Is The Hague, Netherlands Safe in 2026? Crime & Travel Tips

What the score means — 84/100

• Personal safety (81) — very high. Violent crime against visitors is rare; the realistic risks are pickpocketing and opportunistic theft around trams, the two main stations and summer beach crowds, rather than any threat to your person.
• Night safety (79) — high. Central, well-lit districts stay pleasant after dark, and violent street crime against visitors is uncommon; the main after-dark friction is drink-fuelled rowdiness around late-night bar and club areas and a quieter, less busy feel around the stations.
• Transport (83) — excellent. The HTM tram and bus network, RandstadRail, NS trains from Den Haag Centraal and Hollands Spoor, safe taxis and Uber, and a genuinely walkable, cycle-friendly core. Clean, punctual and easy to use.
• Healthcare (90) — outstanding. The Hague has large modern hospitals and high-quality care, and 112 dispatches ambulances across the EU-standard emergency system.

Getting oriented — Binnenhof, Noordeinde, Scheveningen and beyond

The Hague is compact, green and easy to navigate, spreading from the government quarter in the centre out to the North Sea dunes and the Scheveningen resort. All the main visitor areas are safe for day and evening visiting; the notes below are about atmosphere and petty-theft awareness, not danger.

• Binnenhof and the city centre — the historic heart, home to the Binnenhof parliament complex, the Mauritshuis museum, the Grote Markt and the main shopping streets. Lively, well-policed and safe by day and evening; the usual keep-an-eye-on-your-bag applies in the busy pedestrian streets and around the trams.
• Noordeinde — the elegant royal and shopping street around the Noordeinde Palace, lined with antique dealers, galleries and cafés. Upmarket, quiet and very safe.
• Scheveningen beach and pier — the wide sandy North Sea resort with its landmark pier, boulevard, casino and beach clubs, a short tram ride from the centre. Safe and hugely popular; in summer it draws big crowds, which means more pickpocket activity and busy nightlife along the boulevard — guard your valuables on the sand and mind the water and currents when swimming.
• Zeeheldenkwartier — the characterful "sea heroes" quarter just west of the centre, full of independent shops, bars and restaurants. Trendy, residential and safe, with the usual big-city awareness at night.
• Statenkwartier and the Peace Palace — the graceful, leafy embassy district around the Vredespaleis (Peace Palace, seat of the ICJ), with handsome streets and the Panorama Mesdag nearby. Quiet, affluent and very safe.
• Hollands Spoor (HS) and Den Haag Centraal station areas — the two main rail hubs and the districts to be a little more alert in. Like many big-city stations, the immediate surrounds can feel busier and scruffier, with more foot traffic and occasional street drinking or begging, especially after dark. They are heavily used and not no-go zones, but mind your bags, watch for pickpockets on crowded platforms, and don't linger in quiet corners late at night.

There are no tourist-facing no-go neighbourhoods in The Hague. Standard urban awareness — guard your belongings around trams, stations and beach crowds, and stay a bit more alert around the stations after dark — is all that is required.

Pickpockets, petty theft and minor scams

The Hague is low on scams by world-city standards, and none of the common ones involve violence. The realistic risk is opportunistic theft — above all pickpocketing in crowds — rather than organised cons.

• Pickpocketing around trams, stations and crowds — the single most common risk. Skilled pickpockets work busy trams, the two main stations, the pedestrian shopping streets and the packed Scheveningen beach and boulevard in summer. Keep your phone and wallet in a front or zipped pocket, wear bags across your body, and be extra careful in the crush.
• Beach-crowd theft — on hot summer days the Scheveningen sand and beach clubs draw dense crowds; never leave phones, wallets or bags unattended on a towel while you swim. Take only what you need.
• Bar and drinks sense — in busy centre and Scheveningen nightspots, keep an eye on your drink and never leave a bag over a chair or on the floor. Watch your tab and your card.
• Bike-hire and left-luggage sense — use reputable hire schemes and lock rental bikes properly (bike theft is common in Dutch cities); keep valuables with you rather than in an unattended pannier.
• Taxi and rideshare sense — licensed taxis are metered and honest; Uber and Bolt operate widely. Prefer an app so the route and fare are logged, and use official ranks rather than any unofficial car.

Watch the bikes — a cycling city for pedestrians

The single most useful safety adjustment for a first-time visitor is not about crime at all — it is learning to read the traffic. The Netherlands is a cycling nation, and The Hague is criss-crossed with dedicated bike lanes (usually red-paved) alongside the pavements and roads. Cyclists have priority and move fast, often silently.

• Know the red lanes — the red-surfaced strips are cycle lanes, not footpaths. Don't walk, stand or take photos in them, and look both ways before stepping across one.
• Look for bikes at every crossing — cyclists come from both directions and often don't stop; check for bikes as well as cars, trams and buses before you cross.
• Mind the trams too — HTM trams share some streets; cross at marked points and listen for their bells.
• Watch children and evenings — keep children close to the pavement side, and be aware that many bikes have modest lights after dark.

Once you internalise the rhythm of the bike lanes, getting around on foot is easy, pleasant and safe.

Getting around — HTM trams, trains, cycling and walking

• Trams and buses (HTM) and RandstadRail — the city's public transport, run by HTM, combines trams, buses and the RandstadRail light-rail link to Rotterdam and Zoetermeer. It is clean, punctual, safe and easy to use. Pay with an OV-chipkaart, a contactless bank card or the app, and check in and out with each journey.
• Trains (Den Haag Centraal and Hollands Spoor) — NS national rail runs frequent, reliable services from the two main stations, linking The Hague to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Schiphol Airport and beyond. Safe and efficient; keep valuables close on busy platforms and trains.
• Cycling — the flat, bike-friendly city has extensive cycle lanes and hire schemes, and cycling is the local way to get around. Lock bikes properly, use lights after dark, and follow the well-marked lanes.
• Walking — the centre, Binnenhof, Noordeinde and the museum quarter are all comfortably walkable, and the seafront at Scheveningen is a lovely stroll. Just respect the bike lanes when crossing.
• Taxis and rideshare — licensed metered taxis, Uber and Bolt are all plentiful, safe and easy. Use an app at night so the ride is logged.

The Hague after dark

• Safe and relaxed — the night-safety sub-score of 79 reflects a city where central, lit districts stay pleasant after dark. Violent street crime against visitors is uncommon, and central areas are well-policed.
• Where the nightlife is — the Grote Markt and Plein squares in the centre, the Zeeheldenkwartier, and the Scheveningen boulevard in summer are the main hubs, with bars, clubs and beach venues.
• The realistic after-dark friction — drink-fuelled rowdiness around late-night bar and club areas at closing time, active pickpockets in the crush, and a quieter, less busy feel around the stations late at night. None of it targets ordinary visitors; give any brewing altercation a wide berth and keep moving.
• Getting home — HTM trams and buses run late (with night buses at weekends); after that, use a metered taxi or Uber/Bolt rather than any unofficial car. Keep an eye on your bag and drink in busy bars.

Women and solo travellers

• Very comfortable — like the Netherlands generally, The Hague is considered very safe for women and for solo travellers, with low rates of serious street harassment and a visible police presence.
• Solo dining and transit — eating alone, riding the trams and walking central districts after dark are entirely normal and unremarkable.
• Standard sense — the ordinary precautions still apply: keep an eye on your drink in bars, guard against pickpockets in the crush and on the beach, avoid the quieter corners around the stations late at night, and stay aware at closing time in the nightlife areas.
• Ride-hailing — prefer Uber, Bolt or a licensed taxi at night, share your trip status with someone, and keep your accommodation address saved.

Demonstrations near the government and courts

• A city of government and justice — as the seat of the Dutch parliament and monarchy and the home of the International Court of Justice (at the Peace Palace) and the International Criminal Court, The Hague sees peaceful demonstrations and marches from time to time, typically near the government quarter (around the Binnenhof, the Malieveld field and the Plein) or the court buildings.
• Generally orderly and well-policed — Dutch protests are usually peaceful and heavily policed. They are easy to sidestep: if you come across a rally or march, simply keep clear of it.
• Sensible precautions — avoid the centre of any large gathering, follow police instructions and signage, and note that large demonstrations can temporarily disrupt tram routes and road access in the government quarter. Check local news if a major event is scheduled.

Seasons, the North Sea and the beach

• North Sea weather — The Hague sits on an exposed coast, so expect wind, changeable skies and cool, damp spells even in summer; winters are cold, grey and blustery. Bring a windproof, waterproof layer year-round.
• The beach in summer — Scheveningen and the quieter Kijkduin beaches are the big draw in warm months, with lifeguards, beach clubs and swimming. Heed the flag warnings, mind the North Sea currents and cold water, and don't leave valuables unattended on the sand.
• Dunes and cycling paths — the coastal dunes and parks are lovely for walking and cycling; stick to marked paths and carry water on hot days.
• Winter and storms — autumn and winter storms can bring strong coastal winds; take care on the exposed pier and boulevard in bad weather.

Health, medical care and emergencies

• Emergency numbers — dial 112 for medical, fire and police emergencies (the EU-wide number). Operators handle English, and response is fast and professional. For non-urgent police matters, call 0900-8844.
• Hospitals — The Hague has large modern hospitals (including the HMC and HagaZiekenhuis groups) offering high-quality care.
• EHIC / GHIC and insurance — EU visitors should carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and UK visitors a GHIC, which cover state-provided medical care. All travellers should still hold comprehensive travel insurance with medical cover; non-EU visitors without it should expect to pay and claim.
• Pharmacies (apotheek) — widespread and well-stocked; a rota of duty (dienst) pharmacies covers nights and Sundays, posted on any pharmacy door. Bring a supply of any prescription medication plus a copy of the prescription.
• Water and food — tap water is treated and safe to drink, and food-hygiene standards are high. Markets and restaurants are reliably safe.

Practical tips for a smooth, safe visit

• Guard against pickpockets — the number-one precaution here. Keep valuables in a front or zipped pocket, wear bags across your body, and be extra careful around trams, the two main stations and the Scheveningen beach in summer.
• Respect the bike lanes — don't walk or stand in the red-paved cycle lanes, and look both ways for bikes at every crossing.
• Check in and out on transit — tap your OV-chipkaart or contactless card at the start and end of every HTM and NS journey.
• Stay a bit more alert around the stations — Den Haag Centraal and Hollands Spoor are fine to use but not to linger in late at night; keep moving and mind your bags.
• Sidestep demonstrations — peaceful protests near the government and court quarter are easy to avoid; keep clear and follow police signage.
• Emergency number — memorise 112 (medical, fire and police).