The Hague Private Tour: Mauritshuis & Peace Palace with Guide

Walk the political heart of the Netherlands at your own speed, then explore the Girl with a Pearl Earring in person.

A private walking tour of The Hague with a live guide in your chosen language, covering the parliament complex, royal palaces and the Peace Palace, followed by an introductory tour of Mauritshuis museum and free time to explore on your own. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available as an option. The guide answers questions about Dutch history, politics and daily life, and you control how long you spend at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore The Hague city and museum

• Meet guide at William of Orange statue
• Walk past parliament and Knight's Hall
• View Hofvijver lake and prime minister's office
• See Thorbecke statue and learn about democracy
• Stroll along The Hague's Champs-Élysées
• Visit Dutch king's working palace
• See Grote Kerk and old town hall
• Discover statue of eaten head of government
• View Peace Palace and International Court
• Tour Mauritshuis museum highlights
• Free time at Mauritshuis museum

The Experience

You meet your guide at Square 1813, next to the statue of William of Orange, and walk through the political center of the Netherlands together. The route passes the Binnenhof—the parliament complex and Knight's Hall where ministers work—and the Hofvijver lake in front of the prime minister's office. Your guide explains the significance of each place and the history behind the statues and buildings you pass: the Thorbecke monument and its connection to Dutch democracy, the Noordeinde Palace (the working residence of the Dutch king, where a flag signals whether he's in the country), and the Grote Kerk with its unusual tower and the stork perched on top of it. The walk also takes you down what locals call the Champs-Élysées of The Hague—a street lined with embassies, galleries, a famous hotel and statues of Dutch heads of state.

Before entering the museum, you see the Peace Palace, built in 1913 and home to the International Court of Justice. Then you arrive at Mauritshuis, the museum known for its collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings. Your guide gives you a tour of the highlights—including the Girl with a Pearl Earring—and after that introduction, you're free to stay and explore the rest of the collection at your own pace. The whole experience takes about three hours from start to finish, though you control how long you linger at any point along the walk.

The tour runs in English, Spanish, Italian, French, German or Dutch, depending on which option you book. If you choose the pickup option, a car collects you from your hotel and returns you there after the museum visit, so you don't need to navigate to the starting point or arrange your own transport back.

What’s included

• Private walking tour with a live guide.
• entrance tickets to Mauritshuis museum.
• an introductory highlights tour inside the museum.
• hotel pickup and drop-off by car (if you book that option).
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Discover Delft

Is this one for you?Book this if you're new to The Hague and want someone who knows the city to explain what you're walking past—the parliament, the palaces, the statues and their stories—rather than reading plaques on your own. The guide's pace adjusts to yours, so you're not rushed through the political center or the museum.

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Top questions

What is the Girl with a Pearl Earring and why is it at Mauritshuis?

The Girl with a Pearl Earring is a 17th-century portrait by Johannes Vermeer and one of the most famous paintings in the world. Mauritshuis holds it as part of its collection of Dutch Golden Age art, and your guide will point out the highlights during the museum portion of the tour.

Can I spend more time in the Mauritshuis after the guide's introduction?

Yes. Your guide gives you an introductory tour of the museum's highlights, and then you're free to stay as long as you want to explore the rest of the collection on your own.

Will I see the Dutch king or any government ministers during the walking tour?

You'll walk past the Binnenhof parliament complex and the Knight's Hall where ministers work, and your guide will explain what you're seeing. Whether you spot any officials depends on the day and time, but it's possible.

Is hotel pickup included, or do I need to get to the starting point myself?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are available as an option at checkout. If you don't book that option, you'll meet your guide at Square 1813 in The Hague and make your own way there.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs for about three hours from the meeting point through the museum introduction. If you stay longer in the Mauritshuis after your guide finishes, that time is your own.

What languages is the guide available in?

The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Dutch. You choose your language when you book.