The Hague
Netherlands · Europe · 550K people
Seat of the Dutch government and the UN's top courts, calmer than Amsterdam.
Ranked #65 of 303 overall · 52.07, 4.30
Overview
The Hague, Netherlands, is home to about 550,000 residents and has built a reputation that goes beyond its size. It has a reputation as a solid, practical choice for raising a family. The Hague stands out for how safe it feels compared to cities of a similar size. People who choose to settle in The Hague tend to point to a strong sense of safety, solid infrastructure for remote work, and reliable healthcare as the deciding factors. Within the 103 cities we track in Europe, the regional average sits at 6.9/10, which puts The Hague's 7.1/10 comfortably ahead of the regional norm. On CityMatch, The Hague scores 7.1/10 overall across cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet, ranking #65 of 303 cities in our database. Its strongest single criterion is healthcare at 9/10, while cost of living is its softest spot at 4/10 — the full breakdown, honest trade-offs, and who this city actually suits are below.
Full scorecard
Costs add up faster than average.
Low crime, easy to feel at ease.
Air quality is acceptable most of the year.
A car is optional for most people.
Expect a proper seasonal swing.
Reliable access to quality care.
Remote work is a non-issue here.
Is The Hague right for you?
Set your own priorities and see where it ranks against every city in the dataset.
Run the recommender →How are these scores calculated?
Every city on CityMatch is scored 1-10 on seven criteria — cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet — and those seven numbers are combined into the overall score shown throughout the site using a consistent, automated formula (an equal-weighted average by default, or your own weighting via the recommender tool). The same method is applied identically to every city, so scores are comparable across the full database.
Sources & data provenance
The current dataset is an internally curated starter dataset built for this version of the site, reflecting each city's general reputation on each criterion rather than a live feed from a single external provider. It is not yet sourced from a specific third-party API. If that changes, this section will be updated to name the exact sources in use.
Last updated: 17 July 2026
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
Healthcare scores 9/10, a meaningful factor for families, retirees, or anyone planning to stay long-term.
Internet and connectivity score 9/10, making remote work a non-issue rather than a workaround.
A 8/10 safety score puts The Hague among the more reassuring cities to walk around, day or night.
Trade-offs
Cost of living is the toughest line item, at 4/10 — budget accordingly, especially on rent.
Climate is the hardest trade-off here at 5/10 — expect genuinely difficult weather for part of the year.
Is The Hague safe?
Safety is a genuine strength of The Hague, at 8/10. It's the kind of city where petty crime and serious crime alike are less of a daily concern than in most of the 303 cities we track.
At night
Walking at night is generally low-stress here, though sticking to lit, populated streets is always sensible advice anywhere.
For tourists
Tourists rarely report serious issues beyond the ordinary pickpocket risk that exists in any well-visited city — normal vigilance in crowded areas is enough.
For families
Combined with a healthcare score of 9/10 and environment score of 7/10, The Hague looks like a genuinely solid pick for raising a family.
For solo travelers
Cities scoring this well on safety (8/10) are generally considered comfortable for solo travelers, though — as anywhere — checking current, specific local advice before a trip is always worth the ten minutes it takes.
On public transport
Public transport feels safe here too — safety (8/10) and transport quality (8/10) are both strong, a combination that generally makes getting around without a car low-stress.
Practical tips
- →Standard city awareness is genuinely enough here — no need for unusual precautions.
- →Keep half an eye on belongings in busy tourist spots, the same as anywhere.
What's the climate like in The Hague?
The Hague scores 5/10 on climate, meaning a proper seasonal swing — expect at least one stretch of weather most people wouldn't pick as their favorite.
Seasonal character
Seasons here are more pronounced — at least one part of the year leans notably hot, cold, or wet compared with the rest.
Comfort level
Comfort varies meaningfully by season — some months are genuinely pleasant, others require real adjustment.
Best time to live here
Timing matters more here — researching the specific hottest, coldest or wettest months before committing is worth the effort.
Note: this reflects our single aggregate 1-10 climate score rather than month-by-month temperature, humidity or rainfall data, which we don't currently track — treat it as a general read rather than a forecast.
Quality of life in The Hague
Put together, quality of life in The Hague is shaped less by any single number and more by the combination: the hague tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife, paired with an outdoor/environment picture that's generally favorable and transport that's genuinely workable.
Pace & lifestyle
The Hague tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife.
Nature & outdoors
Outdoor time is reasonably pleasant, with environment (7/10) and climate (5/10) scores that don't get in the way, without being a specific draw either.
Getting around
Getting around is one of The Hague's clearer strengths (8/10) — day-to-day life doesn't really require a car.
Culture & leisure
The Hague isn't specifically marketed on culture or nightlife in our data, which usually means a more everyday, less tourist-oriented pace of life — good for routine, less exciting for a short visit.
Based on its actual score profile, The Hague tends to suit people who prioritize healthcare and internet & connectivity over cost of living — see "Who The Hague suits" above for the specific profiles that fit best.
How clean is The Hague?
The Hague scores 7/10 on environment — decent air quality most of the year, without being a specific standout.
Public spaces
Public space quality isn't separately measured in our data; the environment score above is the closest proxy we have, and it points to an unremarkable, workable baseline.
Infrastructure maintenance
General infrastructure maintenance isn't a criterion we score independently, so treat any specific claims about road quality, public bins, or graffiti with caution unless they come from a recent, first-hand source.
The "environment" score behind all of this is CityMatch's single combined measure of air quality and general environmental conditions — 10 meaning consistently clean air, 1 meaning significant pollution. It doesn't separately break out waste management, noise, or visual upkeep, which aren't part of our current dataset.
Who The Hague suits
Expat
Expats — expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected (fit score 7.7/10 here).
Safety-first mover
Safety-first movers — people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (fit score 7.6/10 here).
Young family
Young familys — households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (fit score 7.3/10 here).
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs — founders and small business owners who need reliable connectivity and a livable base without big-city costs (fit score 7.1/10 here).
In depth
Cost of living
Affordability is a real consideration here: The Hague scores 4/10 on cost of living, meaning a comfortable lifestyle requires a proper budget.
Safety
Safety is one of The Hague's clearest strengths, scoring 8/10 — the kind of place where walking home at night or letting kids out alone doesn't require much second-guessing.
Climate
Climate is a middling factor in The Hague, scoring 5/10 — expect a proper seasonal swing, including a stretch of weather most people wouldn't call ideal.
Quality of life
The Hague scores 7.1/10 overall, but that average hides a real spread: healthcare (9/10) is genuinely strong, while cost of living (4/10) pulls the picture down considerably. The average across all seven criteria is 7.1/10.
Transport
Getting around is one of The Hague's strong points, scoring 8/10 on transport — a car is genuinely optional here for most day-to-day needs.
Internet & remote work
Remote work is well supported here: The Hague scores 9/10 on internet and connectivity, with fast, reliable connections in most neighborhoods.
Why choose The Hague?
The Hague makes the most sense if healthcare matters more to you than cost of living — at 7.1/10 overall, it's a solid rather than perfect pick, and the trade-offs above are worth weighing against your own priorities rather than the headline score alone.
You may also like
Copenhagen
Denmark · Europe
Bike-first capital regularly topping global happiness rankings.
Stockholm
Sweden · Europe
Archipelago capital blending design heritage with a strong tech sector.
Munich
Germany · Europe
Prosperous Bavarian capital with excellent transit and near the Alps.
Basel
Switzerland · Europe
Pharma-industry hub on the Rhine, at the meeting point of three countries.
Stuttgart
Germany · Europe
Engineering and automotive hub tucked into a wine-growing valley.
Continue exploring
Best cities in Netherlands
Nearby cities
Cities with a similar climate
Safer alternatives
Cheaper alternatives
Comparable quality of life
If you're interested in The Hague, you may also compare:
Frequently asked questions
Is The Hague safe?
Yes — The Hague scores 8/10 on safety, among the higher end of the 303 cities we track. Normal city awareness is enough for most visitors and residents.
What budget do I need to live in The Hague?
The Hague scores 4/10 on affordability, on the pricier side of our database. Plan a proper budget, particularly for rent.
Is The Hague good for families?
The Hague works well for families: safety (8/10), healthcare (9/10) and environment (7/10) average out to a strong combination for raising kids.
Is The Hague a good city for students?
The Hague isn't an obvious student pick: affordability (4/10) and transport (8/10) average out lower than the cities we specifically tag for students.
Is The Hague suitable for digital nomads?
Remote work is possible in The Hague, but it's not an obvious pick — internet (9/10) and cost of living (4/10) are less favorable than our dedicated digital-nomad cities.
What's the climate like in The Hague?
The Hague scores 5/10 on climate, meaning a proper seasonal swing including a stretch of weather most people wouldn't call ideal.
Is The Hague pleasant to live in year-round?
Reasonably — The Hague scores 5/10 on climate and 7/10 on environment, a fair rather than exceptional combination across the year.
Is The Hague a good choice for a first move abroad?
It's a reasonable choice for a first move: safety, healthcare, transport and environment average out to 8.0/10 here, a fairly forgiving combination for someone settling in for the first time.
Is the internet good enough for remote work in The Hague?
Yes — The Hague scores 9/10 on internet and connectivity, comfortably enough for video calls and day-to-day remote work.
Is The Hague a good place to retire?
It has real appeal for retirees: healthcare, climate and safety average out to 7.3/10 here — the three criteria that tend to matter most for that stage of life.
What are good alternatives to The Hague?
Based on continent, tags and overall score, Copenhagen and Stockholm are the closest matches to The Hague in our database — worth comparing directly if you're still deciding.
Is The Hague worth living in?
Reasonably — The Hague scores 7.1/10 overall, a solid if unremarkable all-round profile. Whether it's "worth it" depends more on which specific criteria matter most to you than on the average alone.
Who should move to The Hague?
Based on its score profile, The Hague suits people who value healthcare and internet & connectivity more than the average mover — see the "Who The Hague suits" section above for the specific profiles (families, digital nomads, students, etc.) that fit best.
Is The Hague walkable, and is public transport good?
Yes — The Hague scores 8/10 on transport, dense and reliable enough that a car is genuinely optional for most residents.
What's the biggest advantage of living in The Hague?
Healthcare is The Hague's standout strength, scoring 9/10 — the highest of its seven criteria on CityMatch.
What's the biggest downside of living in The Hague?
Cost of living is the clearest trade-off, scoring just 4/10 — the lowest of The Hague's seven criteria, and worth weighing against its strengths.