The Hague at a Glance

Living in The Hague

Couldn't get an apartment? Stay at the historic Kurhaus hotel at Scheveningen.

Living in The Hague, you’ll be right at the pulse of Europe! Its many international institutions make it a global city of peace and justice. But there’s a lot more to living in The Hague: Our expat guide on living in The Hague takes a detailed look at education, housing, and health care in the city.

Expats who decide on living in The Hague are in for a treat. While the city is quite small, which allows for a comfortable small-town feeling, it is also the political center of Europe and home to several international organizations. It is not only due to these organizations, however, that living in The Hague is a truly international experience.

The international atmosphere is not only prevalent in The Hague’s political and judicial world. If you are looking for a large selection of international food and goods, you will feel right at home at the Haagse Markt on Herman Costerstraat. In addition, Chinatown, located around Wagenstraat, is home to various authentic Asian shops and restaurants.

Living in The Hague: Housing

S’Gravenhage offers a variety of housing opportunities for those about to start their expat life in The Hague. Living in The Hague is thus suitable both for expats who want to settle in vibrant urban areas and for families looking for quiet residential areas. However, space is quite limited in the city, which is why many people living in The Hague are choosing apartments or row-houses over stand-alone buildings.

Life in The Hague: Looking for Accommodation

Not only are small stand-alone houses hard to find for people living in The Hague, parking is also extremely rare. You may have to look into renting a parking spot separately if you want to or need to own a car. On the upside, many homes for expats living in The Hague come with a balcony or at least access to a small garden.

These are some neighborhoods particularly popular among expats living in The Hague:

Archipelbuurt
Belgisch Park
Benoordenhout
Kijkduin
Marlot
Statenkwartier
Rijswijk
Voorburg
Voorschoten
Wassenaar

Before you begin living in The Hague, you need to figure out if you want to rent (huur) or buy (koop) your new home. The latter mostly makes sense if you are going to stay in The Hague long term or maybe even forever.

Living in The Hague: Estate Agents and Internet Search

Real estate agents can help you get ready for life in The Hague. They may even be able to negotiate a better price for you and will thus help you save money. There are always multiple listings for properties in The Hague. Your agent can find apartments or houses which are listed with other agencies. You will then have to pay a broker’s fee of one month’s rent.

When trying to find an apartment or house for your time living in The Hague, you may find the website of the NVM (the Netherlands Association of Real Estate) helpful. This association offers both rentals and purchase property in The Hague. Alternatively, you can turn to Pararius, another independent real estate website for people living in The Hague or other cities in the Netherlands. Unlike Pararius, Huurwoningen is only available in Dutch. The site specializes in rentals.