The Hague Nightlife

Grote Markt is a great place to head for a drink in the evening, particularly in warm weather, when the square is filled with tables and chairs spilling out from the numerous bars and restaurants. The Plein and the Buitenhof squares often buzz with evening tipplers too.

In summer, the bars along the Scheveningen Beach promenade awaken and De Zwarte Pad rocks with lively nightclubs and live music venues.

Numerous festivals and events attract thousands of visitors (denhaag.com/de/festivals).

The Hague also has a thriving cultural scene both for locals and English-language visitors.

The Haags Uitburo, Spui 68 (tel: +31 70 361 8860; denhaag.com/en) is the main source of information for what's on in The Hague and sells tickets for most cultural events. 

Bars in The Hague

Bodega de Posthoorn

With a picturesque terrace on leafy Lange Voorhout, this former coaching inn is now a popular meeting point for locals, tourists and even politicians from the nearby parliament. The interior walls are usually adorned with works by local artists (many for sale, of course) and there’s regular live music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Address:
Lange Voorhout 39A, The Hague, 2514 EC, Netherlands
Telephone: +31 70 360 4906.
Brouwcafé De Hofnar

As the name suggests, Brouwcafé De Hofnar started life as a microbrewery, but it soon outgrew its premises. Instead of packing everything up and moving away, the owners kept this quayside spot on as a bar selling the brewery’s full range of beers. With a good choice of food and chic, comfortable surroundings too, you’ll find it just as hard to move on.

Address:
Doctor Lelykade 28, The Hague, 2583 CM, Netherlands
Telephone: +31 70 354 0970.
Website:
Cafe De La Gare

Hidden on a secluded square, just north of the Hotel des Indes, the interior of this former coach house has been stripped back and it’s now a cosy spot for a drink, especially out on its peaceful summer terrace (weather permitting). No matter when you visit though, the beer range is always vast.

Address:
Nieuwe Schoolstraat 13a, The Hague, 2514 HT, Netherlands
Telephone: +31 70 744 6255.
Website:

Clubs in The Hague

Club Seven

Centrally located Club Seven has become a firm favourite on The Hague’s nightclub scene, with DJs pounding out an eclectic mix of electronic and underground beats most weekends. It generally attracts a young and enthusiastic crowd, keen to work up a sweat on the dancefloor with their best moves.

Address:
Prinsegracht 14, The Hague, 2512 GA, Netherlands
Telephone: +31 70 220 6420.
Website:
Danzig

A short skip from Het Plein, Danzig has been pulling big crowds since it first threw its doors open in 1995. With no big name DJs, and seemingly no strict music policy, expect to hear anything from pop to dubstep via jazz, hip hop and rock. With a bias towards themed nights and very late opening hours, Danzig often draws a student crowd.

Address:
Lange Houtstraat 9, The Hague, 2511 CV, Netherlands
Telephone: +31 70 213 8125.
Website:
Millers

An elegant café and restaurant by day, this venue morphs into a chic wine bar at night, before transforming into a DJ-led club come the weekend. Once the food is cleared away, the tables are moved to one side of the room, and everyone hits the dancefloor.

Address:
Plein 8-10, The Hague, 2511 CR, Netherlands
Telephone: +31 70 362 9043.

Live Music in The Hague

Muziekcafé De Paap

Famed as the launch pad for international Dutch rock and pop groups like Golden Earring, De Paap is the place to head for if you're a music lover visiting The Hague. Regular live concerts feature rock, soul and funk bands, while the organisers host some comedy every now and then as well.

Address:
Papestraat 32, The Hague, 2513 AW, Netherlands
Telephone: +31 70 365 2002.
Website:
Paard van Troje

With two concert halls and a résumé that boasts early appearances by such luminaries as U2 and Prince, the Paard van Troje (Trojan Horse) is always full of surprises. It has been The Hague’s primary rock music venue since it opened in the early 1970s and hasn’t lost any of its gusto since.

Address:
Prinsegracht 12, The Hague, 2512 GA, Netherlands
Telephone: +31 70 750 3434.
Website:
Zuider Strand Theatre

The Zuider Strand Theatre is the replacement for the former Dr. Anton Philips hall and the Lucent dance theatre and the temporary home to shows and performances of The Hague Philharmonic - Orkest, one of the Netherlands' top symphony orchestras - and the Nederlands Dans Theater until the new culture complex (OCC) will be finished by 2020. Its season generally runs from September to June.

Address:
Houtrustweg 505, The Hague, 2583 WB, Netherlands
Telephone: +31 70 880 0333.
Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.