🇳🇱 The Hague — Family Travel Guide

Country: Netherlands
Last Updated: May 2026

Overview

The Hague is the Netherlands’ grown-up political capital with a surprisingly child-friendly trick: it has one of Europe’s best miniature parks, a proper North Sea beach resort, compact museums, huge parks, trams that do most of the hard work, and Delft sitting a short hop away for a classic Dutch day trip. It is not as instantly magical as Amsterdam, but it is calmer, easier to manage with children, and much better if your family wants beach time without leaving the city.

The city works best as a 2-day add-on to Amsterdam or Rotterdam: one day for Madurodam, the royal/parliamentary centre and a museum; one day for Scheveningen beach, Sea Life, the pier, and dunes. Families who prefer slower travel can stretch it to three days by adding Delft, the Louwman car museum, or Duinrell amusement park in nearby Wassenaar.

Why families love it:

• Madurodam turns the whole Netherlands into a walk-through toy world
• Scheveningen gives you beach, pier, aquarium, ferris wheel, and pancakes in one easy tram ride
• Trams are excellent, flat, frequent, and stroller-friendly by Dutch standards
• Museums are high quality but less exhausting than Amsterdam’s biggest hitters
• Delft and Duinrell are easy day trips if you want canals or theme-park energy
• The city feels safer and less frantic than Amsterdam for a family base

⏰ Best Time to Visit with Kids

Pro tip: Do not underestimate the wind. Scheveningen can feel several degrees colder than the city centre, even in spring. Pack a windproof layer and let the kids wear shoes that can handle sand.

🚗 Getting Around

Tram (Best for Families)
The Hague’s tram network is the easiest way to move with kids. Tram 9 links Den Haag Centraal, Madurodam, and Scheveningen beach. Tram 1 and 16 are useful for Delft and museum areas. Use OVpay with contactless bank cards or buy day tickets if you are hopping a lot.

Train
Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag HS connect quickly to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Schiphol, and Delft. Delft is about 12 minutes by train; Rotterdam about 25 minutes; Schiphol about 30–40 minutes.

On Foot
The Binnenhof, Mauritshuis, Escher in Het Paleis, Noordeinde Palace, and Panorama Mesdag can be linked on foot, but distances feel longer with small children. Mix walking with short tram hops.

Bike
The city is bike-friendly, but first-time visitors with children may find tram travel less stressful. Rent bikes only if your family is confident in Dutch cycle traffic.

Car
Not needed in the centre. Useful only for Duinrell, dunes, or wider South Holland exploring. Parking near Scheveningen is expensive in good weather.

🧸 Miniature Netherlands & Big Kid Wins

1. Madurodam ⭐

Madurodam is the single best reason to bring children to The Hague. It is a miniature Netherlands with tiny canals, airports, ports, windmills, trains, bridges, cheese markets, and Dutch landmarks built at 1:25 scale. Children can trigger interactive scenes, load cargo boats, operate flood barriers, and watch model trains thread through the tiny country. It is educational without feeling like school.

• Age suitability: Best for 3–12; still fun for adults and teens who enjoy models
• Cost: Paid entry; book online for the best price
• Time needed: 2–4 hours
• Location: George Maduroplein 1
• Honest note: It is mostly outdoors, so rain changes the mood quickly. Bring jackets and avoid the hottest midday slots in summer.
• Pro tip: Go early, then take tram 9 onward to Scheveningen for beach time. This makes a very efficient family day.
• Website: madurodam.nl

2. Children’s Book Museum

The Kinderboekenmuseum beside The Hague’s main library and station is a clever indoor stop for younger children, especially on rainy days. Exhibits are based on Dutch children’s books, with playful sets, reading corners, and interactive activities rather than glass-case displays.

• Age suitability: Best for 2–9; Dutch-language context helps but is not essential for small children
• Time needed: 1.5–2.5 hours
• Location: Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 5
• Pro tip: Pair it with arrival/departure day because it sits beside Den Haag Centraal.

3. Louwman Museum

A superb car museum on the edge of the city with historic cars, racing machines, oddball vehicles, posters, and enough visual drama to hold children who normally do not care about museums. It is polished, spacious, and good for a bad-weather half day.

• Age suitability: Best for 5+; excellent for car-loving kids and grandparents
• Time needed: 2–3 hours
• Location: Leidsestraatweg 57
• Honest note: It is slightly out of the centre, so plan the transport rather than trying to squeeze it between central sights.

🏖️ Scheveningen Beach Day

4. Scheveningen Beach & The Pier ⭐

Scheveningen is The Hague’s seaside playground: a broad sandy beach, promenade, restaurants, playground pockets, the landmark pier, ferris wheel, bungee tower, and plenty of space for children to burn off city energy. It feels more resort-like than elegant, but families usually do not mind — it is easy, sandy, and full of distractions.

• Age suitability: All ages
• Cost: Beach free; pier attractions extra
• Time needed: Half day to full day
• Location: Strandweg / Scheveningen
• Honest note: Summer weekends can be packed, windy, and expensive. Keep expectations realistic and arrive early.
• Pro tip: Tram 9 from the centre is the simplest route. If the weather turns, switch to Sea Life or the Kurhaus promenade restaurants.

5. SEA LIFE Scheveningen

A compact aquarium directly by the beach with sharks, rays, seahorses, turtles, rock-pool style displays, and a short underwater tunnel. It is not a destination aquarium on the scale of Lisbon or Barcelona, but it is extremely useful as a wet-weather or post-beach activity.

• Age suitability: Best for 2–10
• Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
• Location: Strandweg 13
• Pro tip: Use it as a flexible backup rather than building the whole day around it. Online tickets are usually cheaper.

6. Kijkduin Beach

Kijkduin is quieter and more local-feeling than Scheveningen, with dunes, sand, and a calmer promenade. It is better for families who want a proper beach walk without pier noise, arcades, or crowds.

• Age suitability: All ages
• Time needed: 2–4 hours
• Honest note: It is less convenient by public transport than Scheveningen, but nicer if your family wants space.

🏛️ Politics, Peace & Royal The Hague

7. Binnenhof & Hofvijver

The Binnenhof is the historic parliamentary complex beside the Hofvijver lake. Even when restoration works affect access, the setting is worth a walk: towers, water reflections, flags, and the feeling that Dutch politics is happening inside a medieval castle rather than a glass office block.

• Age suitability: Best for 6+ if you explain the castle/parliament angle
• Time needed: 20–45 minutes from the outside
• Location: Central The Hague
• Pro tip: Combine with Mauritshuis next door and ice cream or fries around Buitenhof.

8. Peace Palace

The Peace Palace is one of The Hague’s most important landmarks, home to the International Court of Justice. Families cannot usually wander freely inside, but the visitor centre and exterior make a good short stop, especially for older children learning about world affairs.

• Age suitability: Best for 8+; exterior stop only for younger kids
• Time needed: 30–60 minutes
• Location: Carnegieplein 2
• Honest note: Do not oversell it to small children — the building is beautiful, but the concept is abstract.

9. Noordeinde Palace & Royal Stables Area

Noordeinde Palace is the Dutch king’s working palace. You mainly see the exterior, the statue-lined square, and the boutique streets around it, but it gives a quick royal hook without committing to a full palace visit.

• Age suitability: All ages as a short walk-by
• Time needed: 15–30 minutes
• Pro tip: Link it with Panorama Mesdag or a cafe stop; do not make it a standalone mission.

🎨 Museums That Work With Kids

10. Mauritshuis ⭐

The Mauritshuis is small by major-gallery standards but world class: Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Rembrandt, Fabritius, and Dutch Golden Age rooms in a manageable palace setting. This is one of the better European art museums for a short family visit because you can see the headline works without walking miles.

• Age suitability: Best for 7+; short visit possible with younger children
• Time needed: 1–1.5 hours with kids
• Location: Plein 29
• Pro tip: Give children a tiny mission: find the girl with the earring, the goldfinch, and the best food painting. Leave before museum fatigue wins.

11. Escher in Het Paleis

A brilliant museum for families because M.C. Escher’s impossible staircases, optical illusions, tessellations, and strange perspectives naturally grab children. It is housed in a former royal palace, so the setting adds another layer of interest.

• Age suitability: Best for 6+
• Time needed: 1–2 hours
• Location: Lange Voorhout 74
• Pro tip: This is a better kid pick than many classic art museums. Let children photograph their favourite illusions.

12. Panorama Mesdag

A rare 360-degree painted panorama from the 1880s showing Scheveningen’s dunes, village, and sea. You stand on a central platform and the painting wraps around you like an early immersive cinema. It is quirky, quick, and memorable.

• Age suitability: Best for 5+
• Time needed: 45–75 minutes
• Location: Zeestraat 65
• Pro tip: Visit before or after Scheveningen so kids can compare old seaside with the modern beach.

13. Kunstmuseum Den Haag & Museon-Omniversum

These neighbouring institutions make the Statenkwartier area useful for families. Kunstmuseum has Mondrian, design, fashion, and strong temporary exhibitions; Museon-Omniversum focuses on science, culture, and big-screen educational films. Together they can fill a rainy afternoon.

• Age suitability: Kunstmuseum best for 7+; Museon-Omniversum best for 5+
• Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on exhibitions and films
• Location: Stadhouderslaan 37–41
• Honest note: Check current exhibitions first. The family value changes a lot depending on what is on.

🌳 Parks, Gardens & Run-Around Space

14. Haagse Bos

A large urban forest just north of the centre, useful for a reset after museums. It has broad paths, ponds, shade, and a much-needed dose of green if the children are done with buildings.

15. Westbroekpark

One of the city’s best family parks, especially in spring and summer. There are lawns, playground space, the famous rose garden, and seasonal rowing boats that make it more than just a picnic stop.

16. Japanese Garden at Clingendael

A beautiful small garden inside the Clingendael estate, usually open only in limited spring and autumn windows. If your dates align, it is a lovely gentle family outing.

• Honest note: Opening dates are restricted to protect the garden. Check before promising it to children.

17. Zuiderpark

A big south-side park with playgrounds, sports areas, water, paths, and plenty of local family life. It is less postcard-pretty than Westbroekpark but very practical for letting kids run.

🍽️ Food Experiences & Family-Friendly Restaurants

The Hague is easy for casual family eating: Dutch pancakes and fries, Indonesian and Vietnamese options, beach seafood, food halls, and plenty of international restaurants around the centre. The trick is to avoid over-formal dining and pick places where quick service, flexible ordering, and noise tolerance matter more than fine dining.

Reliable family picks:

• Happy Tosti — cheerful toasties, simple choices, quick lunch near the centre
• Foodhallen Den Haag — useful with mixed appetites because everyone can choose different stalls
• De Boterwaag — large historic cafe on Grote Markt with space and Dutch-cafe food
• Little V — Vietnamese sharing plates; good for families with adventurous eaters
• Vapiano Buitenhof — predictable pasta/pizza, handy when children need familiar food
• Simonis aan de Haven — seafood near Scheveningen harbour; casual and memorable
• Walter Benedict — strong breakfast/brunch option on Denneweg
• Very Italian Pizza — simple central pizza/pasta backup

Pro tip: Around Scheveningen, sit-down restaurants can be overpriced for what they are. If the weather is good, consider takeaway fish, fries, or beach snacks rather than locking children into a long meal.

🌊 Day Trips & Easy Add-ons

18. Delft ⭐

Delft is 12 minutes away by train and gives families the prettiest canal-town contrast to The Hague: Markt square, the Nieuwe Kerk tower, blue pottery shops, small bridges, and easy wandering. It is more compact and child-manageable than Amsterdam’s canal belt.

• Age suitability: All ages
• Time needed: Half day to full day
• Pro tip: Climb the Nieuwe Kerk tower only with confident children — it is narrow and can feel intense.

Duinrell

Duinrell in nearby Wassenaar combines amusement rides with the Tikibad water park. It is not in The Hague proper, but for families staying several days it can be the big treat day.

• Age suitability: Best for 4–14
• Time needed: Full day
• Honest note: Check ride/water-park opening calendars and ticket types carefully; they vary by season.

Leiden or Rotterdam

Leiden is a charming university canal city with museums and a calmer feel. Rotterdam is bigger, modern, and excellent for architecture, the Markthal, maritime sights, and the zoo. Both are easy by train, but do not cram them into a 2-day Hague visit.

💡 Practical Tips for Families

• Use tram 9 as your backbone: It links the station, Madurodam, and Scheveningen.
• Keep beach plans flexible: North Sea weather changes quickly. Have Sea Life, Museon-Omniversum, or the Children’s Book Museum ready as backups.
• Book Madurodam online: It is the attraction most worth prioritising.
• Do art museums in short bursts: Mauritshuis and Escher both work because they can be satisfying in 60–90 minutes.
• Stay near the centre or tram line: Around Centrum, Zeeheldenkwartier, or near a direct Scheveningen tram works well.
• Bring layers: Wind matters more than raw temperature, especially by the sea.
• Do not overpack the royal/political sights: They are interesting, but children will prefer Madurodam, beach, Escher, parks, and food.

📋 Quick Reference: Activities at a Glance

✈️ Getting to The Hague

From Malta: The simplest route is flying Malta–Amsterdam Schiphol, then taking the train to Den Haag Centraal in roughly 30–40 minutes. Rotterdam The Hague Airport is closer but has fewer useful Malta connections; it can work via seasonal or connecting flights.

From Amsterdam: Direct trains from Amsterdam Centraal or Schiphol run frequently. This makes The Hague an easy 2-day add-on rather than a separate trip.

From Rotterdam: Trains take about 25 minutes. Families can pair Rotterdam and The Hague well: Rotterdam for architecture, zoo, and maritime energy; The Hague for Madurodam, beach, and museums.

Best family plan: Use The Hague as a calmer base or side trip if Amsterdam feels too intense. Prioritise Madurodam, Scheveningen, Escher/Mauritshuis, and Delft — those are the experiences that justify the stop.