10 Great Day Trips to Take From The Hague

Lisse lies in the heart of South-Holland’s tulip belt and is surrounded by hundreds of colourful flower fields. The city main attractions include a fascinating tulip museum, castle ‘t Huys Dever and, of course, Keukenhof Gardens – one of the best places in all of the Netherlands to witness vibrant fields of densely packed tulips. The journey to Lisse from the Hague will take around 50 minutes by bus and train, or 40 minutes in a car.

There are several rapid train lines that connect the Hague with Amsterdam as the cities provide commuters to one another. The most common method to hop between the cities is train, which should take less than an hour. Despite being the largest city in the Netherlands, Amsterdam’s size is relatively manageable and it is possible to visit many of its famous sights in one day. Highlights include world famous museums and galleries, such as the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House, as well as a number of wonderful green parks, like Vondelpark and Westerpark.

Leiden’s university is the oldest in the Netherlands and dates back to 1575. Since then the city has developed around academia and currently features many stunning buildings associated with the university, including Leiden Observatory. Hortus Botanicus gardens and several scholarly museums. You can reach Leiden from the Hague in just 20 minutes by train, or just over an hour if you fancy the cycle!

Rotterdam is actually connected to The Hague by a high speed metro line which means that travelling between either city takes around 20 minutes. As the second largest city in the Netherlands, Rotterdam has plenty to offer travellers, including astounding ultra-modern architecture, world-leading museums and many awesome nighttime hangouts.

Due to its historical and cultural significance, the windmill network inside Kinderdijk is protected as an UNSECO World Heritage Site. Most of these incredible machines are over 250 years old and were originally built to drain water from the area’s marshlands. It’ll take a little under two hours for you to reach Kinderdijk by public transport, but only 45 minutes if you drive.

Although Kijkduin is actually part of the Hague its distance from the city’s centre can easily justify an entire day trip. This seaside borough lies roughly 10 kilometre due west of the Binnenhof and is famous for its beautiful coastline, windswept dunes and modernist architecture. From the city centre you have multiple public transport options that should get you there in around half an hour. Alternatively hop in a 15-minute taxi or see more of the city and its outskirts by braving the 90-minute walk – at least the Netherlands is flat!

Utrecht might be the most historically charming city in the Netherlands and still features many church buildings from the Middle Ages. The Dom Tower, for example, was built in the 14th century and has stood above Utrecht’s historic town centre ever since. There’s plenty to see and do in the city, which is reachable from the Hague via a 40-minute journey on the train.

Delft is a medieval city that lies between The Hague and Rotterdam. This photogenic burg was once an economic powerhouse and famously produced massive quotas of beautiful Delftware pottery during the Dutch Golden Ages. Many buildings from this period are still present within Delft and the city is renowned for its classic architecture. Delft is a mere 15 minutes from the Hague by train, taxis shouldn’t be too expensive either, and you could even cycle here in half an hour.

Haarlem’s medieval town centre is utterly breathtaking and features several magnificent ecclesiastical and municipal buildings that predate the Dutch Golden Age. There’s also a craft brewery inside a former church. It only takes around 35 minutes from the Hague to Haarlem in a train. That’s definitely your best option, since driving can take up to and over 50 minutes.

Gouda’s modest size and wide range of historical attractions makes it perfect for day trips from the Hague. Many of these wonderful buildings date back to Gouda’s economic heyday when it was the only city in the Netherlands that was permitted to hold a cheese market (which still takes place every Thursday between April and September). You’ll be able to start sniffing the cheese in under 20 minutes by hopping on the train from Central Station in the Hague, or justify the feast by enjoying the scenic two-hour cycle – the choice is yours!