Living in The Hague as a DAFT Entrepreneur: Your Full Guide

When Americans think about moving to the Netherlands under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT), they almost always think Amsterdam first. Maybe Rotterdam second. The Hague rarely makes the initial list.

That's a mistake.

The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government, home to the International Court of Justice, and headquarters for over 200 international organizations. It has the largest international community in the Netherlands per capita. And it has something no other major Dutch city can offer: a proper beach.

We've spent a lot of time in The Hague and talked to many DAFT entrepreneurs who live there. Here's what you should know.

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Why DAFT Entrepreneurs Choose The Hague

The international presence in The Hague creates an unusual environment. Walk through the Statenkwartier or Archipelbuurt neighborhoods and you'll hear English, French, Spanish, and a dozen other languages. International organizations, embassies, and NGOs bring in people from around the world, and those people need services, creating a built-in market for certain types of DAFT businesses.

For DAFT entrepreneurs, this matters. If your business serves an international clientele or you work in fields like law, consulting, policy, translation, or international development, The Hague puts you at the center of that world. The networking opportunities are organic. You meet potential clients and collaborators just by living your daily life.

But it's not just about work. The quality of life here is genuinely high. The city has parks, beaches, museums, and a cultural calendar that rivals Amsterdam's without the crowds. It's also more affordable. And the pace feels manageable in a way that Amsterdam sometimes doesn't.

The Hague also has a maturity that appeals to entrepreneurs who've moved past the "let's go out every night" phase. It's a city for building a life, not just having an adventure.

Pro Tip: The Hague is officially called Den Haag in Dutch. You'll see both names used interchangeably. The formal name is 's-Gravenhage, but nobody uses that in conversation. When writing your business address, use Den Haag for the Dutch version and The Hague for English communications.

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The Beach Factor

Let's talk about the beach, because for Americans who miss the ocean, this is a real selling point.

Scheveningen is The Hague's main beach district. It's a 15-minute bike ride from the city center, or about 10 minutes by tram. In summer, it fills with sunbathers, surfers, and people eating kibbeling (fried fish) at the stalls along the boulevard. The pier extends out into the North Sea and has a Ferris wheel and restaurants with ocean views.

The beach itself is wide and sandy, more like a proper American beach than anything else you'll find in the Netherlands. On warm summer days, it genuinely feels like a different country from the cobblestoned, canal-lined cities inland.

Kijkduin is the other beach area, quieter and more family-oriented, south of Scheveningen. Less touristy, more relaxed, with dunes behind it that are perfect for walking. If Scheveningen feels too busy, Kijkduin is the antidote.

Having the North Sea accessible on a regular Tuesday after work changes your daily life in ways that are hard to explain until you experience it. After a long day staring at your laptop building your DAFT business, biking to the beach and watching the sunset is real. That's not a vacation fantasy; it's a weekly reality for people who live here.

The water is cold. We won't pretend otherwise. Even in peak summer, the North Sea is bracing. But the wide sandy beach, the dune landscape behind it, and the open sky are genuinely restorative. Some Americans take up surfing here. Wetsuits are mandatory, but the waves at Scheveningen are surprisingly good for the North Sea.

What We Wish We Knew: Scheveningen is pronounced roughly "SKAY-veh-ning-en." Not "sheh-VEN-ing-en." Getting this wrong immediately identifies you as a newcomer. Practice before you try to give a taxi driver directions.

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Neighborhoods: Where to Live

The Hague is a spread-out city with very different neighborhoods. Your experience will vary dramatically depending on where you settle.

Statenkwartier

This is one of the most popular neighborhoods for internationals. Wide streets, early 20th-century architecture with art nouveau details, and proximity to both the city center and Scheveningen beach. You can bike to the water in about 10 minutes.

It's well-maintained and residential with a mix of families, young professionals, and diplomats. Small shops and cafes dot the main streets, giving it a neighborhood feel that's rare for being so close to a city center. One-bedroom apartments run 1,300 to 1,700 EUR. It feels safe, walkable, and slightly upscale without being stuffy.

Archipelbuurt and Willemspark

These adjacent neighborhoods are among the most desirable in The Hague. Grand, stately homes line the streets, many dating from the late 19th century. The Peace Palace (home of the International Court of Justice) is here. Many embassies are located in the area, giving it a cosmopolitan, slightly formal atmosphere.

Rent reflects the prestige. One-bedroom apartments start around 1,500 EUR, and larger places climb quickly. But the beauty of the architecture, the quiet tree-lined streets, and the proximity to the Haagse Bos (a large urban forest) make it worth visiting to see if it fits your budget.

Zeeheldenkwartier

A bit grittier and more bohemian. Zeeheldenkwartier has independent shops, restaurants, vintage stores, and a neighborhood atmosphere that feels less polished than the Statenkwartier. It's popular with younger residents, creatives, and people who prefer character over elegance.

Rent is slightly lower, with one-bedroom apartments ranging from 1,200 to 1,600 EUR. It's central and well-connected by tram. The Reinkenstraat is the commercial heart, with a good mix of shops and eateries. Friday evening drinks at one of the local bars is a neighborhood tradition.

Scheveningen

Living right at the beach appeals to some Americans. Scheveningen itself ranges from touristy near the boulevard to residential and quiet a few blocks inland. The Belgisch Park area, between Scheveningen and the Statenkwartier, is particularly nice: close to the beach but more residential.

Rent is variable. One-bedroom apartments near the beach can be 1,400 to 1,800 EUR, but you can find more affordable options further from the waterfront. The trade-off is that Scheveningen feels somewhat separated from the rest of The Hague. It's its own village, really, with its own shops, restaurants, and community. This can be charming or isolating depending on your personality and how much you value being connected to the broader city.

Bezuidenhout

Close to Den Haag Centraal station and the business district. This neighborhood is practical rather than picturesque, with good transit connections, modern apartments, and proximity to government offices and international organizations.

One-bedroom apartments range from 1,200 to 1,600 EUR. If commuting by train or having client meetings in The Hague's business center is part of your routine, Bezuidenhout puts you right where you need to be.

Laakkwartier and Moerwijk

These neighborhoods are more affordable, with one-bedroom apartments available for 1,000 to 1,300 EUR. They're more diverse, less polished than the neighborhoods above, and generally overlooked by expat guides.

They're fine places to live. Not every neighborhood needs to be Instagram-worthy. If you're bootstrapping a DAFT business, the savings matter. A DAFT entrepreneur we know lived in Laakkwartier for two years while building her consulting practice, and she valued the lower rent more than she missed the charm.

Voorburg and Rijswijk

Technically separate municipalities, but they border The Hague so closely that they function as suburbs. More affordable, more spacious, and well-connected by tram and train. Worth considering if you want more space for less money and don't mind being a 15-minute tram ride from the center.

Reality Check: The Hague's housing market is competitive, but less brutal than Amsterdam's. You'll still face multiple applicants for good listings, but you won't be competing with 200 people for a single apartment. Having your DAFT visa documentation ready and your income verifiable speeds up the process significantly.

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Cost of Living

The Hague is generally 10 to 20 percent cheaper than Amsterdam for comparable housing and dining. Here's a rough monthly picture for a DAFT entrepreneur.

Housing: One-bedroom apartment averages 1,400 to 1,700 EUR depending on neighborhood. Significantly more affordable than Amsterdam's equivalent. For the same rent you'd pay for a small Amsterdam apartment, you can get a larger place in a nicer Hague neighborhood.

Groceries: 250 to 350 EUR per month. The same chains you find elsewhere: Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl, Plus. The Haagse Markt is one of the largest open-air markets in Europe and offers great deals on produce, fish, fabric, and household goods.

Dining out: Mid-range restaurants run 15 to 22 EUR per person. Scheveningen waterfront restaurants are pricier, but there are great affordable Indonesian, Surinamese, and Turkish restaurants throughout the city. The Denneweg and Noordeinde areas are lined with upscale dining if you want to treat yourself or take a client to lunch.

Transportation: HTM tram and bus passes run about 70 to 90 EUR per month, but biking is the default mode of transport for most residents. The tram network is extensive and reliable, which is a plus compared to cities that rely primarily on buses.

Utilities: 150 to 200 EUR monthly for gas, electric, and water, plus around 50 EUR for internet.

Health insurance: 120 to 160 EUR per month, same as anywhere in the Netherlands.

Monthly total for a single person: Roughly 2,300 to 2,900 EUR including rent, food, transport, utilities, and insurance.

For a full cost breakdown, see our guide on monthly living costs in the Netherlands.

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The International Community

This is The Hague's secret weapon for DAFT entrepreneurs.

The city hosts the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, Europol, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and hundreds of other international bodies. The employees of these organizations, plus embassy staff and their families, create a large, established international community that has existed for decades.

What does this mean for you? English is widely spoken in business settings, often as a default rather than an accommodation. International networking events are frequent and well-attended. And there's an existing infrastructure for newcomers: English-speaking doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants, and schools that work with internationals every day.

The ACCESS Foundation is a nonprofit that specifically supports the international community in The Hague. They offer free advice sessions on topics from housing to healthcare to Dutch bureaucracy. Their volunteer network includes people who've navigated exactly the challenges you're facing.

The Hague International Centre helps internationals settle in, register at the gemeente, and find resources. If you're coming on a DAFT visa, they should be your first stop. They can also help you register for a BSN number, which you need for almost everything.

American Women's Club of The Hague has been active since the 1930s. If you or your partner is looking for an established American social network, this is it.

For more on building connections, read our guide on networking as a DAFT entrepreneur in the Netherlands.

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Coworking Spaces

The Hague has a growing coworking scene. Not as big as Amsterdam's, but with some standout options that cater to the city's international and government-adjacent business community.

The Hague Tech is the largest tech community in the region, housed in a massive former telephone exchange building. It hosts startups, scale-ups, and freelancers across multiple floors. The community is active with events, workshops, pitch nights, and a strong emphasis on cross-pollination between members. If your DAFT business is tech-oriented, this is the first place to visit.

Tribes has multiple locations in The Hague, including near Den Haag Centraal and in the World Forum area. Modern spaces with flexible memberships, good wifi, and a business-ready atmosphere.

Regus and Spaces have several locations as well, offering the familiar corporate-coworking hybrid. More expensive but useful if you need a well-equipped meeting room on short notice.

New World Campus focuses on peace, justice, and security organizations. If your DAFT business touches these themes, the community connections here are valuable and genuinely unique to The Hague.

Apollo 14 offers a more relaxed, creative coworking vibe in a renovated building near the center. Popular with freelancers and small startups.

Hot desk memberships typically range from 150 to 250 EUR per month. Dedicated desks are 300 to 450 EUR. Most spaces offer trial days.

For more options, check our guide to the best coworking spaces for DAFT entrepreneurs.

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Government and Bureaucracy

Here's an unexpected perk. Because The Hague is the seat of government, many national offices and the IND (Dutch immigration service) have locations here. When you need to deal with bureaucracy, and you will, shorter travel times to government offices actually matter.

The gemeente (municipality) of The Hague is also accustomed to processing registrations for internationals. They know what a DAFT visa is. They've seen the paperwork before. This might sound minor, but DAFT entrepreneurs in smaller Dutch cities sometimes report that municipal employees are confused by their visa type and need to consult supervisors. In The Hague, the process tends to be smoother simply because it's more familiar to the staff.

The city also has a dedicated International Desk at the gemeente for handling registration and other services for internationals. The staff speak English and are experienced with non-standard visa categories.

Pro Tip: Book your gemeente appointment online as soon as you arrive. Wait times can be two to three weeks during busy periods, and you need your BSN (citizen service number) to open a bank account, sign up for health insurance, and do almost anything official. Don't waste your first weeks waiting for an appointment.

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Getting Around

The Hague has an extensive tram network operated by HTM. It connects the major neighborhoods, the city center, Scheveningen, and the train stations. The system is reliable, runs frequently, and is easy to learn. Tram routes are well-marked and most stops have electronic arrival boards.

Biking is, as everywhere in the Netherlands, the primary mode of transport. The city is flat, the infrastructure is excellent, and most destinations are within a 20-minute ride. The bike path from the city center to Scheveningen through the Scheveningse Bosjes (a wooded area) is one of the more pleasant commutes you could ask for.

Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag HS (Holland Spoor) are the two main train stations. From either, you can reach Amsterdam in about 50 minutes, Rotterdam in 25 minutes, Utrecht in 40 minutes, and Schiphol Airport in 30 minutes. The train connections are frequent and reliable.

The Hague is also well-connected by car to the A12 and A4 highways, though driving within the city is unnecessary for daily life and parking can be expensive.

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Culture and Lifestyle

The Hague has a rich cultural scene that doesn't get enough credit.

Mauritshuis houses Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and other Dutch Golden Age masterpieces in an intimate setting. Unlike the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, you can actually see the paintings without fighting through crowds.

Gemeentemuseum Den Haag (now called Kunstmuseum Den Haag) has the world's largest Mondrian collection and excellent modern art exhibitions.

The Binnenhof is the political heart of the Netherlands, where the Dutch parliament meets. The complex is undergoing renovation but remains iconic.

The city has a strong performing arts scene. The Koninklijk Conservatorium (Royal Conservatoire) and the Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) are based here, as are several theaters and concert venues.

The Hague's food scene reflects its international population. Indonesian, Surinamese, Turkish, and Middle Eastern cuisines are all well-represented. The Chinatown area near the center has some of the best Asian food in the Netherlands.

For nightlife, the Plein and Grote Markt squares are the main going-out areas. The scene is solid if not spectacular. Clubs and bars stay open late on weekends.

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The Downsides

Being honest here.

Less "fun" than Amsterdam. The Hague doesn't have the nightlife density, the festival culture, or the international reputation of Amsterdam. Some Americans find it too quiet, especially in their twenties. If you moved to the Netherlands hoping for excitement, The Hague might feel tame.

Government city feel. Parts of The Hague feel bureaucratic and institutional. The areas around the Binnenhof and government buildings have a formal, suit-and-tie atmosphere during work hours that contrasts with Amsterdam's creative energy. On weekday afternoons, some streets feel like they belong to a different era.

Weather at the coast. The beach is wonderful, but coastal weather means more wind and sometimes harsher conditions than inland cities. The wind off the North Sea is persistent. Winter on the beach is beautiful but genuinely cold. You'll learn to dress in layers.

Spread out. The Hague is geographically larger than you'd expect. Some neighborhoods feel distant from each other, and the tram doesn't connect everywhere efficiently. A bike ride from Bezuidenhout to Scheveningen takes 25 minutes or more. This isn't a compact walking city.

Less startup energy. The entrepreneurial ecosystem here is smaller and more traditional than Amsterdam's. If you're in tech or creative industries, you might feel the energy is lower. The city's business culture is shaped by government and international organizations, which is great for consulting and policy work but less exciting for startups.

Reality Check: The Hague rewards people who want stability, community, and quality of life over excitement and novelty. If you moved to the Netherlands for the "Amsterdam experience," The Hague probably isn't for you. If you moved to build a sustainable life and business, give it serious consideration.

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Is The Hague Right for Your DAFT Business?

It's a strong fit if you:

• Work in international consulting, policy, law, translation, or related fields
• Want an established international community from day one
• Value beach access and outdoor lifestyle
• Prefer a calmer, more mature pace of life
• Want lower costs than Amsterdam without going to a small town
• Have kids who would benefit from the international school infrastructure

Consider other cities if you:

• Need access to a large tech startup ecosystem (try Eindhoven or Amsterdam)
• Want a dense, walkable city center with lots of nightlife (Amsterdam)
• Need maximum cultural variety and event programming
• Prefer to live surrounded primarily by Dutch people rather than internationals
• Are looking for the cheapest possible option (try Eindhoven or smaller cities)

The DAFT entrepreneurs we've talked to in The Hague consistently say the same thing: they chose it because it offered the best balance of livability, cost, and community. And most of them say they have no plans to leave.

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We're not immigration lawyers -- just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.