Discover Local The Hague: What to Do Around Mercure The Hague

At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for The Hague, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?

The Hague in 5 picks

Haagse Markt

Billed as one of Europe's largest outdoor markets, this sprawling market brings together Dutch stroopwafels, Middle Eastern delicacies, African dishes and mountains of fresh fish and produce. It runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, roughly 9am to 5pm, with the best selection early and the best bargains as stalls start packing up around 3:30-4pm.

Mauritshuis

A compact museum holding an outsized collection of Dutch masters, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, set in a 17th-century townhouse by the Hofvijver lake. It's small enough to see properly in an hour or two without museum fatigue setting in.

Binnenhof

The political heart of the Netherlands for centuries, this complex of parliament buildings sits around a historic courtyard open to the public. It's an easy, atmospheric walk from the city centre and worth the short detour even if politics isn't your thing.

The Passage

An 1800s glass-roofed shopping arcade, one of the oldest of its kind in Europe, with ornate architecture that makes browsing the specialty shops feel like a step back in time. It sits right in the middle of The Hague's shopping district.

Scheveningen

The Hague's seaside district, with a long sandy beach, a pier and plenty of restaurants and bars looking out over the North Sea. It's about a 20-minute tram ride from the city centre, an easy half-day trip if the weather cooperates.

Where to eat
The Haagse Markt is the obvious starting point, fresh stroopwafels cooked to order, exotic fruit and vegetables, and fish stalls that draw locals doing their weekly shop. For something more sit-down, the streets around Spui and The Passage have a solid mix of Dutch and international spots, and Scheveningen's seafront restaurants are worth the tram ride if you want your meal with a sea view.
Politics by day, beach by tram
The Hague balances two identities well: it's the political and diplomatic capital of the Netherlands, home to the Binnenhof and the Peace Palace, but it's also just a short tram ride from a proper North Sea beach at Scheveningen. Spend the morning around the Binnenhof and Mauritshuis, then head to the coast for the afternoon.
Right outside your hotel
The area around Spui puts you within a 10-minute stroll of the Binnenhof and close to The Passage's historic shopping arcade, with tram stops nearby for the 20-minute ride out to Scheveningen beach. Den Haag Centraal station is a short walk away, useful if you're planning day trips further afield. Note that Accor's hotel offering in this exact spot has recently been repositioned under a different brand within the group, so it's worth double-checking the current property name when you book.
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FAQ

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, generally from around 9am to 5pm. Go early for the best produce, or mid-afternoon for bargains as stalls start to close.

About a 20-minute tram ride, making it an easy half-day addition to a city-centre visit rather than a full separate trip.

Yes, it's compact by design, so you can see its key works, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, without needing a full day.

Where to sleep

See Mercure hotels in the Netherlands, with options within reach of these picks.

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Where to sleep

See Mercure hotels in the Netherlands, with options within reach of these picks

View hotels