Neighborhoods in The Hague

The most prestigious residential address in The Hague and the heart of the diplomatic quarter. The Archipelbuurt takes its name from its streets, all named after Indonesian islands, a legacy of the colonial period. Grand late 19th-century houses, embassy residences, wide tree-lined streets and immediate proximity to the Peace Palace, the International Court of Justice and most of the major international organisations. Expats working in international law, diplomacy and senior NGO roles cluster here. Rents are the highest in the city for a reason: you are paying for one of the finest residential streets in the Netherlands. The Lange Voorhout and the Denneweg with its restaurants and bars are within easy walking distance.

The most sought-after residential neighborhood for expat families in The Hague. Statenkwartier has wide streets, handsome late 19th-century and early 20th-century architecture, excellent international schools nearby and a relaxed, prosperous atmosphere that feels genuinely livable rather than merely prestigious. The Frederikstraat and Van Bylandtlaan are the main commercial streets: good independent food shops, cafes and local services. The Beercollector on Frederikstraat is a neighbourhood institution. Kek, the best brunch in the city, is on Bankastraat. Cycling to the centre takes around 15 minutes; Scheveningen beach is reachable in the same time by bike. The natural first choice for families relocating with children attending the international schools.

The best neighborhood in The Hague for those who want to feel embedded in the city’s social life from day one. The Zeeheldenkwartier is a dense, walkable neighborhood of late 19th-century terraced streets with the finest concentration of independent restaurants, bars and cafes in The Hague. Prins Hendrikstraat is the spine: Bar Raminas for natural wine, Brasserie De Ooievaer for a terrace lunch, Huppel the Pub for a reliable neighbourhood evening. The area attracts young professionals, creatives, diplomats who want proximity to nightlife and couples without children who prefer energy to quiet. Rents are meaningfully lower than Statenkwartier for similar apartment sizes, making it the best value of the desirable central neighborhoods. The Zeeheldenkwartier is the reason The Hague’s social life feels more concentrated and walkable than Amsterdam’s.

Living in the centre of The Hague puts you within walking distance of the Binnenhof, the Mauritshuis, the Gemeentemuseum and most of the city’s cultural institutions. The Denneweg is the finest street to live on: boutique shops, good restaurants including Zeester, and the atmosphere of a genuinely elegant city street. Apartments in the centre tend to be older and can have the limitations of historic buildings: steep stairs, smaller rooms, less storage. The trade-off is that everything is walkable. A good fit for single professionals and couples who prioritise location and cultural access over space. The Mauritshuis and the Gemeentemuseum are both within 15 minutes on foot.

A mixed, practical neighborhood east of the centre that is home to a significant number of international organisations, NGOs, government consultancies and the ministries that line its main arteries. More affordable than Statenkwartier for comparable space. The Haagse Bos forest runs along its northern edge, giving residents direct access to one of the finest urban forests in the Netherlands. Popular with young international professionals and families who want practical proximity to the international zone without paying Archipelbuurt prices. The neighborhood has improved noticeably in recent years and has a growing independent food and cafe scene on its smaller streets. Calla’s, the city’s best fine dining restaurant, is here.

The coastal resort district of The Hague, around 20 minutes by tram from the centre. Scheveningen has beaches, beach clubs, the grand Kurhaus hotel, seafood restaurants including Bali for rijsttafel, cocktail bars like Caipi Cafe and a genuine seaside atmosphere that no other Dutch city can offer at this proximity to a major urban centre. Significant investment in the harbour and resort area has improved it considerably in recent years. The beach in summer is exceptional and the sense of space and sea air is a meaningful quality of life benefit for those working long hours in international organisations. A natural choice for expats who put the coast above the city centre in their priorities, and for those with children who want an outdoor, beach-adjacent lifestyle.

A quiet, green residential neighborhood adjacent to the Haagse Bos forest in the northeast. Large houses on wide streets, very good schools and a calm, unhurried environment that appeals strongly to families with children. The forest on the doorstep is exceptional for cycling, running and weekend walks. A 15-minute cycle to the city centre keeps it well-connected despite its peaceful character. Less internationally oriented in its daily life than Statenkwartier or the Zeeheldenkwartier, with a more Dutch residential feel. A very good choice for families who have decided to commit to The Hague for the medium term and want the quality of life that comes with space and nature rather than proximity to the social scene.

More affordable residential areas in the southwest of The Hague with good HTM tram connections to the centre and reasonable proximity to Kijkduin beach, a quieter alternative to Scheveningen with a local Dutch beach character. A practical option for expats seeking more space at lower cost who are willing to be further from the social centre of the city. Less fashionable than Zeeheldenkwartier or Statenkwartier but improving and with a genuine local community of Dutch residents that provides a different kind of integration to the more expat-heavy neighborhoods. The best choice for families or individuals whose budget is the primary constraint and who are confident enough in Dutch life not to need the expat bubble of Statenkwartier.

Voorburg sits just over the municipal border to the east of The Hague and is administratively part of Leidschendam-Voorburg, but in practice functions as a quiet, leafy extension of the city. Large apartments and houses at prices meaningfully below comparable properties in Statenkwartier, good Dutch schools, a pleasant historic village centre with independent shops and cafes along the Herenstraat and direct train connections to The Hague Centraal and Leiden. Popular with established expats who have made the Netherlands their long-term home and are comfortable living slightly outside the international bubble. The commute to the international zone by train or bike is entirely manageable. An underrated option that rewards those willing to look beyond the obvious boundaries.

Wassenaar is a wealthy, wooded municipality north of The Hague with some of the finest residential properties in the Netherlands and the most significant concentration of diplomatic residences outside The Hague centre itself. Large villas behind hedgerows, the American School of The Hague on its outskirts, excellent cycling connections into The Hague and a sense of quiet exclusivity that is genuinely earned. Rents and purchase prices are among the highest in the country. A realistic option only for senior executives, diplomatic families with housing allowances, or those whose employer specifically relocates them there. Worth knowing about because several major international schools are nearby and some employer relocation packages specify it.

Rijswijk borders The Hague to the south and offers a practical, affordable alternative for expats whose priority is space and budget over prestige or social proximity. Tram connections into The Hague centre are direct and frequent. The housing stock is a mix of post-war apartments and newer builds with more space than equivalent budgets allow in the central neighborhoods. Rijswijk has a local Dutch character rather than an expat one, which suits families committed to longer-term integration and those who do not depend on English-language social infrastructure. A sensible, unspectacular choice that delivers more floor space per euro than anywhere else within easy reach of the international zone.

The Hague offers meaningfully better value than Amsterdam for comparable housing. A budget that gets you a small one-bedroom in Amsterdam West will get you a spacious two-bedroom in Statenkwartier or Bezuidenhout with money left over. For expats whose employer is based in The Hague’s international zone, it is almost always the better quality of life choice. The international community is large and well-established, English is spoken everywhere that matters and the international schools sector is exceptional, with more options per capita than anywhere else in the Netherlands. The city is also significantly quieter, cleaner and easier to navigate than Amsterdam, which either appeals or does not depending on what you are looking for.

The Hague has one of the best tram networks in the Netherlands. HTM trams connect all major neighborhoods to the centre efficiently and run frequently throughout the day and evening. Most residential areas are within 15 to 20 minutes of the centre by tram. Unlike Amsterdam, cycling infrastructure is good but not quite as dominant in daily commuting culture: many expats in The Hague commute by tram, particularly in winter when the coastal wind makes cycling less appealing. The Randstadrail light rail also connects The Hague directly to Zoetermeer and Rotterdam, making those cities viable for day trips or work without needing a car. See our day trips guide for what is reachable by public transport.

The Hague’s international zone, where most international organisations, embassies, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court are based, is centred around the Tournooiveld and the area around the Peace Palace on Carnegieplein. Archipelbuurt and Bezuidenhout are the closest residential neighborhoods for those working in these institutions. If your employer is in the international zone, factor the commute into your neighborhood decision before signing a lease. Most of The Hague is within a comfortable cycling distance of the zone, but Scheveningen and Loosduinen involve a longer daily journey. For international school placement, the American School of The Hague in Wassenaar and the British School of The Hague are both accessible from most central neighborhoods by school bus.