15-Day Family-Friendly Itinerary in The Hague, Netherlands

  • Day 1: Madurodam
    20 minutes (6.3 km) from The Hague city center

    Madurodam is a miniature park that showcases the entire Netherlands in a small scale model. It is a fun and educational experience for kids and adults alike, offering interactive exhibits and playgrounds for children, as well as a historic Dutch windmill and various miniature versions of Dutch landmarks like the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House.

  • Day 2: The Hague Market
    10 minutes (3.5 km) from Madurodam

    The Hague Market is the largest outdoor market in Europe, selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, to clothing and souvenirs. As you wander through the bustling stalls, you can sample different Dutch snacks and delicacies like stroopwafels and kibbeling. It’s a great place to pick up unique gifts and souvenirs for family and friends back home.

  • Day 3: Scheveningen Beach
    15 minutes (4.6 km) from The Hague Market

    Scheveningen Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the Netherlands, offering a wide range of water sports and activities for families to enjoy. It has a modern beachfront promenade with various attractions like the SEA LIFE Scheveningen aquarium and the Legoland Discovery Centre, as well as several restaurants and cafes serving traditional Dutch cuisine.

  • Day 4: Duinrell Amusement Park
    20 minutes (12.5 km) from Scheveningen Beach

    Duinrell Amusement Park is a family-friendly theme park with various rides and attractions suitable for all ages. It also has a large indoor water park called the Tiki Pool, featuring several water slides and a lazy river. It is a perfect day out for families who want to have a thrilling yet refreshing experience.

  • Day 5: Escher Museum
    20 minutes (6.4 km) from Duinrell Amusement Park

    The Escher Museum is dedicated to the works of Maurits Cornelis Escher, a famous Dutch artist who is known for his mind-bending optical illusions and impossible objects. The museum offers a fascinating insight into Escher’s life and work, with over 150 of his drawings and prints on display, as well as interactive exhibits and workshops for families.

  • Day 6: Delft Blue Factory
    25 minutes (11.3 km) from Escher Museum

    The Delft Blue Factory is a pottery factory that produces the world-famous blue-and-white Delftware, a type of Dutch earthenware that dates back to the 17th century. Visitors can take a guided tour of the factory, watch the artisans at work, and even paint their own piece of Delftware to take home as a souvenir.

  • Day 7: Voorlinden Museum and Gardens
    20 minutes (11.6 km) from Delft Blue Factory

    Voorlinden Museum and Gardens is a contemporary art museum set in a beautiful landscape garden that covers 40 acres. It features a wide range of modern and contemporary art, including works by famous artists like Yayoi Kusama, Richard Serra, and Jeff Koons. The museum also has a restaurant and a shop with unique souvenirs and books.

  • Day 8: Panorama Mesdag
    10 minutes (4.4 km) from Voorlinden Museum and Gardens

    Panorama Mesdag is a unique cylindrical painting that showcases a 360-degree panoramic view of the Scheveningen coast as it was in 1881. It is one of the largest paintings of its kind in the world, measuring 14 meters high and 120 meters in circumference. Visitors can walk into the centre of the painting to experience the illusion of being in the 19th century.

  • Day 9: Grote Kerk
    15 minutes (5.8 km) from Panorama Mesdag

    Grote Kerk is a historic Protestant church located in the heart of The Hague. It was originally built in the 15th century and has undergone several renovations over the years. The church has impressive stained glass windows, a beautiful organ, and a crypt where several members of the Dutch royal family are buried.

  • Day 10: The Hague Historical Museum
    10 minutes (3.3 km) from Grote Kerk

    The Hague Historical Museum is dedicated to the history and culture of The Hague and its surrounding areas. It features a wide range of exhibits and collections, including paintings, sculptures, and historical artefacts. The museum also has a courtyard garden where visitors can relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

  • Day 11: Kinderdijk Windmills
    1 hour (78 km) from The Hague Historical Museum

    The Kinderdijk Windmills are a UNESCO World Heritage site located just outside of Rotterdam. They are a group of 19 windmills built in the 18th century to help drain the nearby polders and prevent flooding. Visitors can take a guided tour of the windmills and learn how they work, as well as explore the surrounding countryside on foot or by bike.

  • Day 12: Efteling Theme Park
    1 hour and 30 minutes (128 km) from Kinderdijk Windmills

    Efteling Theme Park is the largest theme park in the Netherlands, offering a wide range of rides and attractions for all ages. It is themed around fairy tales and legends, with several roller coasters, water rides, and dark rides based on classic stories like Cinderella, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel. The park has several restaurants and cafes serving Dutch and international cuisine.

  • Day 13: The Hague Palace Gardens
    15 minutes (4 km) from Efteling Theme Park

    The The Hague Palace Gardens are a beautiful public park located in the centre of the city, next to the Noordeinde Palace, which is one of the three palaces used by the Dutch royal family. The park features several fountains, flower beds, and sculptures, as well as a small lake where visitors can rent a boat and enjoy the views of the palace.

  • Day 14: Keukenhof Gardens
    50 minutes (38 km) from The Hague Palace Gardens

    Keukenhof Gardens is the largest flower garden in the world, with over 7 million bulbs planted every year. It is only open for a short period from late March to mid-May, when the tulips and other spring flowers are in full bloom. The garden also has several pavilions with exhibits and events, as well as food stands selling Dutch delicacies like poffertjes and bitterballen.

  • Day 15: Mauritshuis Museum
    10 minutes (2.5 km) from Keukenhof Gardens

    The Mauritshuis Museum is a world-renowned art museum located in the historic city centre of The Hague. It features a collection of over 800 paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, including famous works like Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt’s Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. The museum also has a charming museum café serving Dutch pastries and coffee.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Madurodam (2-3 hours, €17.50)
  • The Hague Market (2-3 hours, free entry)
  • Scheveningen Beach (4-5 hours, free entry)
  • Duinrell Amusement Park (6-7 hours, €35 per person)
  • Escher Museum (2-3 hours, €16)
  • Delft Blue Factory (2-3 hours, €12.50)
  • Voorlinden Museum and Gardens (3-4 hours, €17.50)
  • Panorama Mesdag (1-2 hours, €12.50)
  • Grote Kerk (1-2 hours, free entry)
  • The Hague Historical Museum (2-3 hours, €10)
  • Kinderdijk Windmills (4-5 hours, €19 per person)
  • Efteling Theme Park (7-8 hours, €45 per person)
  • The Hague Palace Gardens (2-3 hours, free entry)
  • Keukenhof Gardens (4-5 hours, €19 per person)
  • Mauritshuis Museum (2-3 hours, €15)
  • Total Estimated Costs (including entry fees, transportation and food): €500 per person

Transportation

Most of the sights and attractions in The Hague can be reached by public transportation, including trams, buses, and trains. The city also has a bike share program called OV-fiets, which allows visitors to rent a bike at various locations throughout the city. The cost of a tram or bus ticket is €3.50 for a one-way trip, while a bike rental costs €3.85 per hour or €10 for a full day. Taxis and Ubers are also available, but they can be quite expensive, especially if you’re travelling long distances.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, consider taking a day trip to other nearby cities like Rotterdam, Amsterdam, or Utrecht, which offer a wide range of cultural and historical attractions, as well as world-class restaurants and shopping. If you have less time, consider prioritizing the attractions based on your preferences and interests, and plan your itinerary accordingly. Remember to check the opening and closing times of the sights and attractions before you visit, as some of them have limited hours of operation or are closed on certain days of the week.

Airports

The Hague does not have its own airport, but it is easily accessible from several nearby airports like Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM), and Eindhoven Airport (EIN). Amsterdam Schiphol is the largest airport in the Netherlands, located about 45 minutes away from The Hague by train or car. Rotterdam The Hague Airport is much smaller, with limited international flights, located about 25 minutes away from The Hague by taxi or public transportation. Eindhoven Airport is located about 1.5 hours away from The Hague by car or train, and it mainly serves low-cost airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air.

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