Getting Around The Hague

From the 15th of june till the 24th of august a horse-drawn carriage will go through the Hague every sunday (2004. But it goes around every year). The carriage dates back from 1890. It rides between 12.00 till 16.00 and the whole tour takes about an hour. It will come near or past 10 museums (Panorama Mesdag, Museum for communication, Museum Mesdag, Louis Couperus Museum, Escher Museum, Mauritshuis, Haags Historisch Museum, Museum Bredius, Painting Gallery Prins Willem V and the Prison Gate) of which several give discounts or special offers for people that travel with this carriage. Starting points are Carlton Ambassador Hotel (Sophialaan 2) where the carriage leaves at around 12.00, 13.00, 14.00 and 15.00. And Hotel des Indes (Lange Voorhout) where the carriage leaves at 12.30, 13.30, 14.30 and 15.30.

Tickets are 4 euro and you can get them with the driver. Children up to 10 can go for 2 euro.

This green mode of transport is easy to use and cheap to boot. All you need to do is hail a Velotaxi when you see one. The service costs 1 euro per 3 minutes per person (infants up to the age of 2 travel for free, and children aged 3 to 12 pay half price). Most rides will only cost about one or two euros. It is also possible to book a Velotaxi. For more information go to www.velotaxi.nl

I originally thought this was Central station when i was here years ago. But now I know better. But I still think this is the better looking station in town. I know the neighborhood leaves some to be desired. But for pure train station design I find this the better building.

It's possible to go by boat on the canals. Even for someone from The Hague this is really nice! On Saturday and Sunday you can also go to Drievliet (family theme park) or Leidschendam-Voorbug. You can also make the arrangements for the tour with the Tourist Information Desk (VVV)

When staying at The Hague for a while, you could visit Hoek Van Holland which you can find close to the industrial area of Europoort and Rotterdam. Looked at Hoek Van Holland in a strategic way it is literally found at the corner (=hoek) of the North Sea coast and the Nieuwe Waterweg, the deepened waterway to sea. So Hoek Van Holland is also the last inhabited Dutch place along the Nieuwe Waterweg and, a really nice seaside resort.

Driving along the Nieuwe Waterweg you can see the ferries, the impressive seagoing vessels and the huge industrial steamers. On the way you pass the New Waterway Storm Surge Barrier and, thanks to it the water level can be controlled following Amsterdam Ordnance Datum (NAP).

Go for a blow out along the Pier and the near beach. As well in summer as winter people come here to relax and enjoy watching the boats. Just before your walk on the Pier there is a booth for chips and drinks. You can pay a visit to the visitor-center some further-on, too, for all kind of info.

By train : only in summer to Holland Strand
By car : direction Hoek Van Holland - Holland Strand/Pier
By bus : bus-line 128 & 135 from The Hague
New Waterway Storm

Look at my tip about the Westbroekpark: you can rent a rowing boat to row yourself and the one you want to impress over the canals and ponds of the Scheveningsebosjes and Westbroekpark.

Believe it or not, the canal was originally ment to be a connection to England through a new harbour in Scheveningen. They were just 50 meters short of the sea. In the end, the (fishermen) harbour was made at the other end of Scheveningen and the final part of the canal was filled in again. If I remember correctly, it can be seen at the Panorama Mesdag.

By train. The Netherlands are a small country and you can get everywhere really quick. In one hour there are several trains that connect The Hague with places like Rotterdam or Amsterdam.
By tram!

Buy a 'Nationale Strippen Kaart' with 15 units for NLG 12.15. You can use these strip tickets all over the Netherlands. The city is divided into zones, stamp one units for every zone you travel through.

The tram even brings you all the way to the seafront in Scheveningen!

These are the signs you have to follow to get to a parking-garage, they show the parking routes through city of town.
The word VRIJ means that there are empty parking places..........
There are also sign in the streets that show you where you have to pay for on-street parking. The parking fees and the times when you have to pay are displayed on all ticket machines and parking meters. In the city centre and in SCHEVENINGEN you also have to pay in the evening and at the weekends!