Parks in The Hague

The most important green space in The Hague and one of the finest urban forests in the Netherlands: over 100 hectares of ancient woodland stretching from the Malieveld near the city centre to the borders of Wassenaar. The forest has been the green gateway to The Hague since the 16th century and the Huis ten Bosch palace, the official residence of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, sits within its boundaries (visible from the perimeter paths). Wildlife is abundant, including a remarkable and now well-established flock of bright green ring-necked parakeets that have colonised the forest canopy and are one of the city’s surprising wildlife highlights. The Koekamp, where a herd of fallow deer roams freely, borders the forest edge closest to Den Haag Centraal station. Beautiful in all seasons; the autumn colour is exceptional.

One of the most beautiful estate parks in the Netherlands, between The Hague and Wassenaar, with a history of landscape architecture spanning five centuries. The grounds cover meadows, ancient woodland, water features and the famous Japanese Garden, one of the oldest Japanese gardens in Europe, which opens for around ten weeks in late spring and early summer and draws large numbers of visitors during that window. Outside the Japanese Garden season the park is considerably quieter and entirely pleasant for a long walk. A tea room, farm animals and a good children’s playground make it an excellent family destination. The park combines naturally with a walk through the adjacent Haagse Bos for a half-day green circuit that is one of the best outdoor experiences available in The Hague.

A well-loved and diverse park in the northern part of the city, a short cycle from the Statenkwartier and Zeeheldenkwartier, with a rose garden that is one of the finest in the Netherlands, a boating lake where rowing boats can be hired in summer, good children’s play facilities and a mountain bike trail through the wooded sections. The rose garden peaks in June and July when the scale and colour are genuinely impressive and it functions as one of the best free visual experiences in the city. Popular with families at weekends and with runners and cyclists on weekday mornings. The adjacent Scheveningse Bosjes connects westward toward the sea.

A vast protected dune landscape north of Scheveningen stretching into Wassenaar, and the finest wild nature experience within easy reach of The Hague. Extensive walking and cycling paths run through dune valleys, coastal woodland, wetland and heath. The dune lakes are beautiful and the bird life is extraordinary: spoonbills, marsh harriers and various waders inhabit the wetlands. Accessible by bicycle from the city centre or by bus to the main entrance near Scheveningen. The scale of the area means you can spend a full day here without covering everything. For expats who want genuinely wild nature within reach of the city, Meijendel is the best option in the greater Hague area and compares favourably with comparable dune areas anywhere in the Netherlands.

A 300-hectare protected dune and woodland nature reserve running between Scheveningen and Kijkduin, five minutes from the beach and an entirely different world from the city behind it. Marked walking routes through the dune landscape, coastal heath and wetland sections, with views across the North Sea from the higher dune tops. Rabbits, foxes and a wide range of coastal birds inhabit the area. The combination of beach accessibility and genuine wildness makes Westduinpark one of the most practically enjoyable parks in The Hague for both a quick walk and a longer exploration. Dogs are welcome and it is consistently cited as one of the finest dog-walking areas in the city. Connects south into the Kijkduin dune area and north into the Scheveningse Bosjes.

The forested park connecting The Hague city centre to Scheveningen beach, running alongside the Scheveningseweg tram route. A continuous green corridor of mature woodland that makes the city’s relationship with its coast unusually intimate for a major urban area: you can cycle from the city centre to the North Sea entirely through trees. The Klimbos (climbing forest) within the park allows visitors to climb through the treetops via rope courses with views across the city skyline, a popular activity for children and adults. A natural route for cyclists heading to the Scheveningen beach and pier, and a pleasant alternative to the road alongside it.

A large city park in the southeast of The Hague, opened in 1923 and covering over 130 hectares of green space, sports facilities, playgrounds and barbecue areas. Zuiderpark is the main recreational park for the diverse southern neighbourhoods of the city and hosts a busy programme of concerts, festivals and community events throughout the summer including major music events. The Sportcampus Zuiderpark on its edge hosted the 2022 Invictus Games. Less well-known to expats living in the northern residential areas but a genuine local institution with a character that reflects the diversity of Den Haag’s southern communities. The city’s annual Parkpop festival, one of the largest free pop concerts in the world, takes place here.

A large open green field in the heart of The Hague, adjacent to the Haagse Bos, that serves as both a public park and the city’s principal demonstration and event ground. Farmers, climate activists, students and labour unions regularly protest here, giving it a genuine civic character that is specifically Haags. Between events it is a pleasant open green space for a walk, a run or a picnic with an urban setting that is unusually spacious for a city centre. In summer it hosts major festivals including Parkpop. The juxtaposition of political demonstrations and weekend picnics on the same ground is a good introduction to how The Hague operates.

A beautiful historic park behind the Dutch Senate building on the Bezuidenhoutseweg, originally the garden of a 17th-century estate. Park Sorghvliet has a formal elegance that reflects its origins: tree-lined paths, water features, a stream and the kind of sustained quiet that makes it one of the most genuinely peaceful parks in central The Hague. Almost unknown to visitors and less frequented by expats than the northern parks, making it reliably uncrowded even on warm weekend days. A particularly good lunchtime walk or after-work run destination for those working in the Bezuidenhout and international zone area.

A small enclosed park immediately adjacent to the Haagse Bos and a short walk from Den Haag Centraal station, notable for its herd of fallow deer that roam freely within the fenced enclosure and are visible from the paths running alongside. One of those urban wildlife surprises that The Hague does well: five minutes on foot from a major railway station and you are watching deer graze in a forest clearing. A good quick green escape for anyone arriving at or departing from Den Haag Centraal, and an easy addition to a walk into the Haagse Bos.

The historic reflecting pond and surrounding gardens at the heart of The Hague, immediately in front of the Binnenhof parliamentary complex. The Hofvijver is one of the most photographed spots in the Netherlands: the medieval towers of the Binnenhof reflected in the water is The Hague’s defining image. The benches and gardens around the pond are a favourite spot for locals and civil servants taking a break from the surrounding government buildings. A natural stopping point between the Mauritshuis and the Binnenhof on any visit to the city centre, and one of the most rewarding free green spaces in the urban core.

A well-maintained neighbourhood park in the upscale Benoordenhout neighbourhood, popular with families, dog walkers and residents of the surrounding diplomatic area. A pleasant, reliable park with good children’s play facilities and a calm residential character. The Benoordenhout is the residential neighbourhood between the Haagse Bos and the city centre, home to many diplomatic and international organisation families; Hubertuspark is the local daily green space for that community. A good option for expats living in Benoordenhout or visiting the area who want a quick walk that does not require a tram journey.