A brief The Hague overview with information and demographics for each of the city’s 8 residential districts including number of residents, access to public transport, green areas, schools and more.

THE HAGUE OVERVIEW

The following is a brief The Hague overview. Get to know each of the 8 districts that make up the third largest city in Netherlands. Besides ‘The Hague’, the city is also referred to in Dutch as Den Haag or more formally as ‘s-Gravenhage…

The Hague is 98.13 km² in area and is the most densely populated city in Netherlands with 6,861 residents/km².

The average age of a Hagenaar (resident of The Hague) is 39.2 years. 63.2% are between the ages of 20-64 years, 21.8% between 0-19 years and 15% are age 65 or over.

There are 284,014 households in The Hague which is a 7.2% increase over the past 5 years. This outpaces the population growth of 5.6% over the same period.

Home prices fell to their lowest levels following the 2008-2010 recession. In 2012 the average home valuation in The Hague was €175,000. Since then, prices have risen significantly. In 2023 the average home in The Hague was valued at €363,571.

THE HAGUE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS

Planning a move to The Hague? Familiarize yourself with the city’s eight urban districts before deciding where to live. Make sure an area covers your needs in terms of access to public transportation, green spaces, sports facilities, etc. For expats moving with children, close proximity to an international school may be important.

THE HAGUE CENTER

The Center (Urban District 5) is the oldest part of The Hague, with portions dating back to the 13th century. 110,339 residents (19.6% of the total) live in the Center. It is the most culturally diverse area of The Hague with 76.3% of residents having an international background.

Neighborhoods in the Center district include some of the city’s lowest-income (Schildersbuurt, Transvaalkwartier) and highest-income (Archipelbuurt-Willemspark, Zeeheldenkwartier) areas. The district is the best-served in terms of public transportation, with trains, buses and trams easily accessible. Landmarks include the Binnenhof (Dutch Parliament building), Noordeinde Palace, Peace Palace, Grote Kerk, Stadhuis (City Hall), Central Station, HollandsSpoor station and the city’s tallest buildings. The Center is the city’s least green district with only the Palace Gardens and Huijgenspark located in it.

ESCAMP

Escamp (Urban District 2) has grown significantly since the end of WWII. It extends from the Rustenbuurt-Oostbroek neighborhood on the north to Wateringse Veld on the south and from Moerwijk on the east to Bouwlust-Vrederust on the west. Located in Escamp are two of the city’s largest recreation areas: Zuiderpark (including the ‘Sportcampus‘ complex) and De Uithof, as well as the Leyweg Winkelcentrum (shopping center) and Juliana Children’s Hospital.

Escamp is home to more The Hague residents (130,811 or 23.2%) than any other district. 67.4% of residents have an international background while 32.4% are native Dutch. Public transportation options in Escamp include train (Moerwijk station), trams and buses. This district borders the neighboring cities of Wateringen and Rijswijk.

HAAGSE HOUT

Haagse Hout (Urban District 7) is one of the city’s greenest districts, with the 100-hectare (247 acres) Haagse Bos (The Hague forest) extending from the city center to the border of Wassenaar. It is home to 9.0% (50,598) of city residents, of which 52.2% have an international background and 47.8% are native Dutch. Neighborhoods in the Haagse Hout district include Benoordenhout and Marlot (2 of the city’s wealthiest areas), as well as Mariahoeve, Bezuidenhout and Beatrixkwartier.

Notable landmarks include the royal family’s residential palace, Huis ten Bosch, the Clingendael estate, Louwman Automotive Museum and the World Trade Center The Hague. Public transport includes train (stations Laan van N.O.I. and Mariahoeve), tram and bus. International schools include branches of the HSV (primary) and the British School (primary). The district borders the neighboring cities of Leidschendam, Voorburg and Wassenaar.

LAAK

Laak (Urban District 6) is the smallest in both area and population, with 8.2% (46,256) of city residents. It has 3 neighborhoods: Binckhorst, Spoorwijk and Laakkwartier. Since the Millennium, the city has expanded residential development in the district. There are several major projects still to come.

Demographically, 79.1% of district residents have an international background while 20.9% are native Dutch. Landmarks include The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Megastores shopping mall and Binck 36, the former headquarters of Dutch telecommunications company PTT. The Laak district borders the neighboring cities of Voorburg and Rijswijk.

LEIDSCHENVEEN-YPENBURG

Leidschenveen-Ypenburg (Urban District 8) has only been part of The Hague since 2002. The district is made up of land formerly belonging to the municipalities of Leidschendam, Nootdorp, Rijswijk and Pijnacker. Ypenburg is built on the site of a former air field. The district is home to 8.6% (48,463) of the city’s residents of which 53.6% have a native Dutch background and 46.6% have an international background.

The neighborhoods of Forepark and Hoornwijk are also part of Leidschenveen-Ypenburg. The district has four distinct quadrants due to two major motorways that intersect (the A4 running north-south and the A12 running east-west). Landmarks in Leidschenveen-Ypenburg include the Bingoal Stadium (home to the ADO Den Haag football club), Drievliet amusement park and the Leidschenveen campus of the British School (primary/secondary).

LOOSDUINEN

Until its annexation in 1923, Loosduinen (Urban District 1) had been a separate municipality. It is located on the southwest side of the city and includes the neighborhoods of Kijkduin-Ockenburg, Kraayenstein-De Uithof, Bohemen and Waldeck. It is home to 9.4% (52,737) of The Hague’s residents of whom 63.8% are native Dutch and 36.2% have an international background. Loosduinen has the highest penetration of senior citizens (27.6%).

Landmarks in this district include the Kijkduin beach strand, De Savornin Lohmanplein shopping center, the International School of The Hague (primary/secondary), De Korenaer windmill and the Ockenburgh and Madestein recreation areas. The district is served by tram and bus. Loosduinen borders the neighboring towns of Poeldijk and Monster.

SCHEVENINGEN

Scheveningen (Urban District 4) covers more than half of the city’s North Sea coastline. 10.8% (60,869) of The Hague residents live in this district. 60.8% have a native Dutch background while 39.2% are international. Scheveningen includes the neighborhoods of Oostduinen, Belgische Park, Westbroekpark, Van Stolkpark, Scheveningen, Statenkwartier, International Zone and Duindorp.

Scheveningen is the city’s greenest district with the 92 hectare (227 acre) Scheveninges Bosjes, the 46 hectare (113 acre) Westbroekpark and the 20 hectare (49 acre) Nieuwe Scheveningse Bosjes. Many attractions and landmarks are located in Scheveningen including De Pier and Skyview Ferris Wheel, Kurhaus Hotel, Scheveningen Lighthouse and Harbour, Kunstmuseum Den Haag and Madurodam theme park. Public transport options include tram and bus.

SEGBROEK

Segbroek (Urban District 3) is west of the city center and includes the neighborhoods of Bomen & Bloemenbuurt, Regentessekwartier, Valkenboskwartier, Vruchtenbuurt and Vogelwijk (one of the city’s wealthiest areas). It is home to 11.2% (63,049) of The Hague’s residents who are 56.5% native Dutch and 43.4% international.

Popular shopping streets in Segbroek include Fahrenheitstraat, Thomsonlaan and Reinkenstraat. The European School of The Hague (primary/secondary), Bosjes van Poot park and De Verademing central energy plant are located in the district. Public transport is available by tram and bus.

All figures shown are based on 2023 data unless noted otherwise.

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