to toe at SWAPS.

A cup of energy

Strolling through the city can take its toll. Time for a boost of energy. And we recommend getting it from our friends at JoeJoe. They serve you ‘Specialty Coffee’: exceptional coffee of high quality. The coffee is carefully produced, roasted, and consumed. Not just any ordinary cup of coffee. JoeJoe is located in a building that housed Reuser and Smulders (the coffee, tea, and tobacco trade) since 1920, a well-known name in The Hague! A bit of search, but worth the effort.

Ethically Responsible

At the sunniest corner of the Dunne Bierkade, you will find restaurant Ethica. Joske and Robin, the owners of this beautiful place by the water, aim to treat Mother Earth as well as possible and want to involve you in that mission. The menu is full of delicious and sustainable choices to enjoy. And the food? Much of it comes from their own garden!

The name Ethica refers to the book of the same name by Spinoza. This restaurant is located right in the area where Spinoza lived his life. Within a few meters, you can find the het Spinozahuis, the Spinoza Alley, the Spinoza Courtyard, and the Spinoza Gate. In the book Ethica, Spinoza describes his philosophy about the universe and the role of humans within it. This philosophy aligns well with the philosophy of restaurant Ethica, hence the name.

A movie to top it of?

Isn’t it wonderful to end your day with your feet up in a soft chair? Catch a movie at the Filmhuis! Here, everything revolves around the love of film. Films that make you think, laugh out loud, or leave you astonished. The latest blockbusters, Oscar winners, international classics, and films that are shown nowhere else, as well as VR films or specials in the Boutique Cinema in hall 6, are all on the program. Check the schedule for the latest updates.

Hopefully, this blog has inspired you to sometimes take a different path. The Hague has so much to offer that every time you embark on a city trip, you can discover something new. Dare to venture off the beaten path to find new places, and we’re more than happy to help you with that.

Don’t forget to take your Haagse Schatten gift card along on your exploration! Consider gifting it to a friend, colleague, uncle, or aunt from The Hague. Or to someone you wish to treat to a discovery journey through our beautiful city of The Hague! You’ll receive a The Hague treasure map with your gift card, allowing the lucky recipient to explore the city and its treasures.

Purchase it from our webshop or visit one of our treasures where you can physically buy the gift voucher. The great thing is, every euro you spend on the gift card is guaranteed to be spent at a local business in The Hague. This way, we can continue to enjoy The Hague’s hotspots from all those enthusiastic, driven Hague entrepreneurs. There are now over sixty The Hague treasures where you can redeem your gift card. So, there’s something for everyone!