The Hague at a Glance

Moving to The Hague

Storks used to nest on the rooftops around the Binnenhof and Gronemarkt.

The Hague is of major political importance for the Netherlands and the EU. A move to The Hague opens up great prospects in international law. Before moving to The Hague, the Netherlands’ largest city, get info on it! Our guide on moving to The Hague has all the details on visa, transport, and more.

When you move to The Hague, you will not just experience any Dutch city in Zuid-holland (South-Holland). Instead, moving to The Hague will take you to the political center of the Netherlands and the EU. The city is home to numerous international organizations such as Europol or the International Court of Justice.

Although Amsterdam is the official capital of the Netherlands, The Hague is still the seat of government and home to the royal family. Moving to The Hague, you will be charmed by the city's historical atmosphere. It also benefits from excellent transport connections to other Dutch cities as well as its close proximity to the beautiful seaside.

Moving to The Hague: Location

The city is also the capital of a greater region called Haaglanden, located on the west coast of the Netherlands. The region consists of different cities, including The Hague, Delft, Wassenaar, and the agglomerations Leiden and Bollenstreek. All these cities and towns are located in close proximity to The Hague, which allows expats moving to The Hague to commute if necessary.

Moving to The Hague, you have the choice between 9 districts:

Centrum
Escamp
Haagse Hout
Laak
Leidschenveen-Ypenburg
Loosduinen
Scheveningen
Segbroek
Kijkduinen

Move to The Hague: Facts and Figures

Expats moving to The Hague settle down in the Netherlands’ third largest city, adding to its 463,000 inhabitants. The Hague has been described as “the legal capital of the world” by former UN general Boutros Boutros-Ghali. This is due to the international organizations and businesses with offices and headquarters here.

All in all, there are about 130 international organizations in The Hague dealing with judicial or political issues. In addition, there are about 316 international businesses which are responsible for around 40,000 jobs. Many expatriates and foreign employees moving to The Hague find work with one of these organizations, which account for 6% of the city’s overall employment.

Moving to The Hague: Historical Background

When you move to The Hague you may hear locals and visitors refer to the city as “‘s-Gravenhage”, which means “The Count’s Hedge”. This name goes back to the Counts of Holland, who enjoyed hunting in the area’s vast forests. These Counts then began to settle in the area which soon was to become The Hague and built the Binnenhof.

These days, The Hague is not only the seat of the Dutch government – it is also home to the royal family. It was the capital of the Netherlands until 1806 when Louis Bonaparte decided to make Amsterdam the capital. This title remains with Amsterdam until today. However, after the French left the Netherlands, the government was once again on the move to The Hague.