I'm going to holland in july. am trying to decide whether to go to Rotterdam or the Hague as a day trip. i'm interested in food, history, art, nightlife. Any suggestions?

The Hague if you like art and History. Just remember museums are closed on Mondays. We forgot and took the train from Amsterdam in the rain only to find them closed. Duh! we knew that but just weren't thinking. Can't speak for the nightlife as we were there in the day.

If memory serves, a friend and I went to BOTH The Hague and Rotterdam on the same day. Our principal interest was art, and the Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam opened earlier than the Mauritshuis in The Hague. So we went to Rotterdam, then to The Hague, then back to Amsterdam, where we were staying the night.

If you have a look at train schedules, you will realize how very little time it takes to get from anywhere to anywhere else in the Netherlands.

As Eloise suggested, you could easily do both cities in one day. But if I were to choose one, it would have to be den Haag, for the art. Although Rotterdam has many museums, I feel it's more known for its modern architecture, which wasn't on your list of interests.

For art in den Haag, be sure to check out the Mauritshuis, as well as the Panorama Mesdag and the (relatively) new M.C. Escher Museum. The virtual reality tour on the third floor of the museum is a trip! Enjoy your travels. Peace.

Robyn >-

Well, Rotterdam seems to be hot these days - lots more happening than in the past. BUT - The Hague is one of my favorites - way nicer than Amsterdam, with great ambience & history. I'd go for that place, if you have to choose. Charming restaurants & places to stroll. Rotterdam supposedly has the hippest nightlife, though, according to my KLM magazine that I read on the plane...!

Robyn-

I'm researching my trip to Amsterdam & The Hague. Is this the Escher museum you're talking about? Looks interesting.
http://www.escherinhetpaleis.nl/

Hello yk -

YES! The website you posted is the M.C. Escher Museum that I referred to earlier.

We visited the museum a few months after it opened, and were just blown away by seeing, in person, many of his most famous pieces. The museum was laid out somewhat in chronological order, so you can follow his progression as an artist and printer.

I would definately recommend Escher in Het Paleis to anyone visiting den Haag.

Peace, Robyn >-

Thanks, Robyn! I've put it (Escher Museum) on my itinerary.

What about the Peace Palace? Is it worth seeing? I checked out its website but can't figure out what's there to see!

We've never been inside any of the governmental buildings or the Peace Palace, but we did tram past the buildings, then got off the tram and did a walk-about the Hofvijver.

There are many beautiful houses along the Lange Voorhout, where the Escher museum is located. Enjoy your planning. Peace.

Robyn >-

Do them both - The Hague for the Mauritshuis, the Escher Museum and the fabulous Gemeentemuseum (Municipal Museum; largest collection of Piet Mondriaan in the world, for example), then on to Rotterdam for Boymans-van Beuningen or an exhibit at the Kunsthal, dinner (try the Hotel New York) and nightlife.