Experience in The Hague, Netherlands by Atanas

What is it like to live in The Hague? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I would definitely recommend living in The Hague. It is a very vibrant city, where life never stops. Being the administrative capital of The Netherlands, makes this city one of the safest ones in the whole country. Another benefit is the Transport, which is very convenient. One can reach every district within no more than 25 minutes, because the buses and the trams are very quick and always punctual.

What is the student lifestyle like in The Hague?

The student lifestyle is very vibrant as well. Since, there are more than 3 universities and more than 4 Universities in Applied Sciences, makes the city very lively. There are a lot of entertainment opportunities for the students. A lot of clubs are in the Centre, there are also some in the beach district next to the pier.

How much does it cost to live in The Hague?

I would say that the Hague is an expensive city. Being the administrative capital of a country, always brings some cons with it. It is the third most expensive city in The Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam. I would say students would need to fully rely on the university cafeterias if they are short on budget.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in The Hague? Is there any advice you can give?

Accommodation is also a challenge in The Hague. Because of the high number of universities, it is quite hard to find some housing in the city. The best place to look for, is the southern part, below Central Station. It is not as expensive like the Northern Districts. Some examples for cheap housing are Rijswijk, Spoorwijk, Schildersbuurst Oost and Moerwijk Noord

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

I would say that the Dutch cuisine is not something fascinating. It is a little bit close to the German one, relying mostly on Sauerkraut, sausages and potatoes. The best Dutch food are the small pancakes - poffertjes, which are very delicious, and the famous fried in oil pastry balls - oilebollen.

What places would you recommend visiting in The Hague?

Since The Hague is the administrative and governmental capital of The Netherlands I would recommend the Binnenhof (The Parliament of The Netherlands), it is actually the only parliament of the world, where one can go inside. Another landmark is The Peace Palace, Mauritshuis (the most popular gallery), Scheveningen Beach and Het Plein (the main square)

Is it good to eat out in The Hague? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

The Hague offers many different restaurants and pubs. Every one of them is completely different, each offering an abundance of food choice and they are all located mostly in the Centre, while the traditional Dutch restaurants are hidden in the calm and peaceful "suburbs". My favourite places are: Nivoo, Millers Eten bij Werelds...

Is the nightlife good in The Hague? Where is good to go?

The nightlife is very good in The Hague. The best days to go out are Thursdays (because all the students go home on Friday to the different parts of The Netherlands), Fridays and Saturdays. The best place is Grote Markt - which is a collection of many restaurants and pubs on one square.

What advice would you give future students heading to The Hague?

If anyone is still doubting about The Hague, I would say that they do not need to. The Hague is a wonderful place, which definitely needs to be visited either for internship, undergraduate or a postgraduate program.
It is a very beautiful city, which is a truly hidden gem.