Translating as “Woods of The Hague”, Haagse Hout is one of the eight districts of the Netherlands’ royal capital. It centres around the 100-hectare green area of the Haagse Bos, which divides the district into the Benoordenhout and Bezuidenhout.
Things to do in Haagse Hout
Automobile enthusiasts shouldn’t miss a visit to the Louwman Museum, which boasts one of the world’s oldest private car collections. In addition to Dutch Spkyers and the only remaining Eysink vehicle, the museum owns the Aston Martin used in the James Bond film “Goldfinger”. Paintings and drawings by the English automotive illustrator, Frederick Gordon Crosby, are also on display.
In the heart of Haagse Hout is the Haagse Bos, a rectangular-shaped park that protects one of the oldest remaining forests in the Netherlands. Walking trails shaded by mature trees hug the central pond while live music concerts, markets and fairs are regularly hosted at the Malieveld. You can spot red deer in the former grazing pasture of the Koekamp or admire one of the residences of the Dutch Royal Family, the Huis ten Bosch Palace.
To the north of the Haagse Bos is Clingendael Park, which is home to a beautifully landscaped Japanese Garden. Due to its fragility and rare species, the garden is only open for a few weeks each year, namely when the maple trees are changing colour and when the azaleas, rhododendrons and cherry trees are spectacularly in bloom.
Getting around Haagse Hout
Haagse Hout is a 10-minute drive from the centre of The Hague and 20 minutes from Rotterdam. Rotterdam The Hague Airport is 15 minutes away and has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Den Haag Central railway and metro stations lie on the southern edge of Haagse Hout while trams travel throughout the district.