The Peace Palace is the grand Neo-Renaissance building on Carnegieplein that has become a symbol of The Hague as the international city of peace and justice. It was funded by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1913, and today it houses the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the Hague Academy of International Law, along with a famous law library. Most visitors cannot walk freely inside, because the working courts are not open to casual visitors. The practical way in is the Visitors Centre, in the entrance building beside the gates, which is free to enter and overlooks the palace and its gardens. It offers an audio tour of about thirty minutes on the building's history and the legal institutions it houses, available in ten languages. Access to the palace itself and its gardens is by guided tour only.
Plan the visit around the Visitors Centre, which is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 16:00 and closed on Monday and Tuesday, according to the Peace Palace's website. Admission is free, and a donation toward educational activities is welcome. You can use your own phone and headphones for the audio tour or ask for a set at the desk.
A children's version is offered in Dutch and English. Groups are limited to twenty people. It is a calm, short stop that works well with the neighbourhood's other sights, and the exterior alone, with its tower and ornate gates, rewards a few photographs.
Guided tours of the palace and gardens run only on a few days each year, often tied to court activity, so if you want inside you must check the website and buy a ticket early. The tour costs more than a normal museum visit and runs about an hour in Dutch or English.
You need an original, valid passport or EU identity card or driving licence to enter, photographs of documents are not accepted, and everyone passes through a metal detector. Bags, cameras and mobile phones are not allowed inside and go in a locker at the Visitors Centre. Access for prams and wheelchairs is limited.
Treat the visit as part of a wider walk. From the Peace Palace you can continue to the Panorama Mesdag and the shopping streets, or turn the trip into a political walk through the city of international law with a local guide. Check the website for any changes before you travel, because court events can affect opening, and remember that it is a working institution rather than a typical attraction.
What to expect
The experience
A free visit to the Visitors Centre beside the palace gates, with a thirty-minute audio tour and a view of the palace and gardens.
Best time
Wednesday to Sunday between 12:00 and 16:00, when the centre is open.
How long
About an hour including the audio tour and the exterior.
Tips
Closed Monday and Tuesday. Palace and garden entry is by guided tour only, with a passport or EU ID card.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone curious about international law and The Hague's role as the city of peace and justice.
- Families
- The children's audio tour in Dutch and English helps, but the palace itself is not a child-focused sight.
- Couples
- A quiet free stop between museums, with the gardens as a backdrop.
- Pair with
- Panorama Mesdag, the Kunstmuseum and a walk through the Zeestraat area.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
Can I go inside the Peace Palace?+
Only on a guided tour, which runs on a few days each year and must be bought in advance. You need an original passport or EU ID card to enter.
Is the Visitors Centre free?+
Yes, entry is free and a donation toward educational activities is welcome. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 16:00.
What does the audio tour cover?+
It lasts about thirty minutes and covers the palace's history and the legal institutions housed there. It is offered in ten languages, and a children's version exists in Dutch and English.
Are bags allowed?+
Bags, cameras and mobile phones are not allowed on a palace tour and must be left in a locker at the Visitors Centre. Check the visitor rules before you go.
Is it accessible?+
Access for prams, wheelchairs and walkers is limited on the guided tour, and mobility scooters are not allowed. Contact the Peace Palace in advance to discuss needs.
