The Netherlands boasts a fair few cities that warrant the title of ‘underrated’ – we obviously love Amsterdam, but hubs like Rotterdam, Utrecht and Maastricht are all worthy of adding to your European city break list.
As is The Hague. The city is best known for its political institutions – the Dutch government is based here, plus bodies such as the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and Europol. It’s only a short train ride from Amsterdam, but after a direct service to Brussels ceased to exist in 2021, it’s been lacking in rail connections to any major European capital outside of the Netherlands.
That’s why the city council unanimously passed a resolution to improve its European connections, with Mayor Jan van Zanen stating ‘it’s more than just a train service – it’s a link between people, ideas, and opportunities.’
The planning document is entitled ‘Next Stop: Europe’, and according to the Railway Gazette, advisory firm Berenschot has outlined two potential pathways for this to become a reality.
The first would be to reinstate the original Brussels service, which would involve extending the existing train route running between the Belgian capital and Rotterdam, and is apparently a relatively simple matter of adapting the timetable. Eventually, this could see smoother connections to other major European hubs like Berlin and Paris.
Alternatively, an ‘open access’ operator could establish a completely new service, using their own trains, staff and marketing. While that sounds like a major undertaking, market analysis from 2024 says passenger numbers could double by 2040, should the service start running again. Oh, and 1,450 tonnes of CO2 could be saved.
If all goes to plan, the service could be reinstated by 2029. In the meantime, here are 13 exciting train routes launching this year.
Why should you visit The Hague?
One of ’s own has visited The Hague’s springtime Rewire Festival, and can vouch for the city’s quiet appeal.
‘The Hague boasts a casual, unshouty sort of cool,’ says UK news and features editor Ed Cunningham, ‘Yes, I know there isn’t anything particularly trendy about embassies, government offices and the International Criminal Court, but Den Haag has a phenomenal bar scene and a lively Chinatown, a thriving seaside resort district (Scheveningen) and world-leading music festivals (Rewire), bags of Dutch royal history and spectacular works of architecture (Spui, the Pastor Van Ars Church).’
Mauritshuis is one of the city’s must-see museums, home to Johannes Vermeer’s universally recognised ‘Girl with the Pearl Earring’ painting, and Vredespaleis (the Peace Palace) is well worth a visit.
🌆 Check out the best cities to visit in the Netherlands (that aren’t Amsterdam).
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Plus: These two culture-packed European capitals are now finally connected by direct train.
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