I will be in The Hague in mid-July for 4 days, Sat-Tues, at least one of which (maybe two) will be a day trip to Amsterdam. Madurodam starts the list, please help me add to it.
Posted by
PA
2858 posts
Escher Museum - if you have even a little interest in his work this is spectacular. And only requires 2 hours.
Posted by
Denver, CO
796 posts
The new Visitor Center at the Peace Palace in The Hague is set to open in June 2012. Not sure if it's on schedule or not, but this could be an interesting stop if it's open. Here's the link:
http://www.vredespaleis.nl/default.asp?pid=86&page=Visitor_Centre
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7887 posts
There is one tram line in Den Haag that runs directly to Delft. If you haven't been there, I'd put that way ahead of Madurodam. Note that Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earing" may be going to Japan in July. It has been in a highlights exhibition at the Gemeentmuseum while the Mauritshis is closed for years of renovation. Leiden and Utrecht are also attractive cities. It can be tedious to get to UNESCO WHS Kinderdijk by public transportation. But I can tell you from personal experience it's also tedious by car from Den Haag. Very worthwhile sight, however.
Posted by
OP
Tel Aviv
15788 posts
I was thinking about revisiting Delft since it is so close. Thanks for the suggestion of Leiden and Utrecht, neither of which I've been to. I'm not much "into" painting before the Impressionists. I love all the miniatures, spent a day at Mini-France last year, so I am looking forward to another visit to Madurodam, now that it has been renovated.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7887 posts
Listen, I know better than to push a museum on someone who doesn't want it. But the bonus is that the permanent collection of the Gemeentemuseum is superb modern art. They even have Americans Carl Andre and Donald Judd, as well as the last 150 years of Europe.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
If you fancy walking through architecturally interesting places, there are many former nobility estates around the dunes on the way to the Scheveningen beach. Very nice atmosphere and some quiet parks around there .
Posted by
OP
Tel Aviv
15788 posts
Andre, that sounds like a lovely walk. Thank you.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
If you go to Delft from the Hague, take tram 1 instead of the NS train. The Delft train station is a huge mess due to construction to put it entirely underground. I didn't care for Delft, but I liked Leiden and Utrecht a lot. And I also liked Rotterdam, with its fascinating architecture (also a train station under construction). Get the architecture walking tour brochure free from the tourist office (they charge for other maps, so you get double value). Don't miss the Cube Houses, and the Cube House Museum - quite special.