HAGUE – MTLG Destination Update 2025

Hush-quiet surprises beyond peace palaces and boulevards

Dec 30, 2025

hague_netherlands — Photo: Hague Convention Bureau

NEED TO KNOW IN 2025

In 2025, The Hague stepped onto the world stage with the successful hosting of the NATO Summit, reinforcing its reputation as a secure, capable venue for high-stakes diplomacy. Its “Secure Your Event” campaign (which started in 2024) has been spotlighted as a model of how to bring rigorous safety and trust to event planning. The Convention Bureau has also published a strategic white paper on associations navigating uncertainty, attracting attention from meeting professionals. (And behind the scenes, The Hague is quietly preparing a bleisure campaign that will spotlight the city’s appeal for post-event relaxation and business tourism.)

DID YOU KNOW?

Beyond peace palaces and boulevards, The Hague hides hush-quiet surprises. Step through an unmarked gate into centuries-old “hofjes”. In spring and autumn only, the Japanese Garden in Clingendael opens for a few weeks, a luminous pocket of moss paths and lanterns. And in Westduinpark’s dune reserve, you might meet free-roaming Scottish Highlanders on sandy trails before descending to the city’s 11-kilometre coastline and secret “quiet” beaches.

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA IN 2025

Start with a guided e-bike or hike across Westduinpark’s rolling dunes – an energising, camera-ready landscape ending at Scheveningen. There, split into teams for a surf or SUP clinic led by certified instructors at Hart Beach or Aloha; alternative beach-sport stations keep every fitness level engaged. Close the day with a sunset pier toast or harbour-side dinner. Build in a light sustainability touch, choose Green Key-aligned suppliers, encourage car-free travel to the beach, and keep the program local and low-impact, so the experience feels as good as it looks.

PERFECT GIFT

Think useful, reusable and unmistakably The Hague. Pick up the Eau Eau Den Haag stainless-steel thermos or the minimalist Eau Eau water bottle—smart, durable souvenirs that cut single-use waste. Pair it with a bamboo “I love Den Haag” pen, or go glass with the classic swing-top Eau Eau beugelfles for stylish refills at meetings. All are available at the The Hague Info Store (online and in-city), alongside locally themed maps and design pieces—easy to pack and genuinely practical.

TOP 5 EVENTS IN 2025

Here are five flagship events that underscore The Hague’s vitality in 2025:

1. NATO Summit 2025 – The marquee moment, at World Forum.

2. ISI World Statistics Congress – reinforcing The Hague’s strength in knowledge-based congresses.

3. International legal or peace symposia (e.g. Hague Forum, ICJ events) — anchored by the city’s identity.

4. Cultural festivals such as the annual Museumnacht or classical music weeks, providing engaging social content alongside business programs.

5. Sustainability & Tech Summits in the energy, cybersecurity or climate space – capitalising on The Hague’s institutional presence in global justice and innovation. Such as ImpactFest and ONE Conference.

HAGUE'S FEATURES

NATURAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS

Den Haag is located on the North Sea coast and combines an urban environment with direct access to beaches and dune areas. The city hosts a high concentration of international institutions, including the International Court of Justice, ICC and various UN-related organisations. Cultural assets include major museums such as the Mauritshuis, Kunstmuseum Den Haag and Escher in Het Paleis. The city centre is compact and walkable, with historical government buildings concentrated around the Binnenhof. Cultural programming is stable rather than seasonal, allowing year-round event planning without dependency on peak tourism periods.

GENERAL AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Den Haag is part of the Randstad metropolitan area and connected to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport within 30–45 minutes by direct train. The city has two main railway stations (Den Haag Centraal and Hollands Spoor) with frequent national and international connections. Urban public transport consists of trams and buses with high coverage and reliability. Road access is adequate, but congestion can occur during peak hours. Cycling infrastructure is extensive and widely used. Digital infrastructure is robust, with fibre networks standard in conference venues and hotels.

TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE

The city offers a balanced mix of business and leisure accommodation, with a concentration of higher-category hotels in the city centre, near the World Forum and along the coastline in Scheveningen. Restaurants range from fine dining to large-capacity venues suitable for groups, though late-night options are more limited than in Amsterdam. Visitor attractions are evenly distributed and accessible without long transfers. The overall tourism profile is moderate and does not suffer from overtourism, which supports logistical planning for medium to large-scale events.

MEETINGS INFRASTRUCTURE

Den Haag’s meetings infrastructure is centred around the World Forum The Hague, which offers large-scale plenary capacity, multiple breakout rooms and integrated security options. Additional conference venues include hotels, governmental buildings and cultural institutions with meeting facilities. The city is particularly suited for political, legal, security and NGO-related conferences. While the number of very large venues is limited compared to capital cities, the infrastructure is stable, modern and designed for international, high-security events.

hague_partners — Photo: Hague & Partners

HAGUE FACT SHEET

Destination population:	560,000
*The number of 4 and 5* category hotel rooms:**	8000
*The number of 4 and 5* category hotels:**	35
The size of the largest hall in the city (in m2):	8,600
Maximum hall capacity in theatre style (the largest hall in the city)	5,000
Banquet hall maximum capacity (the largest hall in the city):	3,000
Average internet speed when organising events (Mbps):	400