Shopping in The Hague

The Hague is excellent for international and local shopping. Most shops are in the semi-pedestrianised Binnenstad immediately west of the Hofvijver lake, bordered south by Grote marktstraat and west by Jan Hendrikstraat/Toren-Straat. Ask the tourist office for their credit-card sized fold out map of the Binnenstadt.

Key areas

At the heart of the Binnenstadt, Haagsche Bluf is a charming square of classy shops occupying genuinely old and re-created historic premises. Running north, Prinsestraat is known for its designer outlets and, parallel, Noordeinde is one of the city's best shopping (and eating) streets with many art galleries.

Another charming street running north with excellent shops is Denneweg, renowned for its antique outlets.

A myriad of fashion boutiques are arranged like a chain around the royal palaces in Noordeinde, Hoogstraat and Prinsestraat.

For those world-famous blue-and-white Dutch ceramics, make the short journey to Delft to buy at source from the Royal Delft Porcelain Factory, Rotterdamseweg 96. They also offer factory tours.

The Weimarstraat lies outside the city centre and attracts shoppers with almost 200 shops, restaurants and bars. The shops in the Weimarstraat sell local culinary delights and excotic foods, vintage furniture and gifts out of the ordinary. If you are not lame after a shopping spree in Weimartstraat just walk on to Prins Hendrikstraat, which is another shopper's paradise outside of the city centre. 

Markets

The Hague has a number of markets, the best known being the Haagse Markt on Herman Costerstraat, which takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. As well as consumables, you can find all manner of fabrics, clothes and household items here.

Shopping centres

Grote Marktstraat is home to major department stores as well as designer fashion shops. The Netherlands' first covered mall, De Passage, just off Hofweg, is a beautiful 115-year old glass-covered arcade with upmarket stores. It consits of the old Passage and the new Passage, where you can shop protected from wet weather by a glass roof. Wagenstraat sports the large department store De Bijenkorf. 

Opening hours

In the city centre, most shops open Tuesday to Friday from 1000-1800/2000, Saturday 0900-1700, and Monday between 1100 or 1300-1700. There is late night shopping, until 2100 on Thursdays. Many shops also open on Sundays.

Tax information

Non-EU visitors are able to take advantage of reduced VAT shopping in major stores, the tax refund usually being claimed back on departing the Netherlands.