The Hague Expat Guide 2026: Living, Working & Costs

The Hague at a Glance

Photo: The Hague, the Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

• Population: 550,000 (city proper)
• Expat population: approximately 90,000 — one of the highest concentrations of international residents in the Netherlands relative to city size
• Main languages spoken: Dutch, English (widely spoken especially in international and government circles), French, Arabic, and numerous diplomatic community languages
• Key industries: national government, international law and justice, European and UN institutions, defence
• Average commute: 20–30 minutes by tram or bike

The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government and the location of the Dutch royal house, as well as the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and dozens of other intergovernmental organisations. This gives it a character unlike any other city in the Netherlands — more formal, more internationally minded in a diplomatic sense, and with a very well-established expat infrastructure built over decades.

If you are coming to the Netherlands on an assignment with a government body, an international law firm, or an NGO, The Hague is almost certainly where you will land. But it is also increasingly popular with expats working in tech and professional services who want lower rents than Amsterdam with good rail connections.

The city sits 25 minutes from Rotterdam by train and has a coastline — Scheveningen is a proper North Sea beach, not just a strip of sand by a river. That combination is reasonably rare in the Netherlands.

Cost of Living

The Hague is more affordable than Amsterdam but more expensive than Rotterdam, and the cost gap has narrowed in recent years as demand has grown.

The Archipelbuurt and Statenkwartier command the highest rents in the city. Areas further from the centre — Laak, Moerwijk — are substantially cheaper but less commonly chosen by international arrivals. Scheveningen is a premium address given the beach access.

Use the Housing Budget Checker to work out what your budget can realistically cover here.

Best Neighbourhoods for Expats

Bezuidenhout — The most popular neighbourhood for expats working in the international institutions along the Johan de Wittlaan corridor. Walking or cycling distance to the Peace Palace and the main ICC/ICJ offices. Well-maintained, green, and with good schools including the American School of The Hague and the International School of The Hague nearby. A 1-bedroom runs €1,200–€1,450.

Scheveningen — The coastal neighbourhood, about 5 km from the city centre. More seasonal in character than the rest of the city but increasingly popular as a year-round address. Rents are €1,150–€1,400 for a 1-bedroom; sea view apartments command a premium.

Statenkwartier — Elegant streets, independent shops, and a distinctly settled feel. Popular with diplomats and senior professionals. 1-bedroom average €1,300–€1,600. The rental market here is competitive.

Archipelbuurt — Close to the ministries and international organisations. One of the most sought-after addresses in the city, with a mix of large apartments and converted houses. Expect €1,350–€1,700 for a 1-bedroom.

Working in The Hague

The dominant employer is the Dutch national government — ministries, parliament, and supporting agencies. If you are a Dutch-speaking professional in policy, law, or public administration, the job market here is substantial. For international arrivals, the intergovernmental sector is the main draw: the ICJ, ICC, OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons), Europol, Eurojust, and around 200 other international organisations are based in or around the city.

Beyond government and international law, The Hague has a growing tech sector. Siemens, T-Mobile Netherlands, and Tata Consultancy Services all have significant presences here. The Hague Tech is the main coworking hub and also functions as a startup ecosystem, hosting around 200 companies. Day passes run €20–€30; monthly memberships from €200.

For expats arriving on diplomatic or assignment status, the International Service Centre The Hague provides dedicated registration and arrival support — worth checking whether your employer has an arrangement there.

For salary benchmarking use the Salary Checker or read the Working in the Netherlands guide. Use the 30% Ruling Calculator to see how much tax you could save. If you have a foreign degree, check recognition requirements with the Diploma Evaluator.

Getting Registered

Registration is handled by the Gemeente Den Haag. Appointments are available online at the main city hall (Spui) and district offices. Waiting times are typically 1–3 weeks.

Expats arriving on assignment through an international organisation should check whether their employer has a dedicated registration pathway — many of the larger institutions have agreements with the municipality that simplify the process. The International Service Centre on Catsheuvel handles arrivals specifically for this group.

Standard documentation: passport, rental contract, employment contract or proof of sufficient funds. BSN is issued on the day of registration.

Use the BSN Planner to prepare your documents in advance. Not sure which visa you need? Use the Visa Checker to find out. Planning your integration path? The Inburgering Route Planner shows your requirements.

Healthcare & Insurance

The main hospitals in The Hague are HMC (Haaglanden Medisch Centrum, two campuses), Reinier de Graaf (Delft, close to the city), and the Bronovo hospital (now part of HMC). For specialist treatment, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) is about 20 minutes away by train.

English-speaking GPs are well established in The Hague given the international population. The International Health Centre Den Haag caters specifically to expats. Several practices in the Bezuidenhout and Statenkwartier areas have English-language capacity. Registration waiting lists are typically 2–5 weeks.

Health insurance is mandatory from your first day as a Dutch resident. Expats on certain diplomatic statuses may have different arrangements — check with your employer. For standard arrivals, premiums start around €140/month with a €385 eigen risico. Use the Health Insurance Wizard to compare options. Compare Dutch and international expat insurance options with the Insurance Comparison.

Transport

The Hague’s tram network is one of the most extensive in the Netherlands, operated by HTM. Most of the city is accessible by tram, and cycling infrastructure is good. The coastal tram line runs along the North Sea coast — a useful and somewhat scenic option if you live in Scheveningen or further north.

By rail, The Hague Centraal connects to Amsterdam (50 minutes), Rotterdam (25 minutes), and Leiden (15 minutes). The Intercity Direct from Amsterdam also stops at The Hague HS (Hollands Spoor), which is the second main station in the city.

For a full guide to OV travel, see the OV-chipkaart guide for expats.

Practical Tips for Your First Weeks in The Hague

Two stations, not one. The Hague has two main stations: Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag HS (Hollands Spoor). Amsterdam trains use Centraal; some Rotterdam and Leiden services use both. Know which station serves your route before you set up a commuting routine.

The HTM tram network is comprehensive. Most of The Hague is accessible by tram, and the tram lines run more frequently than bus services in most other Dutch cities. Line 1 (Delft–Scheveningen) and line 9 (Vrederust–Strandboulevard) cover most expat-relevant destinations.

Check parking rules carefully if you drive. The Hague has an extensive paid parking zone system. Different zones have different maximum parking durations and permits. Buying a resident’s parking permit (bewonersvergunning) makes sense if you live here and own a car; it requires registration at the municipality and has a waiting list in central areas.

The International Service Centre at Catsheuvel is not just for diplomatic arrivals. The ISC handles registration support for a broader range of international organisations than most new arrivals realise. If your employer has any institutional connection to the international organisations cluster, check whether they have an ISC arrangement — it simplifies the registration and first-steps process considerably compared to the standard municipality queue. The ISC also runs practical workshops on Dutch bureaucracy, healthcare, and settling in, which are worth attending even if your registration is handled through a separate channel.

Scheveningen in winter is underrated. Most new arrivals visit the beach in summer when it is crowded. The North Sea coast in October through February has a different quality — the light, the wind, the empty stretches of sand. If you want to understand why The Hague residents are attached to their coastal proximity, the winter coast is where that becomes clear.

Getting Started in The Hague

Moving to The Hague requires a few first steps. Here are the most important ones:

Open a bank account — You’ll need a Dutch bank account for rent, salary, and daily expenses. Wise offers a multi-currency account that works from day one, even before your BSN arrives. Open a Wise account →

Get health insurance — Dutch health insurance (zorgverzekering) is mandatory. Use Independer to compare all Dutch health insurers in English. Compare health insurance →

Consider expat insurance — If you’re still settling in or working remotely, SafetyWing provides affordable global coverage from $45/month. Get SafetyWing coverage →

Compare banks — Use the Bank Account Comparison to find the right Dutch bank for your situation.

Plan your budget — Use our free cost of living calculator and housing budget checker to see what you can afford in The Hague.

Expat Community & Social Life

The Hague has one of the most structured expat communities in the Netherlands, built around the international organisations that have been here for decades. ACCESS (Assistance Centre for Expats in the Netherlands) is headquartered in The Hague and provides practical support, workshops, and an information helpline specifically for expats settling in the area — it is genuinely useful and run by experienced volunteers who have gone through the process themselves.

The International Club of The Hague has been running since the 1960s and organises social events, cultural trips, and connections for international residents. InterNations The Hague is active with a full calendar of events. The AmeriCom group, British Netherlands Association, and numerous nationality-based clubs reflect the diplomatic community’s depth.

One thing I find distinctive about The Hague social scene is that the long-established nature of the expat community creates a level of organisation that newer clusters elsewhere lack. There are clubs and networks for almost every interest, and the international schools create natural parent networks that run independently of the formal organisations.

The beach at Scheveningen is a genuine amenity — accessible year-round, not just in summer. The North Sea coastline from Scheveningen north through Kijkduin and toward Hoek van Holland is reachable by tram or bike, and the dunes between the coast and the city are good cycling and walking territory.

Schools and Families

The Hague has more international schools per capita than any other Dutch city. The main options:

The American School of The Hague (ASH) — Wassenaar, just outside the city. US curriculum, one of the most established international schools in the country. Fees approximately €18,000–€22,000/year.

The International School of The Hague (ISH) — Central location, IB curriculum from primary through diploma. Fees similar to ASH.

Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar — Bilingual Dutch-English school with a strong IB programme. More integrated with the Dutch system, which suits families on longer-term placements.

Lycée Français Vincent van Gogh — French system, primarily for French diplomatic families but open to others.

Several of these schools have waiting lists. Register before you arrive.

The city itself is relatively calm compared to Amsterdam, which many families cite as a reason for choosing it. Traffic is manageable, the tram network reduces car dependency, and the residential neighbourhoods around Bezuidenhout and Statenkwartier are genuinely pleasant places to raise children.

Housing Search: Practical Advice

The Hague’s rental market is competitive but less aggressive than Amsterdam. Good properties at €1,200–€1,500 for a one-bedroom receive multiple applications, but you typically have 24–48 hours to decide rather than hours.

The Archipelbuurt and Statenkwartier markets are tight — supply is limited and landlords can be selective. Bezuidenhout and the areas around the Anna Paulowna and Javastraat have better supply at slightly lower prices.

Furnished apartments are common in The Hague given the number of expats on short to medium-term assignments. If your employer is an international organisation, check whether they have a preferred housing service or relocation partner — many of the larger institutions have arrangements that simplify the process.

For longer-term residents, several Dutch-speaking neighbourhoods just outside the international corridors — Loosduinen, Escamp — offer more space at meaningfully lower rents.

Life in The Hague Beyond Work

The Hague gets described as formal and government-focused, and that is partially true. But it is a city with a lot more texture than that reputation suggests.

The beach at Scheveningen is a genuine year-round asset. On summer evenings, the Scheveningse Boulevard is busy with residents rather than tourists. In winter, the North Sea coast has a specific kind of stark appeal — the dune walks between Scheveningen and Kijkduin are excellent in January when the wind is up and nobody else is out there. The Hague residents use the coast in a way that distinguishes them from residents of inland Dutch cities.

The museum offer is exceptional. The Mauritshuis — small but containing the Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt’s Anatomy Lesson — is one of the better museum experiences in the Netherlands. The Gemeentemuseum (Kunstmuseum) has the world’s largest Mondrian collection and a strong contemporary programme. The Panorama Mesdag, a 360-degree panoramic painting from 1881, is genuinely unusual.

The restaurant scene has improved considerably over the past decade and the mix of cuisines reflects the city’s international character. The area around the Frederikstraat and the Paleis Promenade has good independent restaurants. The Chinatown on the Wagenstraat — smaller than Amsterdam’s but authentic — is worth knowing about if you cook Asian food.

The city’s park system is generous. The Westbroekpark, the Scheveningse Bosjes, and the Haagse Bos give the city more green space than its density would suggest. The Zuiderpark in the south is large and underused, which means quiet.

Settling In: The First Month

1. Confirm housing with a lease that permits municipality registration
2. Book registration at Gemeente Den Haag (denhaag.nl)
3. Attend registration and receive BSN — the International Service Centre on Catsheuvel specifically handles arrivals through international organisations
4. Open a Dutch bank account
5. Register for health insurance — diplomatic personnel should confirm with their employer whether Dutch state insurance applies or whether organisational coverage takes precedence
6. Register with an English-speaking GP — several practices in Bezuidenhout and Statenkwartier cater specifically to international patients
7. Apply for DigiD after BSN is in hand

Related Guides

• Moving to The Hague: Full Guide 2026
• Finding Housing in the Netherlands
• Working in the Netherlands
• Health Insurance for Expats 2026

The Hague is the most organised expat city in the Netherlands — decades of international institutional presence have built infrastructure that newer international clusters in other cities are still developing. If the international sector is your world, this is where that world is most fully built out.