The Hague Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Hague

While the official capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, The Hague is the country's de facto capital and administrative center.

Little is known about the origin of The Hague as such. What is certain is that it was founded by one of the last counts of the House of Holland, Floris IV, who already owned two residences in the area, but had his eye set on a waterfront property near the pond Hofvijver. He purchased his dream house in 1229 and died in a tournament in 1234.

His son, William II, moved into the court and soon thereafter was elected King of the Romans. William promptly gave the Court a redo and called it the Inner Court (Binnenhof) before he died a short time later.

The Inner Court was first mentioned as Die Haghe in 1242. In the 15th century, the name “des Graven hage” came into use, literally meaning The Count's Wood, Private Enclosure, or Hunting Grounds. Today, the city uses the Dutch name “Den Haag” in all its communications.

The Hague has endured 700 years. In 1806, during the era when the Kingdom of Holland was under French control, it was granted city rights by Louis Bonaparte, and later became a significant administrative center for the Netherlands, particularly after the separation of Belgium in 1830 and the government's increasing role in Dutch society after 1850.

During World War II, Hitler's coastal fortifications Atlantic Wall erased many older neighborhoods. The Allied air raids, and of course, the horrors of the Jewish holocaust added further gruesome experiences. But the city survived. After the war, The Hague undertook massive rebuilding and expansion.

William's Inner Court and the Knights' Hall (Ridderzaal) are now the seat of government. The Inner Court is surrounded by landmark buildings such as the Great Church (built in 1399), the New Chuch (built in 1654), the 16th-century Royal Palace (Noordeinde), and the Renaissance-style Town Hall of 1564.

The city's museums provide a smorgasbord of collections. One such is the Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery holding paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Steen, and more. The Mesdag Museum houses the incredible Mesdag Panorama.

We hereby invite you to embark on a journey to this captivating city and the Netherlands' political hub. Take our self-guided introductory tour and experience the beauty and diversity of The Hague for yourself!