Things to do for au pairs in The Hague

First places to explore

Start with the places that help you understand the city quickly. You do not need a full plan. Pick one neighbourhood, walk around for an hour and save a few places you want to return to.

• •Walk along Scheveningen beach or Kijkduin
• •Explore the Hofvijver, Binnenhof and Lange Voorhout
• •Visit the Paleistuin for a quiet city-centre break
• •Go for a walk or run in Haagse Bos
• •Practise Dutch at Taalhuis Bibliotheek
• •Try a Dutch Language Café
• •Plan a budget day trip by train
• •Check free things to do in The Hague

Free and low-cost things to do

The Hague has many easy free-time options that do not need a big budget. Walk around the Hofvijver, Binnenhof and Lange Voorhout, visit the Paleistuin, go to Scheveningen beach or explore Kijkduin when you want a calmer beach feeling.

For a more nature-focused day, try a walk in Haagse Bos or Westduinpark. If you prefer city life, wander through Zeeheldenkwartier, Noordeinde, Denneweg or Frederikstraat and save cafés, shops and corners you like.

Tip: DenHaag.com also keeps a list of free things to do in The Hague, which is useful when you want inspiration without spending much.

Cafés and study spots

Cafés are helpful when you want to get out of the house, study, write, call family or meet another au pair. Some good places to start:

• Bookstor: a cosy bookshop café on Noordeinde for coffee, reading or journaling.
• Lola Bikes & Coffee: a relaxed coffee spot with an international feel and bikes nearby.
• Boosty: easy for lunch, smoothies and casual coffee, with locations in Statenkwartier and Archipel.
• Anne & Max Den Haag: useful for coffee, lunch or meeting someone in the city centre.

If you are new in the city, choose cafés near easy tram stops or places you already know. It makes meeting people feel less stressful.

Beach and Scheveningen ideas

One of the best things about The Hague is that city life and beach life are close together. For an easy free-time plan, take the tram to Scheveningen, walk along the boulevard, visit the pier, get a coffee or watch the sunset from the beach.

Kijkduin is often a little calmer and can be lovely for a walk, especially if you want space, dunes and sea air without the busy boulevard feeling.

Beach ideas for au pairs: a sunset walk, a beach picnic, a low-cost coffee date, a short run, a weekend walk with another au pair or simply sitting outside with a book when the weather is good.

Sport and running

Sport is one of the easiest ways to build a social rhythm in a new city. You can start very simply: walk or run in Haagse Bos, along Scheveningen beach, through Westbroekpark or around your own neighbourhood.

If you like running, start with our guide to running in The Hague and Scheveningen. It is a good next step if you want social runs, local routes or a sport routine that does not require much equipment.

Language practice

Learning a little Dutch can make everyday life feel easier, even if your host family speaks English. You can start with library resources, casual conversation and small daily words with the children.

Taalhuis Bibliotheek can help with advice about books, exercises and language courses. You can visit the Central Library or a local library point. For a more social option, try the Dutch Language Café, which focuses on practising Dutch while meeting people.

Simple au pair tip: practise child-related Dutch first. Words for food, clothes, weather, colours, feelings and routines are useful every day.

Social ideas and meeting people

Making friends can take time, especially if you are new in the Netherlands. Try to combine social plans with something simple: coffee, a beach walk, language practice, a run, a class or a small local event.

• • Ask your host family if they know other au pairs nearby.
• • Join a run, sport class or language group.
• • Use cafés as easy low-pressure meeting spots.
• • Try one recurring weekly activity instead of many loose plans.
• • Keep first meet-ups public and simple, especially with new people.

Weekend ideas by train

The Hague is well connected by train, which makes weekend trips easy. Always check your route and ticket before leaving. NS has a travel planner and pages with city trip ideas and occasional Spoordeelwinkel deals.

• Delft: small, beautiful and easy for a half-day trip.
• Leiden: canals, cafés, museums and a student-city feeling.
• Rotterdam: modern architecture, shopping, food halls and a bigger-city vibe.
• Amsterdam: a classic weekend trip, especially if you plan your route and timing well.
• Haarlem: a pretty city for cafés, shopping and relaxed wandering.