Great Dates Do Not Need to Be Expensive
The Hague is full of romantic, interesting, and fun places that cost little or nothing. Whether you are on a first date, celebrating an anniversary on a budget, or just tired of the same expensive dinner routine, here are 12 cheap date ideas in The Hague — all under 20 euros per person, and many completely free.
1. Sunset Walk on Scheveningen Beach
Cost: Free. The most obvious one, and still the best. Walk from the pier toward the southern harbor, past the dunes, as the sun sets over the North Sea. In summer, bring a blanket and sit on the sand. In winter, bundle up and watch the waves crash against the pier. Grab a warm stroopwafel from a beach pavilion for a few euros if you want a small treat. No reservation needed, no dress code, just a genuinely beautiful setting.
2. Mauritshuis Free Friday Evening
Cost: Free on Friday evenings. The Mauritshuis museum, home to Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt’s Anatomy Lesson, offers free entry on Friday evenings from 18:00 to 21:00. It is one of the finest small museums in the world, and walking through its intimate rooms together makes for a cultured, memorable date. Arrive early — the free slots are popular and capacity is limited.
3. Picnic in the Clingendael Estate
Cost: Whatever you spend on bread, cheese, and drinks at Albert Heijn. The Clingendael estate, between The Hague and Wassenaar, is a sprawling park with old trees, ponds, a Japanese garden, and miles of walking paths. Pack a simple picnic, find a quiet spot by the water, and spend a lazy afternoon together. The Japanese Garden opens for a few weeks in spring and autumn and is absolutely worth timing your visit around.
4. Coffee and Board Games at Spellenhuis
Cost: Around 5 to 10 euros for coffee and pastries. Spellenhuis on Torenstraat is a board game shop with a cafe area where you can borrow any game for free while you have a drink. Pick a two-player game, order coffee, and settle in for a relaxed, playful date. Great if conversation needs a little structure on a first or second date, and way more memorable than a standard cafe meetup.
5. Bicycle Ride Through the Dunes to Kijkduin
Cost: Free if you have bikes, or about 10 euros to rent a basic OV-fiets. Cycle from The Hague through the Westduinpark dunes to Kijkduin beach, about 30 minutes each way. The dune paths wind through wild dunes with views of the sea. At Kijkduin, grab an ice cream or fries at one of the beach pavilions before cycling back. It is active, beautiful, and feels like a mini-adventure.
6. Explore the Haagse Markt Together
Cost: 5 to 15 euros for street food and produce. The Haagse Markt on Herman Costerstraat is one of the largest outdoor markets in Europe. Go on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday morning and wander through the stalls — exotic fruit, fresh fish, spices, fabrics, and street food from every corner of the world. Challenge each other to pick the most interesting-looking snack. Surinamese bara, Turkish börek, and fresh stroopwafels are all under 5 euros.
7. Escher in Het Paleis — Discount Evening
Cost: About 12 euros per person (standard ticket is 13 euros, check for late-entry discounts). The Escher Museum, housed in a former royal palace on Lange Voorhout, is one of the most fun museums in the Netherlands. The optical illusions and mind-bending prints are perfect conversation starters. The palace itself, with its chandeliers and grand staircases, adds a romantic backdrop.
8. Kayaking Through the Canals
Cost: About 15 to 20 euros for a two-hour rental from Kanoverhuur Den Haag near the Bierkade. Paddling through The Hague’s canals gives you a completely different perspective on the city — you glide past old warehouses, under low bridges, and through quiet waterways you never notice from street level. It is surprisingly peaceful and feels like an adventure. Book ahead on warm weekends as slots fill up.
9. Saturday Morning at the Organic Farmers Market
Cost: 5 to 10 euros for samples and a small purchase. Every Saturday morning on the Hofplaats, next to the Binnenhof, organic farmers sell cheese, bread, honey, vegetables, and flowers. Browse the stalls together, taste samples, buy something small to share, and enjoy the atmosphere in one of the most historic squares in the country. The Binnenhof itself is closed for renovation until 2028, but the square around it is still beautiful.
10. Free Concert at the Royal Conservatoire
Cost: Free. The Royal Conservatoire on Juliana van Stolberglaan hosts free lunchtime and early evening concerts performed by students. These range from classical to jazz, and the standard is often astonishingly high. Check their website for the current schedule. It is a hidden gem — few people know these concerts exist, and the intimate recital halls make for a special experience.
11. Walk the Peace Palace Gardens
Cost: Free. While the Peace Palace interior requires a booked tour, the surrounding gardens are always open and free to stroll. Manicured lawns, quiet benches, and views of the iconic building. Combine it with a walk through the nearby Statenkwartier neighborhood for its beautiful architecture, then stop at a cafe on de Fred.
12. Beer Tasting at Kompaan Bierbrouwerij
Cost: About 12 to 18 euros for a tasting flight and a brewery tour. Kompaan, The Hague’s beloved craft brewery, runs a taproom and brewery in the Binckhorst. A tasting flight of four beers costs around 10 euros, and the brewery tour is another 8 to 10 euros. The industrial warehouse setting is relaxed and unpretentious. Great for a casual date where you actually want to talk and enjoy something local.
Final Tips
The Hague rewards curiosity. The best dates here are not about spending money — they are about discovering the city together. Walk without a plan, explore a neighborhood you have never visited, stop at random cafes. And never underestimate the simple power of a beach sunset.
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