In December, I walked a beautiful NS trail of about 13 kilometers. The route starts at The Hague Central Station and ends in peaceful Wassenaar, leading you through the Haagse Bos, past Clingendael Estate, and across the Waalsdorpervlakte. Such a varied and refreshing hike!
City, Nature and a Touch of Nostalgia
I parked my car in Wassenaar and took the bus to The Hague Central. A practical tip, because this way you’ll end your walk right back at your car. And trust me: taking the bus beforehand is much nicer than having to travel after your hike.
NS walks are usually well-marked with white-red signs, sometimes even labeled “NS-wandeling.” Still, I always bring the GPS on my phone. Especially in busy city centers, it’s easy to miss a sign. And this time, I was glad I had it—there were construction works near the station, which made the signage tricky to follow.
A Personal Note: It feels good to be in The Hague. It’s my birth city, though I didn’t grow up there and have few memories of it. Yet it feels familiar. It’s nice to return every now and then.
From the station, I walk past tall buildings—not something you often see in Limburg—and enter the Haagse Bos. I can still hear and see the city around me, but it doesn’t bother me at all. This is the Netherlands: nature intertwined with towns and cities.
I cross small bridges, walk along narrow canals and elegant buildings, and watch ducks crossing the path. And then “suddenly,” I’m standing right in front of the Royal Palace. What a surprise! A friendly security guard stands at the gate.
“Can I take a picture without the bars?” I ask.
He smiles, “Fine by me.”
A small, unexpected moment like that really adds to the day. I smile and snap a photo.
After a while, I feel the need for a restroom break and a coffee. Luckily, cafés are plentiful here. In Limburg, I sometimes walk for kilometers without spotting any place for a drink – but here, I pass one cozy spot after another. Places to eat, chat, relax – and of course, use the toilet.
I cross a busy road and, to my surprise, see the U.S. Embassy. Funny how such a building leaves an impression – in the past, I might have just cycled past it without a second thought. Not far from there, I spot the Jordanian Embassy, and soon after that I’m back in nature.
Clingendael is a name I mostly knew from stories. Now that I’m walking there myself, I notice how many benches there are. So many lovely places to sit and enjoy the surroundings. I try to photograph a swan (didn’t quite work out), and admire the shapes of the leafless trees. Then I notice a small sign with the number 144. Later I look it up—it’s part of Natuurboom.nl, a project that highlights trees with special ecological value. A wonderful initiative!
The Waalsdorpervlakte is a place that makes you pause. Every year, I watch the national memorial broadcast on May 4th, and now I’m standing there myself. I take a quiet moment.
The large bell isn’t accessible, but I zoom in with my camera. My thoughts drift to the Westerborkpad, another route that deeply moved me.
I continue along sandy and unpaved trails. Along the way, I spot some strangely shaped tree trunks. They’ve clearly been worked on, but I’m not sure why. Maybe one day I’ll find out.
Just before the end, I reach the Meijendel Visitor Centre and take a look inside. After that, I climb quite a few stairs to a viewpoint. And what do I see? A flock of sheep!
On the other side of the hill, I get an even better view. Most of the sheep are lying down, chewing peacefully. They barely glance at me. “Lazy bunch,” I chuckle.
I continue on, leaving the Meijendel nature reserve and entering Wassenaar. Just a few more streets, past a church and a small square—and there I am, back at my car.
What a delightful walk. City, nature, history, and a bit of personal nostalgia—this one had it all.
Would you like to walk this NS trail?
📍 Starting point: The Hague Central Station
🏁 Finish: Wassenaar
📏 Distance: approx. 13 kilometers
🗺️ GPS & route info: NS.NL (This website is Dutch)
Tip: I really recommend keeping the GPS handy, especially at the beginning of the route.
👉 Click here for more hiking inspiration
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