Yes, if art or politics interest you. The Hague is about fifty minutes from Amsterdam Centraal by direct train, the Mauritshuis is fifteen minutes from the station, and Escher, Mondrian, the Peace Palace and Scheveningen beach fill the rest of the day. Go knowing the Binnenhof courtyard is closed for renovation until about 2031.
- Amsterdam CentraalBuy a ticket or tap in with a bank card
- Train, about 50 minutesDirect Intercity twice an hour to Den Haag Centraal; a second line serves Den Haag HS · single about €15
- Den Haag CentraalAbout 10–15 minutes on foot to the Binnenhof and the Mauritshuis
- Meet your local guideNear the station or a central landmark, agreed by email
- Walk The Hague for 2–3 hoursThen lunch, museums, or the train back, your call
Typical times, checked 2026-09-10. Confirm on ns.nl before you travel. Den Haag Centraal is closer to the centre than Den Haag HS.
Getting there
Two Intercity lines connect Amsterdam and The Hague. The direct service to Den Haag Centraal runs twice an hour and takes around fifty minutes; the other line runs via Haarlem and Leiden to Den Haag HS. Choose Centraal; it is closer to everything. A second-class single was about €15 when checked in September 2026.
From Den Haag Centraal walk west: the Hofvijver, the Binnenhof towers, the Plaats and the Mauritshuis are ten to fifteen minutes away and next to each other. The Lange Voorhout, Escher and Noordeinde Palace follow within another ten minutes.
The Mauritshuis opens daily, Monday afternoons only; Escher, Panorama Mesdag and the Kunstmuseum close on Mondays. Timed tickets for the Mauritshuis save a queue.
Times, fares and frequencies checked 2026-09-10. NS changes its timetable each December and its fares each year; confirm on ns.nl. The visitor buys their own ticket.
When to go and how long to stay
Any day but Monday for the full set of museums. Arrive by 10:00 and you can do Binnenhof, Mauritshuis and Escher before lunch, then choose between the sea and the Peace Palace.
Tips
- Delft is fifteen minutes further on the same line: a Vermeer morning in The Hague and a Delft afternoon is one of the easiest two-city days for art and history.
- Check whether Girl with a Pearl Earring is on view before you go.
- Tram 9 to the beach leaves from the Rijnstraat side of Den Haag Centraal.
- The Peace Palace Visitors Centre is free; guided tours inside run some weekends and sell out.
Skip The Hague if you want a small canal town; that is Delft. Skip it if the Binnenhof courtyard is the one thing you wanted to see.
Questions people ask
- Is The Hague or Rotterdam the better day trip?
- The Hague for art, palaces and the beach; Rotterdam for architecture and the port. They are twenty-five minutes apart, so a long day can take in both.
- How long do I need at the Mauritshuis?
- Ninety minutes. It is small; that is its charm.