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Grand Holland tour of Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague with Madurodam

Experience a scenic bus tour through the picturesque countryside of Holland. Visit Rotterdam, Delft and the Hague and enjoy a 1-hour river cruise.

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Sightseeing tour of The Hague and Delft with private transportation

Experience private pick-up and drop off service from Amsterdam to The Hague and Delft, riding in a luxurious Mercedes.

The Hague HTM 1-day public transportation ticket

Book your HTM 1-day ticket and travel throughout The Hague on public transportation without any limitations, day and night, on the bus, tram, and metro.

The Hague private walking tour

Book a private walking tour through The Hague (Den Haag). Explore the old capital of the Netherlands and learn about one of the most important cities in Europe.

The best of The Hague guided walking tour

Book now for a walking tour of The Hague with a local guide. Discover iconic landmarks, bustling squares and charming avenues, basking in the lively atmosphere.

The Hague highlights bike tour

Experience The Hague on a 2.5-hour bike tour. See the essential highlights of The Hague and learn about the Netherlands' political capital with a guide.

Family walking tour in The Hague with a local guide

Book now for a walking tour of The Hague with a family-friendly local guide, who will make sure the kids have as much fun sightseeing as the adults.

Behind the scenes of the royal city of Hague guided tour

Tour around the birthplace of the Hague, where each building serves as a living monument and a piece of art, including the oldest café and the smallest house.

Top attractions in The Hague

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Private food tour in The Hague

Discover The Hague on a 2.5-hour private tour to 5 different delicacy shops, bakeries and cafes in the city center.

Self-guided walking tour in The Haag Center

Explore The Haag's mysteries with friends on a mobile-guided walking tour, filled with riddles and hidden gems.

One day in Hague with self-guided audio tour

See all the top attractions of the Hague in 1 day, Unravel the secrets of the royal family Visit the best places for shopping, Get to know life in the Hague as it's seen by its resident.

Romantic walking tour in The Hague

Book now for a walking tour of The Hague with your beloved. Listen to romantic legends and love stories as you visit the most charming places in the city.

Small group day trip to Kinderdijk windmills and The Hague

Visit the Dutch windmills at a UNESCO world heritage site in Kinderdijk, and discover the sights of The Hague. Enjoy a small group tour in a luxurious minivan.

Heart of The Hague exploration game and tour

Go on a walking tour in The Hague where you will follow clues to discover amazing places and local stories using your smartphone.

The Hague fitness pass for 1, 2 or 4 entrances

Book your Hague fitness pass with 1, 2 and 4 entry options and discover an extensive list of leading gyms in the city.

Mauritshuis The Hague entrance ticket

Book your entrance ticket to Mauritshuis to see the best of Dutch paintings of the 17th-century from the age of Rembrandt and Vermeer.

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Girl with the Pearl Earring, The Hague and Delft city private tour

Skip the Mauritshuis' long lines and discover masterpieces of Dutch art such as the 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' with the help of your expert guide!

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Self guided tour with interactive city game of The Hague

Within 2 hours the city trail will guide you along the best spots in The Hague, while playing fun riddles and assignments on your smartphone.

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Holland four cities private day-trip

Get the chance to discover Haarlem, Leiden, Delft and The Hague in one single tour and to learn more about the cities beauty and importance!

Self-Guided interactive pub trail in The Hague with online app

Book a self-guided pub tour through The Hague using an online app. Solve questions, do assignments and visit 3 great pubs in the city center for fun assignments at each pub.

Self-guided Walking Tour in The Hague Hofjes

Discover The Hague Hofjes through a self-guided adventure filled with riddles, exploration, and hidden treasures.

The inside story

The Peace Palace is an international law administrative building in The Hague, housing the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the United Nations International Court of Justice and The Hague Academy of International Law. The building also holds the Hague Academy of International Law and the Peace Palace Library with the Carnegie Foundation acting as the owner and manager of the Peace Palace.

As society was damaged time and again by war the peace movement began to spread through Europe and America, leading Czar Nicholas II to organize an international peace conference. During the First Hague Peace Conference of 1899, also known as the Hague Conventions, 26 countries came together to speak about disarmament and about the possibility of international jurisdiction, which led to the establishment of the PCA. In 1907 a second peace conference was organized in The Hague, in which 44 countries participated.

The Palace officially opened on 28 August 1913 with contributions from Scottish-American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, international groups of jurists, politicians and pacifists. The Permanent Court of Arbitration finally had an official home. The European Heritage Label would be later awarded to the Peace Palace on 8 April 2014.

Enter the Visitors Centre of the Peace Palace to experience a contemporary exhibition with a film providing an introduction to the establishment of the Peace Palace and the judicial institutions. You can also join a guided tour to discover the international atmosphere in the gardens designed with unique contributions made by various countries and marvel at the architecture and interior design of this iconic property.

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Peace Palace

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• McFlek Service Point Schiphol Airport
• McFlek Service Point Central Station Amsterdam

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Grand Holland tour of Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague with Madurodam

Experience a scenic bus tour through the picturesque countryside of Holland. Visit Rotterdam, Delft and the Hague and enjoy a 1-hour river cruise.

en,  es,  de 

Sightseeing tour of The Hague and Delft with private transportation

Experience private pick-up and drop off service from Amsterdam to The Hague and Delft, riding in a luxurious Mercedes.

The Hague HTM 1-day public transportation ticket

Book your HTM 1-day ticket and travel throughout The Hague on public transportation without any limitations, day and night, on the bus, tram, and metro.

The Hague private walking tour

Book a private walking tour through The Hague (Den Haag). Explore the old capital of the Netherlands and learn about one of the most important cities in Europe.

Peace Palace tickets and tours

The best of The Hague guided walking tour

Book now for a walking tour of The Hague with a local guide. Discover iconic landmarks, bustling squares and charming avenues, basking in the lively atmosphere.

The Hague highlights bike tour

Experience The Hague on a 2.5-hour bike tour. See the essential highlights of The Hague and learn about the Netherlands' political capital with a guide.

Family walking tour in The Hague with a local guide

Book now for a walking tour of The Hague with a family-friendly local guide, who will make sure the kids have as much fun sightseeing as the adults.

Behind the scenes of the royal city of Hague guided tour

Tour around the birthplace of the Hague, where each building serves as a living monument and a piece of art, including the oldest café and the smallest house.

How to get there

Reviews  peace palace.

No es lo mismo pasear por una ciudad que recorrer cada espacio con alguien que te comente lo vivido ahí!

Was erg leuk en Max wist erg veel en vertelde leuk, jammer dat wij eerder moesten stoppen(4pers) omdat op de site staat 2,5 u dus hadden wij nog een a ...

Was heel leuk en Max deed het ook heel goed, wist er veel van. Alleen jammer dat wij (4 personen) niet alles hebben kunnen zien omdat wij een vlg acti ...

First of all, it said 8.5 hours…it was 10.5 hours. Ended at 8pm. Keep that in mind if you plan for afterwards. Madurodam was AWESOME! Plan out in adva ...

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Peace Palace

Feel the warmth of the peace flame on your back as you admire the most photographed building in The Hague: the Peace Palace. It is the seat of the International Court of Justice, the only judicial organ of the United Nations not located in New York, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. This beautiful Neo-Renaissance style building, which was actually the winning design of an architecture competition in the early nineteen hundreds, and the organisations it houses have given The Hague worldwide recognition as the internationale city of Peace and Justice. The Eternal Peace Flame burns beside the entrance to the Peace Palace. The first peace flame in the Netherlands was placed beside the entrance gates to the Peace Palace on 18 April 2002. The monument bears the inscription: "May all beings find peace". Since 2004, the monument has been surrounded by the World Peace Path, which consists of a path of 196 large and small stones from 196 countries. Some of these stones are unique: they include, for example, a piece of stone from the Berlin Wall and a stone from Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years. The Peace Palace can be viewed under the supervision of a guide. Booking in advance is required. An interactive exhibition can be viewed in the Visitor Centre. 

Virtual Tour Virtual visitors can admire the spectacular architecture, the mesmerising interior and all of the original details. For the online tour more than 400 High Dynamic Range photographs were taken with a 360° camera and then drawn together with the most advanced software. From today, the virtual tour is freely accessible via the website of the Peace Palace: www.peacepalace.org/virtualtour .

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What to know about visiting the Peace Palace in the Hague by a local

October 24, 2018 by Karen Turner 2 Comments

One of the most stunning buildings in the Hague is the Peace Palace (Vredespaleis in Dutch).  Visiting the Peace Palace is not particularly easy, however touring the grounds where the International Court of Justice is held is a worthwhile endeavor.  I’ll be discussing the history of the Peace Palace, what to expect from a guided tour of the Peace Palace, and how to visit the Peace Palace as a private citizen.

I received permission to take photos from the Peace Palace as I visited as a member of the press thanks to This is the Hague.  Photos are generally not allowed inside the building. 

Included in this article: History of the Peace Palace, how to visit the Peace Palace as a private citizen, and interesting notes about the Peace Palace.

As a teenager, I was very active in Model United Nations and one of the highlights of my teenage years was meeting members of the Laos delegation at their consultate prior to reenacting a recent United Nations debate within the actual Assembly Hall.  (My only disappointment was the buttons didn’t work, so I still had to raise a placard to try to speak.)  Maybe due to my own geeky past, visiting the Peace Palace was truly a dream for me.  

Although we talk a lot about justice and creating a better world, there is no place as symbolic as well as significant as the Peace Palace in the Hague.  Although the United Nation’s role in world politics is often discussed, the actual role of the International Court of Justice in preventing wars is not. 

• 1 The history of the Peace Palace
• 2.1 Attending court cases at the International Court of Justice
• 2.2 Sporadic events at the Peace Palace
• 2.3 Garden visits at the Peace Palace
• 3.1 The Christ statue
• 3.2 The love story of the Peace Palace
• 4 Have you visited the Peace Palace?

The history of the Peace Palace

As the 20th century was ushered in, politicians as well as philanthropists had a lot of hope that the new century would bring prosperity, peace, and unity to the new world.  The Hague Convention in 1899 was a major peace conference that determined that there should be rules in regard to war and war crimes.

Andrew Carnegie (yes, the steel magnate) is personally responsible for funding a significant portion of the Peace Palace’s construction.  This donation, which had go to through the Carnegie Foundation as it was not possible to directly donate the funds to the Dutch Queen, amounted to around 40 million dollars today.  It was constructed not as a palace, but rather a secular monument to humanity’s hopes for a better world.

An international architectural competition was called in order to find a design that suited the cause.  Unfortunately, the design was too grand, so only one large clock tower was built instead of two symmetric towers. 

Various countries contributed various architectural features as well as decorations within the palace itself.  These gifts include stunning windows from the United Kingdom, carpets from Japan, a clock from Switzerland, and marble from Italy.  (I especially loved this creative window that is said to be inspired by Japan above!) It took almost five years to built the Peace Palace and the original building was opened in 1913.

How to visit the Peace Palace as a private individual

You can always view the Peace Palace from its exterior and my favorite time is right around sunset.  Usually, the crowds have cleared out and you can admire the building through the fence.  You can also admire the Eternal Flame, which burns outside of the grounds.

However, if you’re interested in visiting as a private individual, there are several options for visiting the Peace Palace interior although they are dependent on court cases and it can be difficult to arrange too far ahead of your visit.  You must show valid identification, which includes a passport or EU identification card. 

There are occasionally tours of the interior on weekends, so you can check the website for tours of the interior, which are generally posted a few weeks ahead of the dates.  These tickets generally sell out quickly.  Around the holiday season, the Peace Palace has a few nights where the building is lit up at night for visitors. Until I went on this visit, I had been unable to obtain tickets, even as a resident of the area.

The tours are fairly official and there are quite a few restrictions regarding photography, however the tour guides are very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the history of the building.   Be sure to leave any large bags at home/at your hotel room, bring your passport, and arrive early to ensure there’s enough time for security.

Attending court cases at the International Court of Justice

During court cases, the Peace Palace is generally  not  open for tours, but if you are committed to seeing it, you can arrive early on days with court cases to be part of the audience for court cases for the International Court of Justice.   I visited as the ICJ (International Court of Justice) was preparing for a case, so I was unable to take photos within the room as employees were setting up. 

As you might imagine, there are limited seats available and no photography is possible, but it is one way to see the Peace Palace in action.  There are a number of conditions attached and there is no guarantee that you will be allowed into the audience.

Sporadic events at the Peace Palace

Events are typically listed a few weeks in advance, so if you wish to attend, check the website of the Vredespaleis as well as their Facebook page to stay informed of upcoming tours.  Tickets typically sell out quickly and cannot be resold.  (Tours are in Dutch, English, and German.)

My husband was able to attend a chess tournament at the Peace Palace, which cost a few euros, but it included a tour of the grounds prior to the tournament.  There are also occasionally concerts on the grounds although these events are typically announced approximately one month ahead.

Garden visits at the Peace Palace

The garden surrounding the Peace Palace is also incredibly beautiful and it is possible to tour the grounds a few times a year.  Tickets are harder to come by and go fast, so check the website for upcoming dates.

Interesting notes about the Peace Palace

The christ statue.

One of the parts that surprised me most about the Peace Palace was its non-religious interior, which is atypical in many places in Europe.  Given that the Peace Palace was built as a “temple of Peace,” there was a decision to make it non-religious, however there’s one notable exception: a statue of Christ that sits on the second floor.

Although both countries were ready to go to war, the Peace Palace was able to prevent a war from occurring between Chile and Argentina.  The statue of Christ is a replica of a large statue of Christ that was made of melted down bullets and other machinery after it was rendered unnecessary. 

The love story of the Peace Palace

One of the most remarkable stories about the Peace Palace was the love story that took place within it.  A locally born interior designer named Herman Rosse was hired at only 24 year old.  Already well traveled, he was tasked with decorating the Peace Palace interior.   

The interior, especially the ceilings are decorated with beautiful flower and art motifs with a modern twist.  Although he assumed that these designs would be painted over in the future by a famous artist, his stunning designs have beautifully lasted the test of time. Be sure to take a moment to pause on the staircase to admire the intricate designs.  His painting of Peace, Law, Order, and Justice as goddesses are shown above.

During his time decorating the interior, he ended up falling in love with the apprentice of the gardeners.  The couple ended up marrying and it’s said that he’s painted her face into the ceiling of the Peace Palace.  After this period, the couple moved to Hollywood where Herman Rosse became the first Dutchman to win an Oscar for his work on the King of Jazz’ s sets.

Have you visited the Peace Palace?

For more insider tips for the Hague, click for my one day trip guide to the Hague, unique things to do in the Hague , where to stay in the Hague , and where to eat in the Hague .

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

December 4, 2022 at 1:31 pm

My husband, the couple we are travelling with, and especially myself are very interested in a tour of the Peace Palace on Saturday April 8, 2023. I will try hard to get tickets from here in the USA 2 weeks before but would appreciate local help and a tour. We are staying in an Amsterdam hotel.

January 2, 2023 at 12:50 pm

It is not easy. You can contact them directly, but it is not typically open for tours every weekend.

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Peace Palace

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Peace Palace

Garden tour.

Regularly, on Thursdays at 2 p.m., you can join the gardener for a scenic walk through the historic garden designed especially for the Peace Palace. The tour takes you past the pond, the rosary, the greenhouses and the winter garden at the back of the grounds. Meanwhile, our gardener will tell you stories about the special trees and plants, the history of the garden, the Zorgvliet estate and the idea behind the garden design. More information about the garden can be found here.

Information for your visit  This tour costs €12.50 per person. Entrance for children under the age of 8 is free, with a maximum of two children per adult. This tour is not recommended for very young children. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes. This tour is offered only in Dutch . A group consists of a maximum of 20 people.  

Please note:   

• Entry is only possible on presentation of a valid passport or EU ID card/driving license.  
• All participants must pass through a metal detection gate. An exception can be made for pregnant people and people with pacemakers and a hand-held metal detector is available.  
• Bags, cameras and cell phones may not be carried and can be stored in a locker in the Visitors Centre. Due to the space available at the lockers, we ask that you bring as few items as possible.  
• Unfortunately, due to the many stairs in the garden, this tour is not passable for persons in wheelchairs or with rollators.  
• Refund of tickets for a tour is not possible.  

We look forward to welcoming you on the grounds of the Peace Palace!  

Click here to see availability and book tickets

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International Court of Justice also known as the Peace Palace

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The Peace Palace started as an idea during a discussion in 1900 between the Russian diplomat Friedrich Martens and the US diplomat Andrew White. The idea was to provide a home for the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which was established in 1899.

Guided tours inside the the peace palace building itself are very difficult to arrange as it is nearly always closed to the public (as it is a working court). however, the next best thing is to let our tour guide you into its free information center to see it's permanent exhibition and watch its excellent educational film., the creation of the peace palace at the end of the 19th century was at a time when the idea of world peace was being discussed like never before. in 1903 andrew carnegie (usa) agreed to donate $1.5 million (about €50 million adjusted for inflation) needed to build the peace palace that would house the pca as well as to provide a library of international law., europe and the united states of america had many peace organisations, with millions of members. this huge international peace movement was encouraged by high-profile writers and pacifists such as leo tolstoi (russia), bertha von suttner (austria) and jean bloch (france). at the dawn of the 20th century however, and just one year after the opening of the peace palace in 1913, the first world war broke out., the palace plans initially had two big bell towers in front and two small ones in the back. unfortunately budget constraints and only one big tower and one small tower remained in the final building. sightseeing around the peace palace is ful of interest too as there is a peace flame as well as the worlds first 'super highway' in the hague (a.k.a. den haag) and the world going to scheveningen ., the palace was furnished with many gifts from the different nations who attended the second hague conference as a sign of their support. among the gifts that are shown on the film are a 3-tonne vase from russia, marble staircase from italy, a mosiac floor from france, a fountain from denmark, wall carpets from japan, the clock for the clock tower from switzerland, persian rugs from iran and wood from indonesia and the united states of america. the palace also contains various statues and portraits of prominent peace campaigners from around the world and of all eras., every member country of the international court has their own chair with a large elaborate hand-embroidered emblum on the back representing their country. tour the hague has heard that just to repair older chairs cost tens of thousands of euro's and that a few countries have refussed to sit on other countries chairs and so they sometimes have to put a cover over the emblums so that no-one can see them .

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