Things to Do in The Hague: Concerts, the Mauritshuis & Scheveningen Beach
The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government and the international capital of justice, but it's also a genuine beach city — Scheveningen, its seaside district, is a short tram ride from the museums and government buildings in the centre.
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Its concert and theatre venues sit mostly in or near Scheveningen too, which makes a day that mixes a museum, the beach and an evening show more workable here than in most Dutch cities.
Concerts and theatre in The Hague
AFAS Circustheater in Scheveningen opened in 1904 as a circus venue and has since become one of the Netherlands' leading musical and performance theatres, a short walk from the beach.
Zuiderparktheater, an open-air theatre in Zuiderpark, and World Forum Theater, a conference-centre venue that also hosts concerts and touring shows, cover most of the rest of the city's mid-size live bookings.
The Mauritshuis and Scheveningen
The Mauritshuis, a compact 17th-century townhouse right next to the government centre (the Binnenhof), holds one of the world's best small collections of Dutch Golden Age painting, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Scheveningen, The Hague's seaside district, has a long sandy beach, a pier, and Beelden aan Zee, a sculpture museum built into the dunes — easily combined with a museum morning in the centre and an evening show at the Circustheater.
FAQ
- Where can I see a concert or show in The Hague?
- AFAS Circustheater in Scheveningen (a former 1904 circus venue, now a leading musical theatre) is the main draw, alongside Zuiderparktheater (open-air) and World Forum Theater for touring shows and concerts.
- What is the Mauritshuis known for?
- A compact but exceptional collection of Dutch Golden Age painting, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, in a 17th-century townhouse next to the government centre.
- Is Scheveningen worth visiting from The Hague city centre?
- Yes — it's a short tram ride from the centre and combines a beach, a pier and the Beelden aan Zee sculpture museum, plus most of the city's concert venues.
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