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Whereas Amsterdam will get an almost-overabundance of consideration, one other metropolis sits close by, quietly majestic in its splendor. Positioned simply shy of 1 hour south by way of one of many Netherlands’ tremendous handy trains is The Hague—a metropolis that’s small in dimension, however is so charming it’s as if every home might have been constructed from gingerbread.
Should you have been contemplating a European Christmas getaway to have fun peace on Earth and goodwill in direction of all, this simply is perhaps it. For starters, The Hague is a supremely peace-oriented place. It’s, in any case, the house of the Peace Palace, the place, for over 100 years, diplomats from around the globe have come to settle worldwide variations.
Accordingly, the city itself has a vibe that’s decidedly harmonious. This ambiance is probably accentuated by the truth that there are more bicycles than cars, making it a delightfully pedestrian, unhurried place.
The town additionally gives an array of actions each holidays-related and of the year-round selection that can hold you busy regardless of the temperature exterior. So to that finish, right here are some things you must do when visiting The Hague.
Store the Christmas market
Beginning December 8 and operating day by day by way of the 24, the Royal Christmas Fair is an expansive vacation market replete with twinkling lights, festive décor, and a few 100 stalls providing an unlimited collection of foodie goodness and cheerful giftiness. Stands promoting scorching chocolate and mulled wine (known as glühwein) abound, and the air is full of the merry sound of carolers.
The market is situated alongside a group of small streets and plazas known as Lange Voorhout, which is situated instantly within the coronary heart of the town. It’s simply reached from just about anyplace on the town, which makes it a breeze to wobble again to your lodge when you’ve had your fill of Glühwein.
Get lit at Madurodam
Positioned roughly quarter-hour north of the town middle by way of tram is Madurodam—a theme park full of scale miniatures portraying varied well-known Dutch landmarks and cities. From December 6 to January 8, the park is adorned with hundreds of vacation lights. You’ll discover ice skaters whizzing over the frozen canals and a rotating collection of reward and meals carts pop up everywhere.
Then on December 24, the Winter Weeks celebration begins, throughout which the park will get much more ornamental and festive. Households can take part in a winter treasure hunt, and from the 24–26, Santa makes common appearances.
Tickets value between 17–22.50 euros, and the proceeds all go to help a wide range of charities, which makes the entire thing much more in keeping with the season of giving.
Lose actuality on the home of Escher
Probably the most famend names to emerge from the Netherlands was M.C. Escher, the artist finest identified for producing his unattainable staircases, mirror imagery, and different surreal creations. On the museum Escher in Het Paleis, you’ll be able to discover an expansive assortment of a few of his best works. It’s a delightfully unusual place to spend a few hours, and because it’s situated within the Lange Voorhout Palace adjoining to the Christmas market, it’s conveniently located alongside any good vacation itinerary.
Insider tip: Should you really feel your abdomen grumbling for meals amidst all of the artwork and vacation cheer, pop into Gastronomia Lusso simply down the block from the museum. This cozy Italian café offers wonderful espresso, in addition to sandwiches full of mouth-wateringly scrumptious sliced meats.
Browse the meals scene
There is no such thing as a scarcity of tasty meals choices scattered everywhere in the metropolis, particularly in the course of the winter markets, when seasonal meals carts are in all places. Bøg gives a strong fusion of Dutch and Nordic flavors by way of entrees that mix parts like beef tartare, bone marrow, and berries or wild boar, kale, and turnips. Suzy Q gives a novel mixture of East Asian and Dutch meals in a splendidly wood setting stuffed with vegetation and artwork. And if you happen to’re simply searching for espresso, Boon has a cup of Joe that’s, frankly, transcendent in its perfection.
Admire the masters of artwork
The Hague’s most important museum is the Mauritshuis. Housed in a beautiful, previous constructing that stands subsequent to the present home of parliament, its most well-known resident is the Lady with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer, one of many nice masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age.
Along with the aforementioned Escher museum, The Hague can be residence to Panorama Mesdag, which is the title of each the museum and the epic round portray housed there, created by Hendrik Willem Mesdag, one of many prime artists to emerge from The Hague College of portray.
Whilst you’re within the Netherlands, you must also you’ll want to go to the 4 key artwork museums of Amsterdam: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk, and the Moco. They’re a fast jaunt by practice north of The Hague, and when you might see all of them in a really lengthy single day, we advise breaking them into two or three days. Make sure you e book tickets for every forward of time. The Van Gogh Museum particularly can promote days upfront.
Stroll alongside a romantic winter seashore
The seashore may look like an odd place to go in the course of the winter, however the seashore on the sting of The Hague—a mere 20 minutes from the town middle by tram—is a pleasantly moody place in the course of the vacation season. Watch because the waves crash and storms collect off the coast from a delightfully adorned boardwalk lined with retailers and eating places.
Stroll into the coated market housed in De Pier, on the finish of which stands a picturesque Ferris wheel. That is the right place to choose up a couple of stocking-stuffer souvenirs.
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