Weekend tip: a day in The Hague

It is one of the few nice things I have kept from the corona period: a new appreciation for the Netherlands. That may sound strange, but pre-corona I didn't often go outside Amsterdam, where I live. When I went away for a weekend, it was often to another country. A weekend away in my own country just didn't occur to me. Quite silly actually, because I have discovered that the Netherlands has so much to offer.

In the meantime, I have visited quite a few Dutch cities, and it's time to reveal my favorite. May I have some drumroll? Yes, it has become The Hague. What a lovely city I think that is. So nice that I have already been back several weekends (or just for a day). You have everything there: a very cozy center, everything is within walking distance, you can shop well, there are a lot of nice restaurants, and the beach is just a stone's throw away.

Recently I was there again for a day, and I had made such a good plan, if I may say so myself. Together with a few friends, we drove this time from Amsterdam, which was really fine to do. The sun was shining, we had fun things planned for the whole day: let’s go!

We parked our car at the AFAS Circustheater: very conveniently located, within walking distance of the beach, but if you want to go to the center of The Hague, the tram stop is next to it. Ideal. Especially since we were going to this same theater in the evening, but more about that later.

The famous pier of Scheveningen is less than ten minutes' walk from this parking garage, and that was also our first stop. What I like about the beach of Scheveningen is that it is also nice to go there when the sun is not shining. There are plenty of nice restaurants, it is always pleasantly busy regardless of the weather, and the pier remains beautiful to see.

We were lucky with the weather, so we went for an extensive lunch on the terrace afterwards. After that, a beach walk was still on the agenda, but I think next time I will rent a bike, then you are in the center of The Hague in no time. We stayed a bit near the beach that day because in the evening the most fun activity was planned: the musical Aladdin at the AFAS Circustheater.

Now you should know that my expectations were quite high, because I am a huge Disney fan. Aladdin is of course one of the most famous classics and also one of my personal favorites. Could it live up to those expectations? In one word: wow. In my life, I have seen several musicals, but this one has genuinely come in first place for me. It is a true spectacle, from the fireworks on stage to the special costumes, the actors who sing their hearts out, and especially the way the show conveys the true Disney feeling.

Fortunately, there was a break halfway through the show, so we could evaluate for a moment. I, as a Disney fan, was of course ecstatic, but even my friend who had never been to a musical was impressed. Tip: we had booked the break arrangement, so we could sit comfortably in the Circusbar with some snacks and a drink.

For us, this was the perfect ending to a day in Scheveningen/The Hague. Blowing off steam at the beach, delicious food, and this musical was really the cherry on top. Disney fan or not: this musical alone is worth a trip to the Hofstad.

Click here for the agenda and tickets for the musical Aladdin at the AFAS Circustheater.