BEST CITY CENTRE
The Hague is the residence of around 50,000 businesses, of which about 10% are retail establishments. Local government and entrepreneurs have shared the view that maintaining a healthy balance between large chains and small, specialist shops with their own look and character is essential to The Hague’s development. The result: till 2015 The Hague gets to call itself the Netherlands’ best city centre in the category ‘large city centres’.
VISITORS
Annually The Hague welcomes more than 30 million visitors from all over the Netherlands and the world, who come for a wide variety of reasons. The Hague is a theatre for everything from congresses and cultural events to international jurisdiction and (international) political happenings. Art lovers can find countless museums here together with a varied offering of performance arts and music festivals. Madurodam, The Binnenhof (parliamentary and government buildings) and the beach at Scheveningen are all places worth experiencing, whatever the time of year.
POLITCAL CENTRE
The Netherlands’ government has been based in The Hague since 1584. This location was originally established due to the governors of the time already residing here, but later became fixed for constitutional reasons. The political centre is formed of The Binnenhof and The Ridderzaal surrounded by other parliamentary and government buildings including The Torentje, which is the Prime-Minister’s office.
INHABITANTS
Disposable income is 6% above national average. 45% of the workforce has undergone higher education. 10% of residents are wealthy expatriates.
ROYAL THRONE
The Netherlands’ Royal Family is based in The Hague, working out of the Paleis Noordeinde and residing at Paleis Huis ten Bosch.
CITY EMBLEM
The Hague’s city emblem is the Stork, which features prominently in the municipal coat of arms. This originates from a time when clipped-wing storks were used to scavenge and thereby clean up the fish markets. They were considered to bring good luck.