Den Haag, officially known as ’s-Gravenhage (‘the Count’s Hedge’), is the Dutch seat of government and home to the royal family. Prior to 1806, Den Haag was the Dutch capital. However, that year, Louis Bonaparte installed his government in Amsterdam. Eight years later, when the French had been ousted, the government returned to Den Haag, but the title of capital remained with Amsterdam.
Den Haag today is a stately, regal place filled with palatial embassies and mansions, green boulevards and parks, prestigious art galleries, a mouthwatering culinary scene, a clutch of tasty museums, and some throbbing nightlife.Plus it’s attached to the seaside suburb of Scheveningen, worth a visit for its lively kitsch and long stretch of beach.
In the 20th century Den Haag became the home of several international legal entities including the UN’s International Court of Justice and the Academy of International Law.Show in Lonely Planet
