The Hague has a population of around 450,000 and though not the capital, it’s the political seat of The Netherlands. One of the things I love to do when I travel to a new city is to explore and try and live like the locals do. SO of course this means finding out the best places to eat, shop and visit.
The Hague has a standard shopping street, with popular Dutch brands The Bijenkorf and V and D, Their department store equivalent of Debenhams or House of Fraser. There are also European favourites such a H&M and Zara. As well as having the usual stores, the city is also a great place to browse vintage goods in antique shops and art galleries that can be found mainly along the two parallel streets of Denneweg and Noordeinde. If you are after something a little more upmarket, take a trip to the high end stores in the Hoogstraat, Molenstraat and De Plaats. This centre of haute couture is definitely worth a visit, even if your budget only stretches as far as window shopping.
During my trip, we were definitely not short of places to eat either. Holland is known for its famous frites shops which sell typical Dutch takeaway snacks such as french fries doused in an incredibly unhealthy amount of mayonnaise. You can also sample kroket which consist of mushy meat stuffed in fried bread crumbs. It tastes a lot nicer than it sounds. There are a good selection of restaurants to be found throughout the city, most of them either in the plein which is a square just opposite where I stayed. There is also the more cosy Grote Markt. Here you can pick from a selection of typical bar food such as chips, panini’s and salads. My favourite place was a small bar called The Zeta which offers great Thai food seven days a week. We got huge portions of Pad Thai for the reasonable price €8. Other great cheap options were tried were VIP (Very Italian Pizza) and a garlic infused Spanish Tapas bar called Ymuchomas. Both located just off the main shopping street. Another must try is Vapiano’s. A diner that has successfully combined the notion of chic and fast food. Watch them prepare and deliver your pasta/pizza with your selected ingredients in front of your very eyes within minutes.
The city is incredibly musical and known for having produced some of the Netherlands top artists. Even when I visited, I noticed amazingly talented musicians performing on street corners playing their instrument and selling CD’s. It seems as though it’s a passion thing – they would rather busk in their spare time because it’s what they love. In addition to this, every June the city hosts one of the fastest growing Jazz festivals The Hague Jazz. The music atmosphere really comes alive when artists from all over the world come back to do what they love going best – performing.
Situated a short journey away from the centre is the seaside suburb of Scheveningen, a lively stretch of beach that is a haven for the many surfer dudes that live in The Hague. It can deliver some pretty impressive swells year round which means in the summer months holidaymakers flock here to rent a board or have some lunch along the many seasonal beach bars and restaurants. Party-goers head here in the summer months as beach clubs Whoosah and Barefoot regularly host some of the best Dutch DJ’s and party nights. As a word of warning – these nights are not for the faint-hearted. They have a real underground feel with heavy strobe lighting, people smoking everywhere despite the indoor smoking ban and dirty techno/house music sets go into the early hours!
(Image: Marco Raaphorst)
