Family Attractions in The Hague (Haag), Netherlands
The City of The Hague
The Hague is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. There is plenty to do and see for any group size or composition, yet surprisingly many traveling families skip it or visit for only a few brief hours.
It serves as the seat of the government and the residence of the Dutch monarch, as well as hosting key international institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
In this article, I will review the many family attractions available throughout the city, ranging from classic heritage sites to the newest venues. I strongly recommend families stay in or near The Hague and dedicate at least three full days to exploring the city and its neighboring towns.
Madurodam:
Recommended Family Accommodations in The Hague:
Residence Inn by Marriott The Hague – An exceptional, modern all-suite hotel (opened in summer 2022) in a central location. The hotel offers studio units and suites featuring a separate bedroom and living room. The suites comfortably accommodate families of up to 5 people, with some providing panoramic city views. Every suite includes a fully equipped kitchen. Amenities feature an on-site restaurant and fitness center. Rates include breakfast. Free Wi-Fi. On-site parking available for an extra fee.
Best Western Plus Plaza Den Haag City Center – A 4-star rated hotel centrally situated in the heart of the city. Accommodations range in size from single guest rooms to spacious family options. Features include a fitness facility and bar. Breakfast is included in the room rate. Complimentary Wi-Fi. The property does not have parking.
Stayci Serviced Apartments Westeinde – Serviced rental apartments in various layouts in a central downtown location. Layouts range from one-bedroom units with a living room up to two-bedroom suites with a lounge. Each apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen, and select units include a private balcony. Free Wi-Fi. Parking is available for an additional charge.
Attractions for Travelers in The Hague
Many of the key family attractions are situated in Scheveningen, a coastal suburb right on the North Sea with wide sandy beaches and a bustling boardwalk promenade.
Book Guided Tours via GetYourGuide.com:
Madurodam
The renowned, long-standing miniature park has never lost its charm. I visited as a child, returned as a mother, and my grandchildren thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The park features 338 miniature models representing notable landmarks and signature sights throughout the Netherlands, from the Parliament buildings in The Hague to cheese markets, historic windmills, canals, and rail systems—all surrounded by vibrant floral displays blooming between April and October. Everything is built to an authentic 1:25 scale and features interactive exhibits throughout.
At the press of a button, kids can operate trains, cars, or airplanes, and navigate miniature boats. Nearby are two excellent outdoor playgrounds for children, as well as a dedicated indoor experience focused on Dutch water management, the Waterwolf.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
A fantastic, highly recommended attraction for families, particularly those traveling with younger kids, located in Scheveningen. Opened in 2020, this modern indoor center features seven themed zones, including an intricate miniature city built entirely from LEGO bricks, varied amusement rides from an entertaining roller coaster to a 4D cinema experience, and dedicated zones for free-form building and climbing. It naturally also features a massive LEGO retail store with attractive pricing. Special seasonal festivals are held here during the summer months.
Aquarium SEA LIFE Scheveningen
A large aquarium packed with engaging hands-on activities, located adjacent to the LEGO Discovery Centre. Visiting both makes for an ideal combined itinerary, particularly on a rainy day. Divided into 15 themed habitats ranging from Dutch riverbeds to the depths of the open ocean, it features a clear underwater tunnel where guests walk surrounded by marine creatures on all sides. Exhibits house penguins, sea otters, hundreds of tropical fish, rays, sharks, seahorses, and glowing jellyfish. An interactive touch pool lets visitors handle sea cucumbers, starfish, and other tidal marine life. Scheduled feeding presentations for various animals take place daily.
Scheveningen Pier (Strandweg)
A long, modern seaside pier with free public admission.
Alongside sweeping views of the surrounding North Sea, the pier offers several exciting activities: from a 55-meter zip line soaring at high speeds (60–80 km/h) to a massive Ferris wheel The Pier SkyView offering spectacular panoramic vistas. It is especially recommended to book a VIP cabin with a glass-bottom floor, allowing clear views straight down into the sea below.
Nearby facilities also feature bowling alleys, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, and a selection of additional indoor all-weather amusements.
Butterfly Park Vlinders aan de Vliet
Located in Leidschendam, a northern suburb of The Hague. This covered indoor tropical park (suitable for any weather condition) features greenhouses filled with free-flying butterflies, exotic birds, turtles, insects, and reptiles.
The Hague is home to a wide range of museums. These stand out as particularly rewarding for families:
Panorama Mesdag
A monumental 360-degree cylindrical panoramic painting measuring 14 meters high and over 120 meters in circumference. Painted by artist Hendrik Mesdag, it depicts the coastline of Scheveningen as it stood in 1881, when the area was a quaint fishing village with sand dunes. The three-dimensional presentation incorporates real dune sand, faux terrain, and dry plants leading right into the canvas. Hebrew-language audio guide headsets provide narration that pulls visitors straight into the painting, immersing them in the sleepy fishing village atmosphere of the past. The panorama is part of a broader art museum whose other galleries generally hold less appeal for young children and teens.
Classic Car Museum Louwman Museum
A museum housing an extensive historic automobile collection assembled across generations by the Louwman family. The collection displays over 250 historic and classic cars dating from 1886 onwards. The building itself is architecturally distinctive and surrounded by manicured landscaped grounds.
Museon – Science and Nature Museum
A modern, highly interactive science museum ideal for curious minds, featuring hands-on exhibits exploring space, volcanoes, climate change, wildlife, biology, and human evolution. Visitors can observe a functioning 3D printer producing items ranging from toys to structural models, program robots, experiment with musical instruments in "The Band" sound studio, and discover numerous educational discovery zones.
Within a short 30-minute drive of The Hague, several additional family day trips await: from touring the royal earthenware factories crafting traditional blue-and-white porcelain in Delft, to spending the day at Duinrell amusement and water park, or exploring CORPUS "journey through the human body"—an interactive museum where visitors step inside a giant human figure to journey through the heart, brain, and major organs.