Home to not one, not two, but three magnificent art galleries and museums, The Hague is pure heaven for art lovers. If it’s original Dutch masters you’re looking for, head to the Mauritshuis near the Binnenhof, to see two of the world’s greatest paintings – Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, and Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson. 

The Kunstmuseum focuses on art from the 19th century to the present day, and includes within its collection masterpieces by Mondrian, Kandinsky, Monet and Picasso. Although modern art is its speciality, the museum also houses one of the largest collections of Delftware pottery in the world, with pieces dating back to the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century. 

The works of graphic artist M. C. Escher (1898-1972) were little known during his lifetime, but their skewed optics and sense of illusion are now beloved in the Netherlands. You’ll find a gallery dedicated to his work at a former royal palace not far from the Binnenhof. 

One of the most striking buildings in The Hague, the Peace Palace houses the United Nations International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the Hague Academy of International Law. The Renaissance style building came about as a result of an international peace movement in the late 19th century that held two ‘peace conferences’ in The Hague. Ironically, the Peace Palace was opened in 1913 – a year before the outbreak of the First World War. 

Its beautiful interiors, marble decoration and numerous works of art make the building a must-see, but due to court sessions access to visitors is restricted. Guided tours are limited to selected days, and these must be booked in advance. 

The Hague prides itself on being a green city, with plenty of opportunities for people to get out and about in its parks, gardens and country estates.

Locals flock to the Malieveld, the large green space in the middle of the city, where you’ll find many a festival taking place during the summer months. From here you can take a pleasant stroll through the Haagse Bos, a delightful landscaped park with a lake and wooded areas. You’ll see Highland cattle grazing here, as well as deer. 

For a real treat, especially in the Spring, walk awhile in the grounds of the Clingendael estate, home to azaleas, rhododendrons and ornamental cherries, and a Japanese Garden, the largest of its kind in the Netherlands. It’s one of the stops on the Flower Route – but is only open from the end of April to the middle of June.