Sand and Sky – A Day trip to Den Haag

January 16, 2012 in Experiences by uzo Akubuo

Many international students travel all over Europe when on Erasmus. Being part of mainland Europe and being close to Bremen and Eindhoven, where Ryanair provide cheap flights, it is therefore very easy to travel. Although surrounded by such beautiful cities such as Bremen, Hamburg, Brussels, Paris and countless others. It is possible to visit equally beautiful places in The Netherlands.

Last weekend I purchased a weekend day ticket from Kruidvat. The ticket is usually €12.49, however, I got it from a friend for €10. Various shops around Groningen regulary sell weekend and weekday tickets, which can save you a lot of money travelling around. For example a return ticket to The Hague from Groningen Central Station, undiscounted would cost almost €50.

I managed to drag myself out of bed at 8 o clock in the morning and just about make the 8.46 train to Den Haag, which is direct. Don’t forget, if the day ticket is in card form, you must stamp it using the machines at the station. Also, if the ticket is electronic, it needs to be activated and printed. The train on this particular day was very busy and I found myself standing for a large part of the journey. So arrive in plenty of time.

Travelling to The Haag can take between 2 and a half to 3 hours one way. There are a number of trains from Groningen, one which is direct and another which requires a change at Amersfoort. After arriving in The Hague, there are a number of things to see. It is simple to get around using the trams. There are a number of museums in the city and also the government buildings of the Dutch Parliament and Prime Minister.

One can take the number 11 tram to go to scheveningen, which takes about 20 minutes. There is a beautiful promenade and pier. The beach is rather beautiful and it is often full of people. There are a large number of restaurants on the promenade and quite a few various shops and casinos. The wide view out to the sea provides for a beautiful scene at sunset. There is currently a lot of maintenance work being carried out around the beach.

Chinatown is also worth a visit. There are dozens of restaurants which provide great value and delicious food. There are quite a number of shops in the city centre and a number of bars, coffeshops and restaurants.

The Hague is also home to one of the largest outdoor markets in Europe (Haagse Markt). With over 550 stalls, the markets are open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9.00 untill 17.00.

Text by Nicholas Kennedy