© Kamilla Isalieva via Unsplash
In a feature in The New York Times, the renowned American newspaper, The Hague is recommended as the ideal spot for a “coolcation”: a place to escape the heat of Southern Europe.
The Hague is increasingly becoming a popular European destination for a “coolcation”: the ideal spot for travelers seeking beaches and mild summer temperatures instead of the extreme heat plaguing Southern Europe.
The city certainly has a lot to offer: not only an 11-kilometer stretch of North Sea coastline, but also surfing opportunities and beach clubs, as well as museums, art galleries, and plenty of shopping options in the historic center.
Tourism has grown significantly: the number of overnight stays has risen by nearly 60% over the past decade, according to the American newspaper. In the past two years, the number of visitors from Spain and Italy has increased by 9%.
Although the city welcomes international visitors, the authorities want to avoid overtourism and the image of party tourism associated with Amsterdam. They are limiting short-term rentals and the expansion of hotel capacity, and encouraging travel outside the busiest summer months.
This trend is partly driven by increasingly hot summers, with wildfires and droughts in Southern Europe that are also increasingly affecting the Netherlands.
A local beach representative summarizes The Hague’s appeal in the newspaper: the city feels like Spain, but without temperatures of 35 degrees and higher.
Illustration picture: © Kamilla Isalieva via Unsplash