Tour Details
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
-
- Mauritshuis
- Binnenhof
- Ridderzaal (exterior)
- Den Haag Centraal
Photos & Highlights
- Spend a day in the Hague, accompanied by a local art historian or scholar
- Includes transport by train or car, and a viewing of Vermeer’s ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’
Select a date
Tour Description
Discover the Hague on our full-day excursion from Amsterdam with a private car or train transport, guided by a Ph.D.- or MA-level expert on Dutch history and art. Perfect for travelers looking to explore outside of Amsterdam, this tour will uncover the abundant cultural offerings in the Dutch seat of government including the Mauritshuis, one of Holland's most impressive and important art collections. Depending on your time frame and interests, the day may also include a visit to the Kunstmuseum or a stroll around the gardens of the Paleis Noodeinde.
- Hague city center
- Mauritshuis Museum
- (Depending on traveler interest) Kunstmuseum, Paleis Noodeinde
- Transportation to/from Amsterdam via train or private car
- Mauritshuis Museum tickets
- Viewing of Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'
- (May include) Kunstmuseum, Paleis Noodeinde
We will meet our guide in Amsterdam, and together take the train or a private car through the Dutch countryside to the Hague. As we travel, our guide will introduce the story of the Hague - its origin and how it developed to become the home of the Dutch government. On arrival, we’ll start to map this story onto the streets that we walk, tracing a path through the Binnenhof punctuated by the Ridderzaal, Hofvijver, and the parliamentary buildings.
NOTE: If you add the optional car service please tell us your hotel or apartment address in the 'Additional Details' box while adding the tour to your shopping cart.
NOTE: If you add the optional car service please tell us your hotel or apartment address in the 'Additional Details' box while adding the tour to your shopping cart.
Before (or after) a local lunch (at your expense), our journey will continue to the Mauritshuis, home to a world-renowned collection of paintings by the Dutch masters. We will weave through the galleries with our guide, pausing to study and discuss famous works by Rembrandt and Fabritus, as well as lesser-known treasures. Vermeer’s ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’ will provide the climax to our visit, and we will take time to appreciate the artist’s mastery of light, and learn about the painting’s pathway to its current home.
If time allows, we may also explore the Kunstmuseum’s collection of modern art, acquainting ourselves with their excellent collection of works by Mondrian and De Stijl amongst others. Or, we may choose to explore the Peace Palace, an important seat of administration for international law and justice. At the end of our day together, we’ll return to Amsterdam with a deeper appreciation of both the multifaceted character of the Hague, its significance for international justice, and of the many varied artworks that are housed in its museums.
How do we travel to the Hague?
We can either take the train or a private car to the Hague. We usually recommend the train as it is a pleasant journey through the Dutch countryside and takes under an hour but we can arrange a private car service if that better suits your needs. Please indicate when you book which option you prefer.
Where do we meet? Where does it end?
We can either take the train or a private car to the Hague. We usually recommend the train as it is a pleasant journey through the Dutch countryside and takes under an hour but we can arrange a private car service if that better suits your needs. Please indicate when you book which option you prefer.
Where do we meet? Where does it end?
If we are taking the train, we will meet near the train station in Amsterdam, or if we are traveling by private car, we usually meet at your hotel. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.
We are a bigger group and it won't let us book a larger vehicle at checkout, can we still book?
If your group needs a larger vehicle than the options displayed at checkout, please reach out to our team in order to verify availability and pricing with our car provider. Thank you!
What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your expert will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to be prepared; we encourage keeping an eye on the weather and bringing along an umbrella, sunscreen, water, or a hat as needed.
I'm interested in going to the Kunstmuseum - is there anything to consider when booking this tour?
We can certainly include the Kunstmuseum in this tour - please book your tour for Tuesday-Sunday as the museum is closed on Mondays. As this is an optional venue, please note that you will need to pay for your own tickets on-site.
We can certainly include the Kunstmuseum in this tour - please book your tour for Tuesday-Sunday as the museum is closed on Mondays. As this is an optional venue, please note that you will need to pay for your own tickets on-site.
Is this suitable for children and/or travelers with mobility challenges?
Yes. We can adapt the route of our private tours based on the ages, needs, and interests of travelers in your party.
Where You'll Start
14 Reviews
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Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Victoria and I spent a most enjoyable day with Jurgen Morel in The Hague, Jurgen knew the area well, having lived in the Hague environs in his past, and provided a well of information about the places of government and the history of The Hague, making a nice "lesson" in comparative government. The afternoon wrapped up with a visit to art museum The Mauritshuis, The Mauritshuis, which shows Dutch painting from the age of Rembrandt and Vermeer. Among other things we were able to view among Vermeer's works in the Museum, the Girl with a Pearl Earring, several paintings by Rembrandt and, unexpectedly (to us) Carel Fabritius' The Goldfinch (of novel and movie fame). It was a great way to spend our last day of a long vacation in Europe.
Frank
Mar. 25, 2024
Was an excellent tour which we thoroughly enjoyed
Avrom
Aug. 20, 2023
Our guide was excellent. He was enthusiastic knowledgeable and a delight to spend a day with. Context’s set up was deeply lacking. Context gave a meeting point that does not exist. There is no “Amsterdam information” center. There was no way to know where to meet as what you said existed, didn’t. Moreover, unlike most guide services, Context does not give you a contact number to call the guide if you miss each other. We lost 35 minutes of the tour because of these faulty instructions and lack of capacity to contact anyone.
Morris
Aug. 20, 2023
